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Residents urge Woodbridge to act after New Jersey Fish & Wildlife revokes SeaQuest permit
Summary
Speakers told the council that New Jersey Fish and Wildlife delivered an administrative order revoking SeaQuest’s permit and said exotic animals will be seized unless appealed; residents urged the township to revoke its farm permit and consider an ordinance banning interactive animal facilities while the council agreed to review the matter and the
Speakers at the Woodbridge Township meeting told the council that New Jersey Fish and Wildlife had hand-delivered an administrative order and notice of revocation to SeaQuest at Woodbridge Mall and that the state agency will seize regulated exotic animals unless an appeal is filed within 15 days.
Jessica Mayer Lisonbee, speaking for multiple animal-welfare groups, said the January 31 administrative order cited "numerous violations over the years" and that the order does not apply to a farm permit issued by the township health department for nonregulated domestic animals such as cats, fish, iguanas, flying squirrels and parakeets. Lisonbee said sanctuary placements have been identified for the domestic animals and urged the council to revoke the township’s farm permit so animals can be released to those facilities rather than remain with a business facing bankruptcy.
"SeaQuest has clearly broken the law," Lisonbee said, adding that she and allied groups had already arranged placements for the animals they described as nonregulated by Fish and Wildlife. She also said a federal or out-of-state court recently denied a sale related to SeaQuest’s assets in Idaho and that the facility in Woodbridge was at risk of closing.
Nicholas Huss, noting the township’s Silver Sustainable Jersey certification, asked whether the council would consider an ordinance prohibiting certain interactive animal facilities to reduce zoonotic-disease and animal-welfare risks. The clerk and council members said there was nothing currently before the council as an ordinance on that topic and that any formal requests or draft ordinances should be submitted to the municipal clerk’s office for placement on a future agenda.
Municipal clerk Mitchell told the speakers that anything previously presented would be on file and that the clerk’s office is the appropriate repository for proposed ordinances; he said the council would look into the matter. Council members did not take formal action at the meeting to revoke any township permit or adopt new rules.
Speakers asked the township to coordinate with New Jersey Fish and Wildlife, the health department and local animal-welfare organizations to ensure animal welfare and compliance with the state’s order; those requests were entered into the public record for possible follow-up by the administration and the clerk’s office.
