The Association of Zoos and Aquariums Rescinds Accreditation of the Aquarium of the Bay

Institution has until June 13 to Appeal Decision

Silver Spring, Md. (May 24, 2024) - The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Accreditation Commission unanimously voted to rescind the accreditation of the Aquarium of the Bay. The independent Commission notified the institution on May 13, 2024, following its conclusion that the aquarium was not meeting accreditation standards in a number of key areas, including financial stability, staffing capabilities, and employee morale and turnover. Aquarium of the Bay has until June 13 to appeal the Commission's decision.

"AZA's goal through its accreditation process is to provide members and applicants reasonable opportunities to meet the world's most rigorous standards of animal care," said Dan Ashe, president and chief executive officer at AZA. "Despite multiple opportunities to comply with the requests of the Commission to provide sufficient evidence of progress made to address the areas of concern as required by the terms of their 2023 accreditation, the Aquarium of the Bay failed to do so.

"Standards without enforcement are simply advice, and continuous monitoring and enforcement of standards is what distinguishes AZA accreditation. We hope that the Aquarium of the Bay can quickly resolve these issues, and if so, we look forward to welcoming them back into our community of members."

About AZA
Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, animal welfare, education, science, and recreation. AZA is the accrediting body for the top zoos and aquariums in the United States and six other countries. Look for the AZA accreditation logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. The AZA is a leader in saving species and your link to helping animals all over the world. To learn more, visit www.aza.org.