Award wins for the Oceanarium, Bournemouth!

The Oceanarium has been presented with the 2024 Silver Education Award and Bronze Responsible, Ethical and Sustainable Award at the 2024 DMB Tourism Awards.

These accolades highlight the Oceanarium’s commitment to delivering exceptional educational experiences, while championing sustainable, responsible and ethical practices in marine conservation and tourism.

The Silver Education Award honours the Oceanarium’s dedication to providing engaging, impactful educational programmes, that inspire visitors and aspiring conservationists with a deeper understanding of marine life and knowledge of the importance of ocean conservation and biodiversity. The Oceanarium’s dedicated education hosts provide engaging interactive school packages alongside regular daily talks with visitors, aiming to spread more awareness of the current environmental issues our world is facing. The Oceanarium has become a hub for learning, fostering environmental stewardship among visitors of all ages.

In addition, the Bronze Responsible, Ethical, and Sustainable Award recognises the Oceanarium’s ongoing efforts to minimise its environmental footprint, support sustainable practices, and promote ethical interactions with wildlife. The Oceanarium continues to set a high standard for responsible tourism in the industry, with initiatives focused on conservation, eco-friendly operations, and partnerships with marine research organisations, such as supporting the Shark Trusts ‘Big Shark Pledge,’ the Marine Conservation Society, and the Punta San Juan Program. The Oceanarium is a partner of PSJ which conserves Humboldt Penguins and Inca Terns in Peru, their native habitat. 40% of the profit from Oceanarium penguin adoptions goes straight to PSJ and with additional fundraising, since 2022 the Oceanarium has raised over £6000 for our feathery friends across the pond.

“We are truly honoured to receive these two significant awards,” said Oliver Buttling, Curator of the Oceanarium. “These recognitions reflect the hard work and dedication of our team in encouraging both educational and sustainable experiences for our guests. We remain committed to inspiring future generations to become active participants in protecting our wonderful oceans, rivers and aquatic species.”

As a leader in marine education and conservation, the Oceanarium continuous to expand its initiatives to ensure that guests not only learn about the wonders of our underwater world, but also understand the critical role they play in preserving it for future generations to come.