Save Exploris! Northern Ireland's only aquarium and seal sanctuary
Northern Irealnd, UK: A special campaign has been started by Eleanor Brown to Save Exploris, Northern Ireland's only aquarium and seal sanctuary.
Exploris in Portaferry is a unique facility for tourism, education and recreation within Northern Ireland. It is Northern Ireland's only aquarium and reflects the very special marine environment of Strangford Lough, an Area of Special Scientific Interest, and the neighbouring Irish Sea. It has a seal sanctuary and tends to other distressed marine creatures.
It provides seawater for the adjacent Queens University Marine Laboratory. While Exploris does not make money and has substantial running costs, it delivers a footfall of 100 000 people a year to Portaferry, which has a tremendous impact for local businesses in an area already suffering from high unemployment and rural deprivation.
The loss of Exploris will have a devastating effect on Portaferry and the surrounding area.
The petition campaign requests support in the following terms: We the undersigned feel that Ards Borough Council should reconsider the recommendation of its Development Committee and should keep Exploris open.
In short, the campaign can be summarised as follows: Save Exploris! Northern Ireland's only aquarium and seal sanctuary needs your help. Tweet #saveexploris
Pictured: NIE Seal Sanctuary. The sanctuary is a purpose built facility for the rescue, rehabilitation and release of orphaned, injured and sick common and grey seal pups. Photo source for picture above: http://www.exploris.org.uk/tour_of_exploris/nie_seal_sanctuary/
Source: Modified by GoPetition from http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-exploris.html