The Vancouver Aquarium, Canada’s largest and oldest aquarium, home to 70,000 species, has announced an indefinite closure that will begin on September 8.
Ocean Wise Conservation Association, which manages the aquarium, announced Monday morning to the public.
He said the aquarium would “temporarily suspend public programming” to “focus on the transformation” into a new style of business that addresses the monetary effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Meanwhile, the aquarium’s animals will continue to obtain world-class care from a team of 75 specialized staff, adding biologists, running shoes and an on-site veterinary team,” the said.
Ocean Wise said COVID-19 is to blame for a nearly 80% drop in price ticket sales at the facility, which had to restrict the number of visitors to its facilities due to the pandemic.
The nonprofit aquarium wastes more than $1 million a month, said Lasse Gustavsson, CEO of Ocean Wise.
“The aquarium will temporarily suspend public programming and apply a new economically viable long-term style that rushes our project to conserve the oceans,” he said.
“This transient pause, not what we would have expected, is a critical moment in our history.”
More than two hundred more people are expected to lose their jobs as a result of the closure.
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