The 24,000-square-foot aquarium that is on schedule to open by December in Northwest Austin has stirred up both excitement and concern from residents.

The first public aquarium in the Austin area, it is located inside part of the former Lack's Furniture store at 13530 Research Blvd. It will feature 10,000 animals in 35 exhibits that are designed to educate visitors about the oceans and rain forests and the wildlife that inhabit them, said co-owner Vince Covino, who also owns the Portland Aquarium in Portland, Ore., with his brother Ammon.

"The mission is to inspire and educate people about the creatures we share the planet with and to bring families together in an atmosphere where they can connect," Covino said.

How those animals will be treated has many residents such as Ernest Samudio concerned. He heads the animal rights organization Action for Animals Austin and hosted a rally Aug. 31 at the aquarium at which 40–45 activists showed up to protest it, he said.

"I've always been concerned about aquariums and zoos because of the process of procuring animals," Samudio said. "Usually it's a money-making venture or city tourist spot. That's never good for animals."

The aquarium still has community support from Austin residents such as Wayne Crumpler, who said a lot of the recent media reports of animal mistreatment are "hearsay," and he doesn't believe them.

"I don't believe a business would purposefully harm their product—that is the marine life," he said. "I think they would do everything they can to keep [them] healthy and beautiful."

Animal life

Many of the exhibits at the aquarium will be interactive, such as a shark and ray tank where people can touch the animals, Covino said. Featured animals include stingrays, sharks, jellyfish, tropical fish, sea turtles, sea horses, snakes, iguanas and a kinkajou.

"A lot of these animals are very interactive," Covino said. "That tactile engagement is where a guest will have the most memorable experience."

Another way visitors can interact with animals is through the live indoor butterfly exhibit that Craig "The Butterfly Man" Lee—who owns a live indoor butterfly exhibit that he takes to area schools—is assisting the aquarium in constructing. It will showcase monarchs and other species.

Covino said he developed a system for operating the aquariums by hiring marine biologists and zoologists as well as hobbyists with first-hand experience. In Austin, the aquarium has hired 15 employees with plans to hire another 40 in November.

Before animals arrive at Austin Aquarium, Covino said they are held in quarantine to ensure the animals are eating on schedule and are healthy enough to thrive at the aquarium.

Covino said the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded the business its permit July 17 to import animals from other countries. The aquarium is taking steps to become accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Zoological Association of America.

The aquarium was originally set to partner with The University of Texas at Austin's Texas Advanced Computing Center on a high-tech exhibit, but the TACC pulled out of preliminary discussions after recent news about the aquarium, according to TACC Communications Coordinator Faith Singer-Villalobos.

Covino said he now is in "advanced discussions" with two Austin companies about assisting with a high-tech exhibit.

Mounting concerns

How the Covinos have proceeded with construction has worried some residents after allegations surfaced that the aquarium did not have its required building permits. Covino said he received approval for a change of use request in June and later the appropriate building permits. He said construction is more than 65 percent complete.

However, Sylvia Arzola, a spokeswoman for the city of Austin's Planning and Development Review Department, said the business did not file its proper applications until Aug. 29, and those were rejected, which is commonplace, on Sept. 13.

Covino said city staff completed an inspection Sept. 13 and said the work looked great, but about 30 minutes later, staff came back with a stop work order. Matthew Christianson, division manager for the city of Austin's Code Compliance Department, said the department issued the stop work order because Austin Aquarium did not have a permit to pour concrete. However, Arzola said the business was granted a limited permit Sept. 16 to construct and test fish tanks.

Other issues that have some residents concerned are claims that animals at the Portland Aquarium were denied access to a veterinarian and that 200 of its 10,000 animals died in a three-month period.

Covino said the Oregon Humane Society opened an investigation into the facility regarding the animals' access to a veterinarian. He said none of the animals in Portland were denied access to one nor would that be the case in Austin. OHS spokesman David Lytle confirmed a complaint about the aquarium had been made and that an investigation was ongoing, but he could not comment on the nature of the investigation.

Covino said he hired a third-party consultant, a veterinarian and industry experts to review the Portland Aquarium's practices on everything from shipping methods to where it purchases animals.

A voice for animals

Resident Debbie Levine said her third-grade daughter loves anything to do with sea life, including sharks, and the family has purchased an annual pass to the aquarium.

"I want Austin to be confident the aquarium is doing the right thing and making sure the sea life are being taken care of properly so we can go with a clean conscience," she said.

Other residents are doing their part to ensure the facility will take care of the animals. Because of the OHS investigation and allegations of animal mistreatment at the Portland Aquarium, some Austin residents such as Lisa Aitala are raising awareness of the issues. When reports of animal mistreatment in Portland surfaced, she became concerned those issues could happen in Austin.

"We're dealing with living creatures," Aitala said. "It's unfair to put animals in a situation like that where they aren't being taken care of."

On Aug. 30, Covino released a statement that addressed many of the issues raised by concerned residents, stating that the animals had never been starved nor their lives sacrificed to cut costs. Samudio said some of the responses were misleading, such as some of the death of animals in Portland being related to shipping, which he said he does not believe. The Aug. 31 rally was his first step of action, and he said he plans to encourage people to contact the mayor and City Council about investigating the business.

"People are more concerned about making money," he said. "I'm always doubtful of the quality of care these animals will receive."