The Malta National Aquarium in Qawra, which has been in the offing for years, opened officially this evening in the presence of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Tourism Minister Karmenu Vella.

The €16 million project was carried out through a public private partnership between the Malta Tourism Authority and Marine Aquatic Limited. Half of the investment was financed through the European Regional Development Fund.

In total there are 26 display tanks four of which with freshwater along with replicas of historical artefacts found in the seas that surround us. The aquarium hosts over one thousand fish from around hundred species, mainly from the Mediterranean region. There are tropical marine fish such as clown fish, black-tipped sharks and cow-nosed rays.

The main attraction is the 12-metre diameter tank which hosts two shark species from the Indian Ocean. Visitors can walk through the aquarium in a glass tunnel and observe these species closely.

Additional features include a class room facility, interpretation, touch pools, a temporary exhibition space, veterinary and quarantine services.

A team of experts from New Zealand were assigned to handle the aquarium’s set-up. The contractor awarded the project is Salvu Ellul after a tender was issued by the Malta Tourism Authority.

Dr Muscat said that the project will serve as a significant contributor to quality tourism in our country. He said that the project would help attract more tourists to the north of Malta which will lead to more profitability.

Meanwhile Minster Vella explained that the project included the regeneration of around 20,000 square metres of land in Qawra, which was left in a state of disarray.

He said that apart from attracting tourists, the project is also generating jobs.