PRESS RELEASE Immediate Release For More Information contact: Kara Hahn, Manager of Marketing & Communications 361-881-1259 or 361-548-5228 khahn@txstateaq.org May 14, 2015

Texas State Aquarium Releases Final Report on Fish Loss, Plans to File Lawsuit

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS The Texas State Aquarium announced today the final results of its

investigation into the unusual fish mortality event that occurred on April 14th, after a system treatment

resulted in the significant loss of marine fish. Summit Environmental Technologies, Inc. Analytical

Laboratories has now confirmed their preliminary results that the chemical that was shipped to the

Aquarium in a container labeled trichlorfon was instead hydroquinone. Trichlorfon is a pharmaceutical

routinely used to treat fish parasites, whereas hydroquinone is an industrial chemical used in film

processing and as a stabilizer for paint and motor fuels.

An independent team of experts, led by National Aquariums Vice President of Biological Programs Dr.

Brent Whitaker, M.S., D.V.M., reviewed the treatment protocols, dose and administration plan developed

by Aquarium staff and noted that the treatment protocol and procedure used was exemplary. Upon

reviewing the chemical analysis, pathology reports and other supporting documents, the team of experts

concluded that the mortality event occurred from the inadvertent administration of hydroquinone rather

than trichlorfon, as intended. This directly resulted from improper labeling on the container of chemical

received from the supplier, Fishman Chemical.

With the investigation complete, the Aquarium also announced it has retained the law firm Sico, White,

Hoelscher, Harris & Braugh LLP to pursue legal action. Aquarium President & CEO Tom Schmid stated

that the primary goal is to try and do everything possible so that another incident such as this does not

happen again. According to Schmid, We are now aware of at least one other aquarium that suffered a

major fish loss after using the same chemical, with the same batch number, from the same supplier,

Fishman Chemical. We want to make sure this chemical is no longer being sold, and that any existing

inventory is destroyed. This is a dangerous situation, and we feel strongly we must act.

The Aquarium also announced that the recovery effort is progressing well and that all but one of the

impacted habitats are now back online with new collections of marine life. According to Schmid, Over

130 new fish have been added to these systems already, representing over 30 species, and we anticipate

adding another 150 - 200 fish over the next week. He added, The support from our aquarium

community has been wonderful; we have received and are receiving donated fish from aquariums in

Florida, Virginia, Kentucky, Michigan, Louisiana, and from a number of facilities in Texas. These

aquariums are great partners and great friends.

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Texas State Aquarium--Connecting people with nature and inspiring conservation of the Gulf of Mexico.

The Aquarium is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums

and a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

www.texasstateaquarium.org

Press ReleaseImmediate Release