It is anticipated that the reefLIVE Aquarium will be the largest marine-life visitor attraction on the island of Ireland and promises visitors an immersive experience using high quality live displays that will place bring to life the environment of sea creatures previously unseen on television. It iss expected to attract more than 300,000 visitors each year when the attraction opens its doors in 2022.

The aquarium’s exterior has been designed by Ethos Architects, while the interior of the building has been devised by a aquarium design team led by Kay Elliott Architects and Theme 3 to create an aquarium for the 21st century.

All species within reefLIVE will be ethically sourced and aquarium displays and livestock will be maintained to the highest standards of animal welfare. reefLIVE will not display any Cetaceans or large pelagic shark species due to the team’s deeply held belief that the needs of these species cannot be met adequately in a captive environment.

“We are thrilled with Belfast City Council’s decision to approve our aquarium which has received a tremendous amount of public support since its original announcement last year. Our commitment to building our first reefLIVE aquarium in Belfast is testament to the city’s track record for tourism excellence and an unwavering confidence that sustained investment in Northern Ireland’s tourism and leisure sector will prove vital for the region’s recovery in a post-COVID world,” said Keith Thomas, managing firector, reefLIVE.