SeaWorld has agreed to stop its summer firework shows as part of a settlement agreement with two environmental groups.
The settlement agreement ends litigation stemming from allegations that SeaWorld was polluting Mission Bay and violating its Clean Water Act Fireworks Permit.
As part of the settlement, SeaWorld agrees to use drones as a permanent replacement for fireworks in good faith following a one-year test pilot of drones at the park.
SeaWorld also agrees to implement a more robust pollution prevention and cleanup efforts following its remaining fireworks shows.
Environmental rights groups, Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation and San Diego Coastkeeper, filed the lawsuit in March 2025.
“This is a win-win situation,” said Sara Ochoa, Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation programs director. “This transition provides an opportunity for a unique type of entertainment and minimizes impacts to the environment, wildlife, and community.”
Phillip Musegaas, executive director of San Diego Coastkeeper, said its lawsuit wasn’t to end all fireworks shows but was meant to address the pollution of Mission Bay.
“Our goal from the beginning was to stop the pollution and protect Mission Bay,” said Musegaas. “This settlement, combined with SeaWorld’s move to drone shows, is exactly the outcome we were working toward.”
Added Musegaas: “We are not seeking a ban on fireworks across San Diego. That’s not our goal. Our goal was to take this limited action to stop the pollution that is occurring in Mission Bay. And we worked with SeaWorld to do that.”
Unlike traditional fireworks, which rain down debris with every explosion, drone shows produce little to no disruptive noise, release no toxic pollutants, plastics, or other debris into Mission Bay, and pose no threat to public health.
Fireworks, by contrast, are single-use explosives composed of heavy metals, perchlorates, plastics, and other toxic chemicals.
Musegaas pointed out that SeaWorld San Diego is underway with a one-year drone study. If the drone shows are sucessful then the park will permanently transition to them.
“We are confident that drone shows can replace fireworks in a more environmentally sustainable and still entertaining way,” said San Diego Coastkeeper’s Musegaas.
The California Coastal Commission recently approved SeaWorld’s proposal to conduct up to 110 drone light shows in the coming year, beginning with its first, which was held on Memorial Day weekend.
