33 



of dollars spent on goods and services, the monies paid and generated in taxes, in- 

 creased tourism, ana the additional dollars spent in the community by visitors. 



Alliance members pay over $55 million in various taxes annually. Employment 

 taxes are paid to the Federal government, states, municipalities and counties as 

 well as for water, sewer and utility usage, and on telephone service. Taxes paid by 

 visitors and collected by these facilities for remittance to the appropriate govern- 

 ment entity include those for food at restaurants, sales at gift, shops and entertain- 

 ment taxes on gate receipts. For-profit institutions pay municipal property taxes 

 and sales taxes. 



In addition, Alliance facilities spend another $250 million yearly on the purchase 

 of goods and services and provide thousands of jobs. Over 12,000 people are em- 

 ployed in fiall or part-time positions. 



Annually, AAZPA members make over $440 million in capital improvements to 

 their facibties. More specifically, marine parks have invested over $1.2 billion in 

 their communities through construction, continuing expansion and maintenance of 

 their operations. 



Studies done by individual AAZPA arid Alliance members clearly demonstrate 

 that public display institutions have a significant positive impact on their local com- 

 munities and states. Based on an economic impact study, the New England Aquar- 

 ium, for example, estimates total off-site spending by visitors to its facility is more 

 than $289 million. This off-site spending is believed to generate $8.7 million in sales 

 and use taxes. Similarly, Marine World Africa U.S.A. in California estimates it gen- 

 erates an estimated $95-105 million for the local economy annually. 



The benefits to the community from marine mammal public display facilities, ei- 

 ther in direct payments and tfixes, other generated revenues, economic multipliers, 

 employment opportunities, tourism, business and infrastructure growth, are signifi- 

 cant fmancial ones. More difficult to evaluate, yet equally important, is the commu- 

 nity identity and civic pride that comes from being the home to each of these zoos, 

 aquariums, oceanariums and marine life parks. 



III. PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARDS ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS 



An October 1992 nationwide poll by the Roper Organization showed that Ameri- 

 cans believe public display facilities play a positive role in protecting animals and 

 wildlife and in educating the public about the animals and environmental conserva- 

 tion. Four in ten Americans said they have visited an aquarium, animal theme 

 f>ark, or zoo in the past year. 80 percent said they enjoyed going to public display 

 acilities and one in six actually contributed financial support. 



There is near unanimous agreement (92 percent) that public display facilities play 

 an important role in educating the public about marine mammals and their environ- 

 ment. 91 percent of the people surveyed agree that aquariums and zoos provide chil- 

 dren with an opportunity to learn about wild animals and are important in educat- 

 ingchildren about these animals. 



These findings by the Roper Organization were confirmed in a recent Canadian 

 poll. Eight of ten people surveyed by Decima Research considered public display fa- 

 cilities to be educational. 



Perhaps the most si^ificant finding of the poll was that 86 percent believe if the 

 pubUc learns about animals at 2005 and aquariums, they are more likely to become 

 concerned about protecting these animals and their habitat. Interestingly, two 

 thirds of the public consider it important, if not essential, to entertain visitors while 

 they learn about animals. 



'rtie vast majority of people surveyed feel that aquariums and zoos play an impor- 

 tant role in preserving animals and that studying animals in captivity helps develop 

 sound conservation programs for animals. Further, the public credits public display 

 facilities with most of the successes that have been realized in saving endangered 

 species. 



The public supports the public display of marine mammals as an important tool 

 in conserving marine mammals and tneir environment. 



IV. AAZPA ACCREDITATION PROGRAM AND CODE OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS 



The AAZPA monitors the activities of its members through an accreditation pro- 

 gram. One of the foremost objectives of the AAZPA is to maintain high professional 

 standeirds and to influence continuing growth of superior zoological parks and 

 aquariums. In developing and updating its accreditation program, the AAZPA is es- 

 pecially concerned with the need for nigh standards oi animal management and 

 husbandry. This objective is paramount in the maintenance and care of living collec- 

 tions. Good conscience permits no higher priority. The Accreditation Commission 

 also accords special attention to how these living collections are use. 



