Underwater tunnel proposed as part of of Vancouver Aquarium upgrades | CBC News
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Visitors to the Vancouver Aquarium could soon find themselves face to face with seals and sea lions, if proposed upgrades to the facility proceed.
The aquarium’s owners have submitted plans to upgrade the facility’s B.C. Wild Coast pool area, which include a new clear underwater viewing tunnel in the zone’s main pool.
The proposal would create a new “themed viewing area,” remove one of four existing pools, and reduce total water volume by half to about 1.9 million litres.
Other upgrades would include new viewing platforms, a canopy-covered viewing deck, repairs to pool waterproofing, and the installation of replacement windows and a new life-support system for the tanks.
The B.C. Wild Coast pool area houses animals collected by the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre that have been deemed non-releasable by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The area was once used to house orcas and dolphins.
The Vancouver Aquarium declined an interview request, saying the work was in the “early planning stages.” A spokesperson said the work would be focused on the Wild Coast area, with the rest of the facility open to the public during construction. All proposed changes are within the aquarium’s existing footprint.
In a report to the Vancouver Park Board, city staff supported the proposal, calling it a “significant investment” in the “marquee attraction,” which is a key revenue partner for the city.
The upgrades would “improve the overall guest experience at the Aquarium and continue to draw guests to Stanley Park for years to come,” the report states.
It’s a busy time of year for harbour seal caretakers at the Vancouver Aquarium rescue centre, as staff determine which animals can be released and which will have to stay in their care. Darius Mahdavi spoke with the rescue centre about what kinds of seals they take in, and what’s involved in getting them back in the wild.
The Vancouver Park Board voted last month to support the proposal. Board chair and commissioner Tom Digby said it increases both underwater viewing space and protected outdoor areas that will expand the facility’s season into the wetter months.
“Historically there’s been a lot of outdoor space, but that’s not that useful when the weather is not great in Vancouver,” he said.
“So it’s an exciting design. It’ll actually reduce the total amount of water that [is] contained in the pools there, but it’ll improve the quality of the water,” he added.
If the work goes ahead, the park board report projects construction could begin in September and run through late 2027.
The cost of the upgrades has not been disclosed, but would be fully funded by the aquarium’s parent company, U.S.-based Herschend Enterprises.
The aquarium is located on leased city land, and Herschend’s current agreement provides a licence to run the facility until 2054.
The company bought the aquarium from Ocean Wise for an undisclosed price in 2021, as the non-profit operator struggled with “severe financial challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
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The facility, which was shuttered for most of the early stages of the pandemic, was relying on financial aid and public donations to survive, Ocean Wise said at the time.
Herschend was founded in Missouri by two brothers in 1950, and owns a dozen properties across the U.S., including aquariums, water parks and amusement parks.
As a part of the sale, it agreed to donate one per cent of the Vancouver Aquarium’s gross revenues to Ocean Wise’s conservation program.
The public can comment on the proposed changes on the city’s website through April 20.
The park board says next steps for the proposal include a city review of the development permit, followed by the submission and review of a building permit application.