Aquarium could sink without public support

Wednesday 24 January 2018

Local business owner Marita Iversen is hoping to turn the tide at the Aquarium after making the tough decision to close six days a week until March.

The Guernsey Aquarium is now only opening on Saturdays over the remaining winter months to try and cover its overheads to keep the business afloat. Bailiwick Express spoke exclusively to Ms Iversen as she explained her tough decision, which meant she had to let five members of staff go.

The Aquarium was given a seven-month refurbishment before re-opening in June 2017 with a brand new look and renewed emphasis on its marine exhibits to make it a more viable visitor attraction, but on Friday Ms Iverson made the decision to close the doors for most of the week.

Pictured: Handwritten note on locked door at the Aquarium

Ms Iverson said: "I have been running the Aquarium for many years, mainly as a labour of love, but I was hoping after the launch last year and the new emphasis on the site as a visitor attraction we might make some money, however we have not even broken even. I have had lots of support from local people saying how great it is to have a decent attraction to go to, but unfortunately its people through the door that count and we are just not getting visitors. The winter has been so quiet that we have been running at a loss. If we had made enough to break even then I would have kept it open but we are not even covering the overheads."

Keeping all the exhibits running builds up a large electricity bill with heating expenses and also monthly staff costs. Ms Iversen had employed four part time staff and one full time worker, but she said: "that was the toughest thing, having to let go of my staff, most of them have been with me through the re-fit and the last seven months since opening, they share my passion for this place and are totally gutted."

The news of the closure was also published on the Aquarium's Facebook page, which has more than 3,000 followers. The post generated a number of comments; many from people offering support, but also from some asking about annual memberships and recently purchased vouchers.

Ms Iversen said: "people say they are going to support you, but in reality locals have not been visiting and the annual memberships and kids clubs aimed at residents have not been widely adopted, with only twenty four annual subscribers and sixteen in the kids club. I will be contacting those in the kids club directly and the annual members will have their membership extended to cover the time we are closed. We will be honouring all gift vouchers on the Saturdays we are open or people can wait to use them when we re-open for the season. We will also honour any parties or school trips previously booked."

Pictured: The Aquarium at La Vallette

The Aquarium will open every Saturday until the end of March with just Ms Iversen at the helm to minimise overheads, to try and recoup some money to keep the attraction running. As the only venue in the Bailiwick specialising in marine aquatics, it does have some loyal customers who regularly buy salt water and other specialist goods. Ms Iversen is hoping those people will come and support her on Saturdays: "If we get enough customers and paying visitors on a Saturday then I can keep going over the winter, however even this is under review as if it is not viable I will have to fully shut down until I can guarantee some support from tourists."

Some people have been critical that many of the attractions advertised previously are now not available: "unfortunately we marketed many things, which in hindsight were really not viable. For example the sharks and shark feeding; it is difficult to keep sharks in captivity and really it is a specialist area. My renewed emphasis is going to be on local fish and education."

Around 70% of the exhibits are now purely local marine life and the Aquarium now has a licence to keep ormers, which are quintessentially Guernsey creatures. Most of the exhibits come from Bailiwick fisherman who offer up interesting things found in crab pots and nets.

Pictured: Child enjoying the exhibits in the summer

In the tanks bright orange star fish from the west coast are displayed along with scallops, lobsters, dogfish, eels, bream and oysters. Ms Iversen is excited about the breeding of local species: "Our dogfish have laid what we refer to as mermaid purses so I am hoping that we may have new fish some time soon. We have also recently had 2 young from our other dogfish and this is the area of aquatics I am really passionate about. Many schools have already had visits here and I am hoping with education as a focus I can really make the aquarium viable."

Ms Iversen is open to suggestions to help keep the attraction running and is still offering the venue out for private hire including the projector which has been used for private film screenings on site. Should you wish to contact the venue direct you can e-mail or contact them via the Aquarium Facebook page.

Only time will tell if locals will now take the bait and support the Saturday openings of the Aquarium in order to keep the attraction going, or if it will continue to flounder.

Main picture: Marita Iversen owner of the Aquarium