DETROIT, Jan. 15 (UPI) -- The city of Detroit, facing a growing budget deficit, has decided to close its Belle Isle Aquarium to save $530,000 a year in operating expenses.
The Belle Isle Aquarium, which displays 60 exhibits and has a total capacity of 32,000 gallons of water, is 101 years old and is the oldest continuously operated public aquarium in North America.
City fathers determined that although the annual operating expenses were relatively small, millions in capital were needed to keep the structure sound.
The aquarium operators are looking for new homes for its freshwater and tropical freshwater fish collection, WDIV-TV, Detroit, reported.
Aquarium staff are expected to be placed in other positions at the Detroit Zoo or the Belle Isle Zoo.
