SAN DIEGO - SeaWorld, which has struggled with declining attendance, announced it is cutting 350 positions, including 79 in San Diego, effective immediately.

The company is laying off people and not refilling open positions across the company although the cuts primarily affect its corporate headquarters and the parks in Orlando and San Diego, spokeswoman Aimee Jeansonne-Becka told the San Diego Union Tribune.

Becka said the cuts mostly affect administrative positions and jobs that do not deal directly with the public. She stressed the company is still dedicated to its animal rescue and rehabilitation, which was not impacted.

SeaWorld executives had previously said their goal was to save $40 million through 2018.

“It’s hard,” Becka said. “These type of initiatives affect real people, but it’s what we need to do to move the business forward.”

Employees who lost their jobs are being notified today. They will receive severance pay and help in finding new work, Becka said.

Becka could not comment on the savings SeaWorld would gain from cutting 350 positions, but said the company plans to use that money to boost advertising to help grow attendance numbers as well as toward its investment in new rides.

“We remain committed to creating world-class guest experiences, providing comprehensively for the care of all our animals, and continuing our company’s focus on stranded marine animal rescue and ocean conservation initiatives,” the company said in a statement.

SeaWorld, which has dealt with a backlash from the anti-captivity documentary “Blackfish,” has had layoffs most recently in December as well as in 2010 and 2014.

In August, SeaWorld disclosed its attendance dropped by 353,000 visitors in the first half of 2017 compared to the same time in 2016, the Union Tribune reported.

Story Date: October 29, 2017