The Harbour, Mevagissey, PL26 6UR
Tel: (01726) 843305
Email: meva.harbour@talk21.com
Web: www.mevagisseyharbour.co.uk/mhaquarium.html
Pop in and meet the fish
The harbour aquarium at Mevagissey is housed in the old R.N.L.I. lifeboat house, which was completed in 1897, and housed three different lifeboats until 1930 when the advent of motor lifeboats caused the closing down of many of the smaller lifeboat stations.
This attraction is a charity project which is raising awareness and bridging the gap between the fishing industry and the general public. On your tour, you'll see various local species and appreciate the diversity of local marine wildlife. Money collected from the Mevagissey Aquarium initiative is put towards the maintenance of Mevagissey Harbour. Entry is FREE but a donation is appreciated.
Since the 1930's the lifeboat house has had many uses, from cafe, shop, gun emplacement during the second world war (manned by the Home Guard) and in the mid 1950's it turned into an aquarium. For the last fifty years the aquarium has opened to the delight and interest of visitors and locals alike, and also giving complementary visits to groups of school and college students.
Until the mid 1980's the aquarium was leased from the harbour; however from then on it has been run by the harbour, gaining charitable status in 1988.
In 2004 it was realised that the fifty year old tanks required replacement, and costs were found to carry out this. These were completed and the aquarium was officially re-opened on the 8th June 2006.
The aquarium is an important part of the harbour, and is not only a very important visitor attraction (averaging 35,000 visitors in a season) but also an extremely important interface between the general public and the fishing industry.
The aquarium is situated on the south side of the harbour.
Opening TimesEaster to 31st October Admission Free |
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