Pressure is building calling on SeaWorld San Diego to end its high-profile summertime fireworks displays.

Fireworks on select dates between May 23 and Sept. 1 are a regular part of the 60-year-old amusement park’s summer spectacular promotion. Fireworks are not scheduled for the remainder of 2024 except for New Year’s Eve on Dec. 31.

Pyrotechnics can be seen and heard in a large swath of area surrounding the amusement park at 500 Sea World Drive in Mission Bay Park. But the dazzling displays don’t please everyone. The voices of environmentalists, pet lovers, and others have been raised complaining – and warning – that fireworks are harmful to the environment, as well as to the well-being of animals, both wild and domesticated.

SeaWorld defended continuing seasonal fireworks displays as a major attraction of its summer schedule.

“SeaWorld’s fireworks displays are monitored and regulated by multiple government agencies including the City of San Diego, California Coastal Commission, San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,” said SeaWorld spokesperson Tracy Spahr. “At SeaWorld, we continually work to enhance our entertainment and educational experiences, always exploring new, returning, and alternative opportunities for our guests to enjoy during their visits to the park.”

Recently a nine-member mayor’s advisory group, the Mission Bay Parks Committee, voted unanimously to draft a letter to city and state officials urging SeaWorld to modify or cancel fireworks altogether because of their impact on native Mission Bay wildlife. The committee noted SeaWorld ignited over 500 pounds of explosives from Fiesta Island this Fourth of July while pointing out that the amusement park regularly offers summertime evening fireworks.

Conservationists concur with Mission Bay Park’s Committee’s perspective on SeaWorld fireworks. “We support the park committee’s emphasis on improving the management of Mission Bay by removing these disturbances that affect and harm wildlife,” said Andrew Meyer, director of conservation for San Diego Audubon Society, referencing dead unborn and adult elegant terns that washed ashore at Kendall-Frost Marsh Reserve in Pacific Beach shortly after this year’s Fourth of July fireworks display. “It seems like the adult terns and chicks got scared off the island. There are so many reasons to not have fireworks shows. They’re being replaced by drone shows anyway that have less water quality, PTSD, and wildlife impacts.”

San Diego Humane Society is one organization opposing the continued use of traditional fireworks displays. The nonprofit is currently experiencing a population explosion at its five campuses including one in San Diego. SDHS is overrun every year after July 4 by stray pets displaced by seasonal fireworks.

“At SDHS, the well-being of animals is at the heart of everything we do,” said Nina Thompson, SDHS director of public relations. “In keeping with our mission to create a more humane world for animals, we strongly oppose traditional fireworks displays due to the stress and harm they cause to all animals, including wildlife. Instead, we encourage communities to embrace alternatives like drone shows, which offer a spectacular, animal-friendly option for celebrations.”
Explained Thomson: “Fireworks create loud explosions and bright flashes that can be terrifying for animals. Wildlife also suffers, with birds and other animals being disoriented and injured by the sudden noise and light. The trauma experienced by animals — both domestic and wild — can have lasting effects, from anxiety to physical harm.
“In contrast, drone light shows provide a stunning visual experience without the noise and disruption that fireworks cause,” concluded Thomspon. “These modern displays can still bring communities together for a celebration, all while protecting the welfare of animals and reducing environmental harm. Drone shows also eliminate the risk of burns, wildfires, and pollution from debris, making them a sustainable option for future generations.”

Coastal resident Alana Coons concurs with those opposing traditional fireworks at SeaWorld and has been strident for years in her opposition. “My grievance and petition I started some years ago against the nightly SeaWorld fireworks is personal,” she said. “The primary concerns are the negative impact on pets, wildlife, and military veterans. The loud explosions terrify our dogs and cats, traumatize wildlife, and exacerbate Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD) for many veterans.”

Added Coons: “Additionally, these fireworks release toxic chemicals into the air, contributing to air pollution and harming both the environment and human health. Given SeaWorld’s resources, it’s well past time they consider more environmentally friendly, animal-safe, and veteran-conscious alternatives to their nightly displays. Would any other company or organization ever be permitted to hold these nightly shows?”