( CNN ) -- One of John Athanson 's earliest memories is seeing mermaids at Weeki Wachee Springs , the `` City of Live Mermaids . '' Today , the 47-year-old is the public relations manager for Weeki Wachee Springs State Park , and has been for 10 years . The park north of Tampa , Florida , hosts shows year-round involving women dressed as mermaids . It bills itself as `` a magical entrance into a mysterious blue underwater world of mermaids , manatees , turtles and bubbles . '' `` If you ask me , ( mermaids ) do exist , '' Athanson said Thursday . `` They exist , and they exist right here in Weeki Wachee . '' Photos : Anniversary of the bikini . He was responding to the U.S. government 's fresh announcement to the contrary . The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has published an unexpected statement to its website explaining that there is no evidence the legendary `` half-human , half-fish sirens of the sea '' have ever lived . `` We had gotten a couple of questions about mermaids recently , '' NOAA spokeswoman Keeley Belva told CNN with a laugh . `` The timing may have been because there was a documentary or movie that came out . '' The Discovery Channel 's Animal Planet aired `` Mermaids : The Body Found '' on May 27 , a two-hour special the show 's website says `` paints a wildly convincing picture of the existence of mermaids , what they may look like and why they 've stayed hidden ... until now . '' An editor 's note on the page states that the show is `` science fiction based on some real events and scientific theory . '' But the film takes on an air of academic authority . The documentary-style film features a number of people identified as marine experts as well as photographs and videos from fishermen who said they 've seen mermaids . Former NOAA employees share their thoughts on whale beachings and government secrecy . 'The Little Mermaid ' to get a dark remake . But the main focus of the film is scientific evidence and theories that support the idea of `` aquatic humanoids , '' as the NOAA calls them . Filmmakers animate how early humans might have moved from land to sea and chronicle the appearance of mermaids in art throughout history and among various cultures . The experts , narrator and even music are somber . Some viewers take the movie seriously . `` I honestly think it is selfish of people to think we are the only human creatures on earth , '' YouTube user Tjkitty67 wrote in a comment . `` There is stuff out there we ca n't explain . '' Other users posted comments questioning government secrecy , debating the scientific veracity of physical similarities between humans and aquatic mammals or -- in most cases -- making fun of viewers who believed the fictitious aspects of the `` mockumentary . '' `` Funny how the NOAA has to make a news report that mermaids do n't exist because some misunderstood citizens of America start a debate of their existence just because they watch a documentary , '' wrote user WolfenOnTheDSI . But Athanson sees no harm in believing mermaids exist . `` Our mermaids here at Weeki Wachee can get really into it , '' he said . `` Whatever you believe becomes true . And if you believe you 're a mermaid , you 're a mermaid . '' He said young visitors often ask whether or not the mermaids are real . `` Just like with Santa Claus or any other mythical character , we always say yes , '' he said . `` We 're not going to tell them they 're not real . '' Mermaid parade : A hidden exotic gem .
The show announces that mermaids do not exist . A ` ` mockumenary '' by Lonely Planet spurred questions as to the existence of mermaids . People took to social media to protest the show . Mermaids do exist at the Wachee Springs , says a spokesman .