Aquarium's last day on Thursday

Friday 27 September 2019

Guernsey's withering tourism industry has claimed another victim, as Thursday will be the last time the Guernsey's Aquarium is open.

Owner Marita Iverson is now selling everything the business has before she closes the aquarium for good, after what she says has been a very difficult season.

People will be able to visit the attraction for the last time on the 3 October, but it will remain open for some time after that for people to come and buy things on sale. 

"I am waiting for the tides to be right so I can release the local fish back into the waters - the plan is to do that next Friday," she said, adding she also had to re-home exotic species and sell as much of the remaining stock as they can.

Pictured: The tunnels housing the Aquarium were a German munitions store during the Occupation. 

Having been involved with the Aquarium for five years and a half years, Ms Iverson led the relaunch of the business in 2017, which looked to try and put it back on people's radar. The entire premises was refurbished and new ideas were brought in, like the inclusion of an arcade. But this season was the worst she had experienced in the years she has been working there.

"I took the same amount in August last year that I did in the entire season this year. It just can't keep going, there is a lack of support from all directions, and a general lack of tourism," Ms Iverson explained.

"I thought I'd give it one more shot this season and see what happened but... to be honest it is getting worse and worse every year." 

This lack of support even came down to little things, like the Petit Train not being able to stop outside of the attraction.

Ms Iverson said no one was sadder than she was at the business having to close, and thanked everyone who had visited recently and over the years for their support. Anyone who wanted to see which exotic species she still had which were yet to be re-homed could visit the Aquarium and speak to her, she added. Everything there is for sale. 

Pictured top: The entrance to Guernsey's Aquarium.