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