The construction of an aquarium to show the full potential of Ria Formosa is a project that already goes back ten years – but it’s now nearer to becoming a reality. According to a source at the local town hall, an economic viability study is underway to show that the idea is a “sustainable” investment. For the moment, we know that the architecture was designed by «Promontório Arquitectos” of Lisbon. It was this company that created the famous «Fluvário» in Moura – a very successful attraction in the Upper Alentejo.
Olhão’s project is expected to go ahead in the Avenida Marginal, next to the Grupo Hoteís Real venture, currently under construction.
The town has already been approved as the home for the laboratories of a Unesco Coastal Eco-hydrology Centre – a project by the University of the Algarve.
Meantime, finance is the main obstacle facing the aquarium’s construction – and the solution may be to candidate for EC funding, with collaboration from private interests.
Olhão History:
The town of Olhão is essentially and historically linked to the local fishing industry and only grew into existence in the 17th Century. It has about 30,000 inhabitants and was raised to the status of a town after 17 local fishermen successfully crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 1808 in the fishing boat “Bom Sucesso” without charts. Their purpose was to announce to the exiled King of Portugal, Dom João IV, that the French invading armies had been defeated and had returned to France leaving Portugal free for the King to return. It was in this town in 1882 that the first canning factory for tuna and sardines was established. Very soon canning factories spread along the coast and it became the leading industry of the Algarve.
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