A longrunning local attraction is undergoing major changes as a result of the pandemic. 

The Vancouver Aquarium announced today (August 31) that it will take action in response to an approximately 80 percent drop in ticket sales and restrictions on visitors that are expected to continue on next year.

The Ocean Wise board of directors decided to suspend public programming at the aquarium as of September 7 while shifting focus to adopting a more financially viable model that “also accelerates Ocean Wise’s mission of ocean conservation”. The Ocean Wise board is undertaking a planning process for the change to the new operating model.

During this time, about 75 staff (including biologists, animal care experts, and a veterinary team) will continue to provide care for animals at the aquarium, including seals, sea lions, and otters. The aquarium has had over 70,000 animals at its facilities. Although public visits will end, animal live cams and online learning will continue to operate.

Ocean Wise Conservation Association’s conservation initiatives—including Ocean Wise Research, Ocean Wise Education, Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, Arctic programs, Ocean Wise Seafood, Marine Mammal Rescue, and more—will also continue on to address issues such as climate change, pollution, and overfishing.

However, the public programming suspension will result in 209 staff positions (including full-time, part-time, and casual positions) being lost, particularly among operational staff members.

The aquarium had reopened in June after a three-month closure during the onset of the pandemic and had also launched fundraising efforts. Unfortunately, health-based restrictions on numbers of visitors resulted in the aquarium being unable to cover operating costs, which are over $1 million per month.

Cost-cutting measures that the Aquarium took include laying off 60 percent of staff, suspending Marine Mammal Rescue Centre operations, halting building maintenance, cutting travel for field research and Arctic conservation efforts, and voluntary pay cuts by senior executives. 

The Vancouver Aquarium has been in operation since being founded in 1956.