Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe (登別マリンパークニクス, Noboribetsu marinpāku nikusu) is a Japanese public aquarium located in Noboribetsu, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the one of largest aquariums in Hokkaido, with several buildings constructed around a copy of Egeskov Castle.“全道一の水族館目指す登別の「道マリンパーク」”. 北海道新聞 (北海道新聞社). (1987年1月31日) It is a member of the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA) and the aquarium is accredited as a Museum-equivalent facility by the Museum Act from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

History

To establish the largest aquarium in Hokkaido, the city government of Noboribetsu established a third-sector company as the main operator with investment from 42 local companies. The aquarium was opened on July 20, 1990, at a total project cost of approximately 7.3 billion yen.

In the first month of its opening, approximately 230,000 people visited the museum.“登別マリンパークオープン”. 北海道新聞 (北海道新聞社). (1990年7月20日) For the first two years of its opening, it attracted more than 600,000 visitors per year.鞠子理人(2012年7月21日). “登別マリンパークの経営順調、累積赤字10分の1に削減”. 室蘭民報 (室蘭民報社)

However, from the third year of operation onwards, the number of visitors rapidly dropped due to the economic downturn caused by the bursting of the bubble economy and the loss of popularity. As a result, in 1997, the private company withdrew, leaving Noboribetsu City virtually holding the entire operation."Wave Motion": "Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe" Withdrawn by Private Sector City management skills questioned as attendance continues to decline and search for new owner". Hokkaido Shimbun (Hokkaido Shimbun). (April 8, 1997)

As a result, "Hokkaido Marine Park," the operating body of the park, fell into a business crisis with accumulated debts of approximately 4.03 billion yen as of January 2001. The same month, Noboribetsu City, Kamori Kanko, and Hokkaido Marine Park signed a memorandum of understanding to transfer management rights of the marine park to Kamori Kanko."Noboribetsu City and Kamori Kanko hold press conference to present Hokkaido Marine Park's restructuring plan". Muroran Minpo (Muroran Minpo). (January 24, 2001)

Under this restructuring plan, Kamori Kanko became the largest shareholder by transferring the 25% stake (100 million yen investment) owned by Noboribetsu City without compensation, and "Hokkaido Marine Park" became a private company from the third sector.

Then, Noboribetsu City acquired the park's building for approximately 800 million yen and leased it free of charge for 10 years, which effectively exempted Noboribetsu City from paying property tax, and "Hokkaido Marine Park" became free of property tax and building The "Hokkaido Marine Park" was no longer burdened with property taxes and building depreciation.

After the park became a subsidiary of Kamori Kanko, the number of visitors was estimated at 250,000 to 300,000 per year, and the number of employees was reduced to make the park profitable at that level. As of July 2012, the number of employees was reduced to 28 full-time employees and 50 part-time employees, or about one-fourth of the original staff, reducing costs.

Facility

Nixe Castle. Inside, there are four floors, an aquarium.“北欧風水族館 登別マリンパーク 来月20日オープン”. 北海道新聞 (北海道新聞社). (1990年6月19日) At the entrance, there is an high crystal tower tank and two shark tunnels, one for cold-zone fish and the other for warm-zone fish. The two tanks are next to each other and can be viewed from above by escalators. The building was modeled after Denmark's Egeskov Castle. Dolphin show pool sea lion show pool sealring pool: newly built after privatization. Penguin pavilion. The parade is held throughout the year, and the penguins that parade differ depending on the season. (King penguin, gentoo penguin, and Cape penguin) Riku-zoku-kan: newly established after privatization. Amusement park "Nixland". Cash playground equipment including a Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, whale train, poltergeist pavilion, battery cars, etc.

Research and conservation

The aquarium is committed to captive breeding of organisms, and in the past has successfully new bred 10 species and received a breeding award from JAZA.

In 2021, a joint research team at the Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe, Azabu University and Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine elucidated pathological changes in individuals that lead to early detection of avian aspergillosis, a respiratory disease that penguins are particularly susceptible to and has been considered difficult to treat, and published their research results on diagnosis and treatment by CT scan in the Official Journal of the Japanese Society of Veterinary Science, an academic journal. This research received the 2021 Japanese Society of Wildlife Medicine Best Paper Award.

Other events At Noboribetsu Beach Park, the front garden of Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe, a two-day festival called Waku Waku Square Noboribetsu is held every July.登別市観光課・観光イベント情報室蘭民報ニュース『登別「わくわく広場」開幕、多くの来場者で大にぎわい』（2008年度）

Gallery

See also

Kamori Kankō

References

External links Official Site