Government has embarked on a Public Private Partnership with Ebcon Group
to develop Malta’s National Aquarium & Marine Attraction in Qawra. The
Malta Tourism Authority was entrusted to carry forward this project on behalf
of the Government of Malta.
Works on this project started in October 2011. It is planned that the
project will be completed by the end of 2012 although components of the project
may be completed and in operation before this date.
The project will be spread over approximately 20,000 square meters and
will comprise a public aquarium, a public garden at promenade level, a multi
storey car park, facilities for local dive schools, catering facilities
including a reef club, a merchandise outlet and a tourist information kiosk.
The public aquarium will have more than 25 display tanks with, amongst
others, Mediterranean fish, commonly found in Maltese waters together with
replicas of historical artefacts that one can find in the seas around us.
The main tank of the aquarium will house species from the Indian Ocean,
including two shark species. The main tank will be approximately 12 meters in diameter.
Visitors will be able to go through a water tunnel thereby experiencing the
fish at a much closer range.
All tanks will be expertly themed to replicate the underwater
environment. Additional features of the public aquarium include a class room
facility, interpretation, touch pools, a temporary exhibition space, veterinary
and quarantine facilities, etc.
The national aquarium will be housed in an underground building located
under the promenade level. However, its
entrance facilities are being housed in an iconic curved shell structure in the
form of a starfish.
The garden will provide additional recreation facilities for pedestrians
who use the popular Qawra promenade. The car park will have a capacity of over
140 cars.
