Mystic — Mystic Aquarium has been named as one of 11 zoos and aquariums worldwide to be certified by the American Humane Conservation program as caring for their animals in a humane and ethical fashion.

The aquarium underwent a rigorous audit by the organization. It included a three-day visit by experts who looked at not only how the animals are cared for, but how the facility meets state and federal regulations, air, water and food quality, social interaction and behavior of animals, staff training and knowledge and operational procedures. It also had to provide detailed information about its collection of 3,000 animals.

The standards the aquarium had to meet were created by leading animal scientists, behaviorists and ethicists. Tracy Romano, the aquarium’s chief scientist and vice president of research, is on the group’s scientific advisory committee.

“The certification of Mystic Aquarium by the American Humane Conservation program shows the institution’s commitment to meeting the highest standards of humane, verifiable, and transparent animal care,” American Humane President and CEO Dr. Robin Ganzert said in a statement released by the aquarium Thursday. “American Humane is proud to recognize this world-class institution with its prestigious Humane Certified seal of approval, demonstrating to the public Mystic Aquarium’s leadership as a responsible, humane steward of the remarkable animals living in its care.”

The aquarium said the audit “noted that many of the marine mammal areas excel in their planning each day with the animals’ learning, social and husbandry goals in mind.”

Asked why the aquarium sought the certification, aquarium spokeswoman Dale Wolbrink said that while the aquarium had a long-standing history of being an advocate for animals, it realizes there are differing opinions about animals kept in human care.

“So it was very important for us to have people see how well we care for our animals,” she said.

Wolbrink said the aquarium’s trainers and scientists will discuss the certification with visitors.

“We’re proud to talk about what we do and how we care for our animals,” she said.

In announcing the certification, aquarium President and CEO Stephen Coan said, “We are incredibly proud to be among the first institutions to receive this prestigious certification. Animal welfare has always been and will continue to be at the forefront of what we do here at Mystic Aquarium.”

The aquarium now receives the Humane Certified™ seal, which notes that “good welfare and humane treatment of all individuals and species is provided at the facility.”

Among the other institutions that have received the certification are the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, Georgia Aquarium, Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, the Vancouver Aquarium in Canada and Delphinus in Mexico.

“This certification is acknowledgement of the incredible passion shared by our team of animal care professionals and their ongoing and unwavering dedication to the animals in our care,” added Laurie Macha, the aquarium’s curator of marine mammals and birds. “We are acutely aware that it is a privilege to work with, care for and protect these animals.”

According to the American Humane, which was founded in 1877 and bills itself as the world’s largest certifier of the welfare and humane treatment of animals in working, entertainment and other environments, it saw a need to expand certification to animals in zoos and aquariums, which it says are playing an increasingly vital role in preserving species as they disappear in the wild.

It states that as zoos and aquariums go about their work, people rightly are demanding that the welfare and treatment of animals in human care be ensured and, more importantly, verified.

It pointed out that only 2.3 percent of zoos and aquariums worldwide are accredited. While organizations such as the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, of which Mystic Aquarium is a member, provides overall accreditation program, “there has been no independent, third part certification effort solely devoted to the welfare of animals in their care — until now.”

“To fill this vital need, American Humane Association has developed the first-ever independent, scientific and evidence-based third-party humane certification standards focusing on the animals living in these institutions. Created and backed by the most well-respected, iconic names in science, animal welfare, and the conservation field, these new standards will help ensure the welfare and humane treatment of the animals in human care at the world’s zoos, aquariums and conservation centers. Adding another level of rigor, the implementation of these comprehensive standards will be verified by independent auditors,” the organization explains on its website.

It began the program last year.

j.wojtas@theday.com