St Andrews Aquarium Splashes Out on £1 Million Development Plans

Set in the cliffs overlooking St Andrews Bay, St Andrews Aquarium has recently announced ambitious new development plans for the largest-scale building project in its 25-year history. The only independent family-owned aquarium in Scotland is expected to double its capacity, with the redevelopments set to be carried out in several phases and costing over £1 million. 

The Aquarium was opened in 1999 by Guy Mace, a pioneer of the Scottish aquaculture industry, specifically in the fish farming sector. Mace was involved in launching the first Sea Life Centre aquarium near Oban in 1979. Though it closed in 2018 after visitor numbers declined, Sea Life has successfully gone on to become the world’s largest commercial aquarium chain. Mace then acquired the Sea Life Centre in St Andrews and reopened it as an independent aquarium, now managed by his eldest son, John Mace.

The renovation work has already begun, starting with the outdoor seal pool area destroyed by Storm Babet last October. Devastating tidal swells filled the eight-foot-deep Victorian pools with seaweed and irreversibly damaged vital water pumps, the viewing deck, steel fencing, and the sea wall. The aquarium’s resident family of rescued harbour seals had to be evacuated by staff members in the middle of the night just before the fencing was demolished. They are now temporarily relocated, with the male seals in Scarborough Sea Life Centre and the females in Combe Wildlife Park in Devon. 

While specifics regarding the expansion are still being kept under wraps, planning proposals submitted to Fife Council in February of this year suggest several stages of renovations. These include upgrading the outdoor viewing platform and seating area and creating a new presentation and exhibition space. The proposal also pitches for a new, higher sea wall around the perimeter of the external areas as a more robust solution to future sea storms. 

Speaking to The Courier, Mace commented: “The storm last October was devastating — the future of the aquarium was in question as we assessed the damage and costs of the repairs. As a family, we turned the disaster into an opportunity to completely change the space and build a bigger and better area for our visitors. The full development project costs will exceed £1 million in total, and we can’t wait to complete it.”

"Our family of seals have found new homes in other zoos since the storm, which has given us an exciting opportunity to bring several new and exciting animals into our new space. The work to strengthen and expand the protective sea wall, whilst very expensive, is essential, and will protect St Andrews Aquarium from future tidal swells.”

The aquarium currently houses over 120 species, with the renovations planning on bringing in new animal exhibits and interactive family attractions. Details of new inhabitants have not been revealed yet, as Mace added, “We’ve got big plans for the exhibits and type of animals that will go into the space, but we’ll reveal that in due course. Our team are excited about the developments which will bring new animals into our attraction, giving our visitors even more to see and learn about during their visits.”

With an estimated annual footfall of 70,000 visitors, the Aquarium is a significant part of the local economy and tourism. Amidst suggestions from some recent visitors to lower ticket prices and increase wheelchair access, this expansion heralds an exciting investment into community education and conservation and, if all goes to plan, will successfully mitigate the impact of future storms.

Photo by Madeleine Rea