Jun 232013
 

Original story at ABC News

Great white shark in captivity in the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Wikimedia Commons.

Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) in captivity in the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Wikimedia Commons.

Plans have been unveiled for a floating aquarium to house a great white shark off Port Lincoln in South Australia.

The project's director, Travis Nottle, has outlined the idea for a $35 million shark discovery centre to the Port Lincoln Council.

It is proposed visitors would be taken to the centre by ferry.

Mr Nottle says the centre could be a significant new tourism attraction.

"Basically a world-first idea that leverages off of success that's been happening in North America," he said.

"Creating a floating piece of infrastructure, a significant floating piece of infrastructure, to temporarily accommodate a live great white shark in captivity, temporarily, with the shark's health and wellbeing [at the] forefront of the design."

He says the aquarium would enable people who cannot or do not want to dive with sharks, to observe a great white at close range.

"So that people feel safe, it's a protected area, in terms of sea state conditions, wind and swell," he said.

"It's also very close so you don't have to go as far - basically you are in the shark's home but you're not out in the open wild ocean."

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.