Work is expected to begin in October on an expanded new seal exhibit at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk but, first, the Aquarium will ready a temporary new home for the popular pinnipeds.
— an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium
Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 3, the Aquarium’s “Go Fish” will close for a six-week repurposing of that space for the five harbor seals. The seals will “migrate” into their home-away-from-home in mid-October so that their current indoor-outdoor exhibit can be enclosed and expanded.
Photo from the Maritime Aquarium
One of the popular pinnipeds. “Beginning Tues., Sept. 3, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk’s “Go Fish” exhibit will close, and the Aquarium will begin repurposing that exhibit to become the temporary home for its harbor seals. In mid-October, after the seals move, the Aquarium will begin construction on an much larger permanent seal exhibit. The work is part of The Maritime Aquarium’s response to the coming Walk Bridge railroad bridge project.”
When completed in late 2020, the new seal exhibit will be almost eight times larger – 150,000 gallons – and two stories tall, as high as the balcony over the current display.
The female seals are among the most popular animals in The Maritime Aquarium. Spokesman Dave Sigworth assured guests that they will continue to have close access to the seals throughout the construction period.
“The seals inspire our guests to love the marine world and act on its behalf, so it’s important that we continue to make those connections possible,” Sigworth said. “And, for the seals, their temporary home has 50 percent more water than their longtime exhibit, so we’re confident that this is a comfortable solution for them as well.”
The striped bass, salmon and other animals in the current “Go Fish” exhibit will be added to other Maritime Aquarium exhibits, placed off-exhibit and sent to other facilities.
Building the new seal exhibit is part of the Aquarium’s response to the planned replacement of the Walk Bridge, the railroad bridge that narrowly slots between the Aquarium and its IMAX Theater.
Enclosing and enlarging the seal exhibit will help reduce the potential dangers to the seals from noise, vibration and debris during the 5-year bridge project.