A Few Dates
Nausicaa, or when a dream comes true… Nausicaa was a wild project that sprang from the imagination of ocean enthusiasts in the early 1980’s. The idea was to create a new kind of aquarium, a Centre of the Sea which would help raise public awareness on ocean-related issues. All that at Boulogne-sur-Mer, in Northern France.
National Sea Centre main milestones
1981: Guy LENGAGNE, the mayor of Boulogne-sur-Mer, wanted to repurpose the old casino by renovating the interior spaces.
1982: oceanographers Philippe VALLETTE, current Nausicaa director, Stéphane HENARD and Christophe LIACOPOULOS were given the task of carrying out a preliminary study and were later entrusted with the project. At that time already they were convinced of the necessity to create something of much more importance than just a regular aquarium.
1984: a non-profit association was created and the architectural project was launched. Jacques ROUGERIE was selected as project architect.
1986: the Nausicaa project was approved as one of France’s major architectural and urban development projects and the Sea Centre became the National Sea Centre. The European Union contributed FF70 million to finance the FF140 million project. Invitations to tender to build the complex were issued, while in the museum on Grand Rue, fish farming began.
1987: construction began.
1991: the National Sea Centre Development Company was created. The National Sea Centre was renamed Nausicaa.
18 May 1991: grand opening.
1994: the first jellyfish arrived.
1995: first temporary exhibit “The Sea and the Child”.
1998: Nausicaa doubled its surface to 4,500m2 of exhibit space. The extension houses approximately 10,000 new marine animals and features the Californian Sea Lion Preserve as well as the Tropical Lagoon Village, where one can observe sharks and coral reefs.
1999: UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission designated Nausicaa a Centre of Excellence.
2002: Nausicaa obtained the "Tourism & Disability" label. The World Ocean Network was created.
2003: the first caimans arrived in the Submerged Tropical Forest, a new space integrated in the “World House” in early 2005, which aims to make people think about their consumer habits.
2006: a new extension was built including a new permanent exhibition space called “Steer South” and our African penguins arrived.
2007: we welcomed our ten millionth visitor.
2008: launch of “Planet Nausicaa”, a unique interactive multimedia tool. Opening of the exhibition/focus on Madagascar and the Mozambique canal. During October 2008, Nausicaa worked with a veterinary surgeon who specialises in sharks to achieve a world first: a surgical operation on one of Nausicaa’s grey sharks. On 14 November 2008, Nausicaa was awarded 1st Prize for the medical training of sea lions at the IMATA (International Marine Animal Trainers Association) annual conference, which took place in CANCUN, Mexico.
2009 : a number of books were published - “Secrets des abysses” by Christine CAUSSE and Philippe VALLETTE published by Fleurus, and “MADAGASCAR, L’ILE OCÉAN” by Christine CAUSSE and Philippe VALLETTE, photographs by Alexis ROSENFELD, published by Autrement. Birth of the first baby penguin, an African penguin.
2010: official launch in France of the European “Mr Goodfish” campaign. The project is run in association with the Acquario di Genova in Italy and the Aquarium Finisterrae in Spain, under the aegis of the World Ocean Network, and aims to encourage the public to play an active part in preserving marine resources.
