Fishy business in Asia’s aquariums

When Blackfish, a documentary that brought to light the alleged mistreatment of killer whales at SeaWorld Orlando, was released in 2013, it unleashed a whirlwind of negative press and public outrage unto the marine theme park. SeaWorld Orlando continues to feel the wrath of the PR disaster to this day, with a sea of red in its finances, leaders abandoning ship and large-scale boycotts as recently as in March this year.

In Asia, the lessons from SeaWorld Orlando have not fallen on deaf ears. Aquarium operators are giving more thought to the long-term sustainability of the business – with a greater emphasis on conservation interests and animal welfare. And perhaps more often, efforts to stay viable and competitive are focused on innovative storytelling that makes modern aquariums more than just giant fish tanks.

Simon Foong, group managing director/CEO at Aquawalk, which owns and manages Aquaria KLCC, summed this up when he remarked that successful aquariums must
 have elements of not only entertainment, but also education and conservation.

Animal welfare key to longevity
Jason Horkin, senior vice president of attractions at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), observed that environmental conservation is becoming a notable trend in the sector, with a sizeable portion of the market becoming more eco-conscious.

To appeal to marine conservation enthusiasts, S.E.A. Aquarium at RWS recently launched a new conservation group, Guardians of the S.E.A.A. Members of the group enjoy exclusive invitations to curated events such as conservation talks and outreach activities, Horkin shared.

In Australia too, many aquarium operators believe that taking the conservation message to the community is both an act of environmental responsibility and a good long-term visitor strategy.

“(Conservation) is very much on trend in terms of growing interest and how we relate that story to our guests, and also getting involved in activities like beach cleaning,” said Rob Smith, Australia and New Zealand regional director for Merlin Entertainments, which operates the Sea Life aquariums in Melbourne and Sydney.

Meanwhile, in the pipeline for Aqua Walk is Aquaria Phuket opening this year-end in the Central Festival Mall, revealed Foong. The new attraction will incorporate a combination of real and virtual fishes, which Foong says solves ethical and logistical issues of confining whale sharks and dolphins in aquariums, as well as brings down the operating costs.

The aquarium will also work closely with Chulalongkorn University on research and breeding fish, information that would be shared with other aquariums.

Ocean creatures, visual effects stars of the show
With entertainment value arguably still of greater immediate relevance to the visitor experience, many aquarium operators TTG Asia spoke with were quick to highlight how they are enhancing visual impact and interest value with technology and innovative storytelling.

While pools where visitors can handle some marine species have become de rigeur at aquariums, more venues are devising new ways to display their marine attractions as they would appear in the wild.

In some facilities in Japan, this includes the use of projection mapping facilities and lighting to simulate the open ocean and to show the creatures in their natural habitats.

A short rail journey south of Yokohama, the Hakkejima Sea Paradise aquarium – which attracted 1.6 million visitors in 2017 – new innovations have been rolled out in recent months.

“We installed a 457-inch LED screen to deliver dramatic presentations in conjunction with projection mapping technology in the (animal) performance area,” shared Kosuke Sudo, deputy head of operations at Hakkejima.

In Australia, Cairns Aquarium – the country’s newest aquarium in 18 years – is located in one of the most biologically diverse areas in 
the world, putting it in prime position to feature marine animals unique and endemic to the area, some of which are critically endangered.

Yet, general manager Julie Cullen says the aquarium, which opened last September, has chosen also to give its visitors a rainforest and reef experience.

“It’s designed so that the immersive nature of the theming is extended from what is typically just your behind-the glass (interaction),” Cullen explained. “When you’re walking through the rainforest area, you’ve got soundscapes, shadows, shades and moving lightscapes. (In the mangroves zone), you’re literally walking on the mangroves boardwalk underneath the mangroves roof. And if it’s through the tropics area, you’d be walking through tree roots and creek boulders.”

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