Sea Life Sanctuary set to close next month

The Scottish Sea Life Sanctuary has confirmed it is to close at the end of next month, almost 40 years after it first opened.

Merlin Entertainments blamed a decline in visitor numbers at the attraction in Oban in Argyll for the move.

The company said there was no viable way to keep the centre open and said the animals would be transferred to Sea Life Centres in other parts of the UK.

The attraction, which opened in 1979, will shut its doors on 31 October. A statement on the Scottish Sea Life Sanctuary website said: “Sadly visitor numbers to the attraction have been in decline and after comprehensively reviewing every possible option, there isn’t a viable way to sustain the significant investment required to keep the sanctuary open.”