Time to move over, Deep Sea World?
The Press and Journal can reveal today that Aberdeen could become home to a £5million marine education centre with a special platform for dolphin viewing.
Plans for the multi-million-pound project are still at a preliminary stage, with the group behind the potential development at Greyhope Bay, near the Torry Battery, currently carrying out economic impact studies.
However, led by Aberdeen University graduate, marine scientist Fiona McIntyre, the Greyhope Bay group believe the new facility could be the catalyst for a tourism boost to help diversify the city’s oil-reliant economy.
The new development aims to capitalise on the city’s popular Dolphinwatch initiative.
Last August, it was announced that the spotting project had attracted record numbers a year after it began.
The number of visitors in the first six weeks of the project exceeded last year’s total for the whole 18 weeks with more than 1,700 people turning up to view bottlenose dolphins at Torry Battery.
Detailed plans are still being finalised before they are submitted for formal planning approval to the city council.
But a statement from the group behind the development declared: “Greyhope Bay has bold and exciting plans to deliver a new, world-class visitor and marine education centre for Aberdeen, creating a unique platform to view the city’s most charismatic visitors – dolphins!
“These are regularly spotted at the site we have identified, making it one of the best places in Europe to see dolphins from the shore.
“Built at Greyhope Bay, the centre will aspire to be transformational for Aberdeen, a signature project that will act as a catalyst to establish the city as an international tourist destination.
“[This would also] promote its unique coastal location, exciting marine wildlife and status as an international hub for marine research.”
Last night, Ms McIntyre said: “The reaction has been very supportive of the idea, I think there is a lot of appetite for it.”
The group are still looking for backers towards the economic viability study, and any interested parties have been asked to contact: fiona.mcintyre@greyhopebay.org.uk.
