Following Coleman’s Farm and Seaview Wildlife Encounter’s closure announcements the Isle of Wight Aquarium at Fort Victoria has today followed suit.
Rising costs and no increase in visitor numbers has led to the sad decision to close the attraction that has been running for 31 years.
A statement posted to their Facebook page this afternoon explains,
It is with extreme regret that, after 31 years welcoming visitors through our doors, we have to announce the closure of Fort Victoria Marine Aquarium.
A complicated mix of factors including inexorably rising costs and zoo licensing regulation (designed with big zoos in mind), with no corresponding increase in visitor numbers have combined to make the Aquarium no longer viable. With very big aquariums (with enormous exhibit budgets) now common on the mainland we have become conscious of an increasing general perception by visitors that our aquarium is smaller than expected.
When we first opened most visitors had not seen our native marine fish and invertebrates in aquariums, now most have already seen them in very large “state of the art” attractions. Due to the nature and size of our building, even with a unlimited budget we still could not increase the Aquarium’s size. We therefore think the Aquarium has had its time and we should now move on. New homes will be found for our fish in other aquariums.
The management go on to thank all those who have supported them,
We are very grateful for the help we have received from many people over the years. We have had dealings with many council officers (Fort Victoria is owned by the Council) who, contrary to general perception, have generally done their best to help.
In particular we would like to thank all those in The Countryside Section, the Rangers and especially Bob Edney, who have been unfailingly helpful over the years. Without the help of Tony Flower (in “estates”) we would never have got the project off the ground. Several Councillors have helped, but without the backing of Ron Smith, Fort Victoria as an attraction would never have developed.
Over the years our fishermen friends, in particular Ray and Mike Hayles, “Jigger ” Jacobs and Mark Andrew have been invaluable, as has the advice of our ever helpful and knowledgeable vet, Tim Watson. We would particularly like to thank our thousands of cheerful visitors whose repeat visits over the years have made our time at the Aquarium a happy one.
With its natural attractions and the Planetarium, Model Railway and Sunken Secrets Exhibition, Fort Victoria will remain a great place to visit. We hope as many of you as possible will continue to support it.
Thanks to Linda Bassett from Isle of Wight Community Information Facebook Page for the headsup.
Image: © Isle of Wight Council
