Canada’s Vancouver Aquarium has been chosen by the City of Valencia in Spain to run L’Oceanographic – Europe’s largest aquarium.

Based in Valencia, Spain, L’Oceanogràfic’s parent company – The City of Arts and Sciences of Valencia (COSATU) – announced in July it was looking to outsource management of the complex consisting of L'Agora, a multi-functional space with capacity for 6,075 people, and L'Oceanographic, which first opened in 2003.

Vancouver beat out the Parks Aspro Group and Rain Forest with its plan to operate the aquarium and take up management of L’Agora. Operating as a conglomerate known as Avanqua, with water treatment company Omnium Ibérico and Ket Gestión, the aquarium’s management team will take control of L’Oceanogràfic. The site boasts more than 45,000 aquatic animals from 500 species, including dolphins, belugas, walruses, sea lions and seals, welcoming 1.3 million people on an annual basis.

The contract between COSATU and Vancouver Aquarium has yet to be finalised, however the contract term will be for a period of 15 years with an option to renew for a further 15 after that. Vancouver Aquarium will also receive a financial return, which will go towards conservation, research and education effort in Canada.

“Being part of Avanqua enables Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre to engage an additional 1.3 million people a year with the issues facing the world’s oceans,” said Vancouver Aquarium CEO John Nightingale.

“This connection will further advance the aquarium’s conservation, research and education mandate and we’re looking forward to sharing our best practices in animal care, success in marine mammal rescue, award-winning conservation programming and groundbreaking research at Oceanografic.”

After winning the bid, Vancouver Aquarium CEO John Nightingale said the aquarium was looking forward to sharing best practices in animal care, success in marine mammal rescue, award-winning conservation programming and groundbreaking research at L’Oceanogràfic.

In addition to its plans for L’Oceanogràfic, Vancouver Aquarium is also planning to roll out its sustainable seafood programme, known as Ocean Wise, to Valencia and eventually throughout Spain.

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