November 24, 2006

WELL-KNOWN ENVIRONMENTALISTS VOICE SUPPORT FOR AQUARIUM REVITALIZATION

Vancouver, BC:  Letters of support are flooding into the Aquarium as the November 27 Park Board meeting approaches, during which the commissioners will consider approving the Aquarium’s revitalization and expansion plans.

Two such letters come from well-known environmentalists Paul Watson, Founder and President of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, and Jean-Michel Cousteau, Founder and President of the Ocean Futures Society. Both support the Aquarium’s commitment to education and conservation through the interpretation and display of live animals, and support expanding and revitalizing these facilities for the animals and Aquarium visitors.

“The welfare of animals in the Aquarium takes precedent over all else and we will always support better and larger facilities for captive marine mammals, seabirds and fishes,” writes Paul Watson in a letter to Aquarium President Dr. John Nightingale. “I think that the Vancouver Aquarium has acted responsibly in refraining from participating in live captures. I very much support the Vancouver Aquarium taking in rescued cetaceans and cetaceans from inferior facilities.”

In April, Dr. Nightingale met Jean-Michel Cousteau during an Association of Zoos & Aquariums conference hosted by the Vancouver Aquarium. The Aquarium President described the revitalization plans to him at that time, and has since received this message from Cousteau, “John has all my support. His philosophy and integrity in the past has proven to be futuristic. Bravo!”

Letters of support are coming from all over. Earlier this week, Jim and Mary Borrowman, the owners of Stubbs Island Whale Watching in Telegraph Cove also sent a letter stating that: “In a world where the oceans are threatened more and more, education and awareness of these threats are more important now than ever.  Only places like the Vancouver Aquarium are capable of delivering these messages to the mass of people in urban areas.”

The Aquarium encourages its supporters to be heard by the Vancouver Park Board by attending the meeting at 5 p.m. on November 27 at Hastings Community Centre.

Details of the Vancouver Aquarium’s plans can be found at www.aquariumconsultation.ca.

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For further information, please contact:

Brenda Jones

Manager, Public Relations

publicrelations@vanaqua.org