(This statement is dated July 25, but it was news to me, and probably others outside Brighton, so I thought I would share it. Nice to hear some good news....)

After a campaign running for the last 5 months where protesters from Brighton Animal Action (BAA) held an info stall every weekend, gave out leaflets and decorated the whole area around the Palace Pier and Sealife Centre with banners, the Sealife Centre announced yesterday (24th July) that they will not be taking seals, otters and penguins into pools situated by the busy entrance. Our campaign has been really 'fluffy' and, apart from one demo outside the architect's office and another at the Town Hall for the planning application, has concentrated on informing the public about the Sealife Centre.

There are other creatures living within the building that we are not at all happy about - Lulu, a turtle captured from the wild over 60 years ago, has spent her life in a 'lagoon' there; according to inside info, ocotopi die regularly and are replaced; turtles from the Cayman Islands were recently bought in and a catfish lives in a tank which is much too small for it - even a fisherman complained to the staff who admitted that there were regular complaints from visitors (so why don't they do something about it?).

We have also heard that fish surface breaking to take feed from the public have been known to leap out of the tank and onto the floor. Public support has been great, we had the local Green Party councillors on our side as well as Born Free, Zoo Check, International Marine Rescue, the Captive Animal Protection Society & the RSPCA.


We are now reconsidering how to continue with the campaign but until further notice any demonstrations that were planned against the seal and otter pools have been cancelled. We are revamping the website and will be producing new literature and leaflets.


Here is the article from the local paper, The Argus. Members of BAA have already written letters complaining about the manager's use of the word 'extremist' and his idea that our protest wasn't legal.

Aquarium's seal pool plans scrapped
by Rachel Pegg

An aquarium has scrapped its plans to exhibit seals, penguins and sea otters. Brighton Sea Life Centre has shelved the idea of introducing the creatures at its site close to the Palace Pier. Earlier this year the centre won planning permission to build pools to display two seals, which would have been joined later by penguins and otters. The plans attracted opposition from animal rights groups. Today The Argus can exclusively reveal that the centre will no longer be taking the two seals, which have been rehoused at an unnamed site run by parent company Merlin Entertainments.

The centre, in Madeira Drive, said the decision was not taken because of protests but because Brighton and Hove City Council's planning process had lasted so long, forcing it to consider other options. But campaigners insisted their demonstrations had been successful. In a statement Toby Forer, senior general manager for the centre, said: "Brighton Sea Life Centre has postponed indefinitely its plans to develop a seal sanctuary in favour of alternative new attractions. "The long delay in gaining planning permission for the proposed sanctuary forced us to create a different new attraction for the current season and also prompted other ideas for the future. "The seals we intended providing a home for have been suitably rehoused. "While the seal facility would have been one of the best in the UK ... the alternate attractions now being planned will be just as exciting."

For five months protesters manned a stall near the centre every weekend, asking for signatures opposing the plan and handing out leaflets. Speaking exclusively to The Argus, Mr Forer denied they had shaped the decision. He said: "Merlin has never been and never will be influenced by extremist action or what they feel is lawful protest. It has not impacted on our business but we will not be sorry to see the protests ended." He said because of the delay in the planning process, the centre had started a new exhibition called Venom with sea snakes which was very popular. He would not say what other animals might be exhibited in future, nor where the seals had gone. He said: "Animal welfare is one of the most important things."

Campaigner Lisa Gooch, from Tilgate, Crawley, said: "This is brilliant. I can't believe it. I am over the moon. "I do think it is a result of the campaign. They have been absolutely sick of us. We have had so much public support." Miss Gooch is treasurer for Brighton Animal Action, which spearheaded the campaign with backing from the Born Free Foundation, International Marine Rescue, the Captive Animal Protection Society, the Green Party and the RSPCA. She said it may not be the end of the protests. She said: "There is a lot of animals in there that need saving."

Mike Nunn, from Seaford, who was heavily involved in the campaign but has now stepped down from Brighton Animal Action, said: "It is a result of the people of Brighton. We have received so much support. "More than 4,000 people signed our last petition."