A former Marineland trainer is calling for federal oversight and immediate protections for the dolphins at Marineland Dolphin Adventure as the park’s parent company navigates bankruptcy proceedings.

The Dolphin Company, based in Mexico, owns Marineland Dolphin Adventure in St. Johns County, near the Flagler County line. It filed for bankruptcy in March.

Kat Rust, who says she worked as a marine mammal trainer at Marineland for five years under previous ownership, told News4JAX she’s worried about the 17 dolphins currently at the facility.

“Marineland was a great place,” Rust said. “The management has let it fail and is now beyond saving. So, we’ve got to make sure those animals are safe.”

Rust is now a member of Tide Breakers, an animal rights organization petitioning Congress to hold

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