PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Over its relatively brief existence, the Portland Aquarium drew its share of criticism, picketers and controversy. Now, the owners announced the facility will close its current location.
In a statement released Thursday, Marketing Director Susan Elcox said the building where the Portland Aquarium is located will be demolished in early 2016, and the aquarium will close on February 15.
It’s possible the Portland Aquarium will resurface in another location, although one has not yet been determined, Elcox said.
Aquarium Director Roger McBee tells KOIN 6 News most of the animals will be shipped to their aquarium in Austin, Texas. All employees have been given the option to transfer there or one of the other facilities.
“I’ve been asked to go to Las Vegas and head up the aquarium there,” says McBee.
“We knew we would eventually outgrow this facility,” founder Vince Covino said in the statement. “We also knew going into it the risk that this building might sell due to the high value of large lot on a busy thoroughfare. Our next Portland location will at least twice this size, and in a more fitting destination area.”
Aquarium Manager Lary Smith says they hope to relocate to a mall, which would give them more space.
McBee says if the aquarium does reopen it could take awhile. Once a site is picked it will take about four months to get the aquarium up and running.
The current location in Milwaukie is 12,000 square feet, they said.Previous issues
In 2013, co-owner Ammon Covino pleaded guilty in a Florida courtroom to illegally harvesting fish for the Idaho Aquarium in Boise. He initially pleaded not guilty but decided not to fight the charges.
Court documents also showed he tried to illegally purchase lemon sharks for the Portland Aquarium.
His nephew, Peter Covino, tried to get the person illegally selling the fish to his uncle to erase emails and text messages. Peter Covino was sentenced to time served and two years of supervised release, including 180 days of home monitoring with an electronic monitor.
KOIN 6 News also learned at that time the Idaho Aquarium — like the Portland Aquarium — was under investigation by the Idaho Humane Society over allegations of animal mistreatment.
The Oregon Humane Society investigated similar claims.