18 June 2013
Plans have been unveiled for a floating aquarium to house a great white shark off Port Lincoln in South Australia.
The project's director, Travis Nottle, has outlined the idea for a $35 million shark discovery centre to the Port Lincoln Council.
It is proposed visitors would be taken to the centre by ferry.
Mr Nottle says the centre could be a significant new tourism attraction.
"Basically a world-first idea that leverages off of success that's been happening in North America," he said.
"Creating a floating piece of infrastructure, a significant floating piece of infrastructure, to temporarily accommodate a live great white shark in captivity, temporarily, with the shark's health and wellbeing [at the] forefront of the design."
He says the aquarium would enable people who cannot or do not want to dive with sharks, to observe a great white at close range.
"So that people feel safe, it's a protected area, in terms of sea state conditions, wind and swell," he said.
"It's also very close so you don't have to go as far - basically you are in the shark's home but you're not out in the open wild ocean."
