2023-12-28 21:20:00
It is a fish and lights show that the Paris Aquarium promises to some 1,500 “privileged” people for Sunday December 31, 2023. An extraordinary event that associations defending animal welfare are criticizing.
Thursday, December 28, members of the Paris Animaux Zoopolis (PAZ) association demonstrated in front of the establishment, near the Trocadéro, deeming this “exceptional New Year’s Eve” illegal. For this, they are relying on a 2021 law, prohibiting “presenting animals (…) in nightclubs”.
However, the famous Parisian aquarium has regularly been transformed into a nightclub since 2006. A new activity which represents no less than a quarter of its turnover. And for this last evening of the year, they promise a dance “in front of the largest pond in France, with thousands of fish and the prettiest specimens from around the world”.
“Fish are not attractions or decorations,” PAZ co-founder Amandine Sanvisens told AFP. “Not only are the animals trapped in aquariums, but they are also disturbed at night by sound and light,” she laments.
The president of the aquarium Alexis Powilewicz denies it outright: “Nothing gets through. The walls of the methacrylate pools are 35 to 40 centimeters, it’s more than triple glazing,” he explains. And added: “Veterinary reports have never shown a single stereotypical behavior in animals.” According to him, the nocturnal activity of the place has no impact on the fish, which is confirmed by an inspection in 2019 by the departmental directorate for population protection (DDPP). As for the 2021 law, he assures: “we do not exhibit the animals, they remain quietly in their pool”.
The City of Paris, owner of the aquarium walls, told AFP that it would soon provide an update “on the measures put in place” to guarantee “compliance with the regulations.” Since 2022, the Sea Shepherd association has also been on the scene.
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