By Malin Nyberg

Last updated 19:44, Thursday, 24 April 2008

A £250,000 EXTENSION is planned at Maryport’s Lake District Coast Aquarium, to open in July.

Owner Mark Vollers said up to five new full-time jobs are set to be created over the next five years.

In its first major overhaul since opening in 1997, the harbourside aquarium will have two new rooms.

However, visitors will not find more fish.

Mr Vollers said: “More tanks were the original idea, but we have managed to fit in more displays into the existing building.

“The extension will instead be for an audio-visual theatre and dedicated to environmental issues and natural history.

“One of the rooms will be for visiting groups, or for small private functions such as school parties.

“The other one will be devoted to semi permanent exhibitions and displays relating to natural history and environmental issues. This room will have free entry to all comers.”

Urban regeneration company West Lakes Renaissance and Maryport Heritage Trust is funding 24 per cent of the £250,000 budget for the new project.

The aquarium already has 70,000 visitors a year and employs 22 people.

The first exhibition will be from The Shark Trust, which works to prevent sharks disappearing from our oceans.

“There is a big demand in China and Japan to make soup,” said Mr Vollers. “It is a real problem and it is an important issue to bring up.”

Most of the exhibition themes will centre on the natural history of the Solway Firth and the marine environment, including marine art and photography.