The Exploramer museum in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts will be entitled to an ambitious expansion and renovation project whose centerpiece will be a shark pavilion, at a time when the species is increasingly observed in the Estuary of the Saint Laurent.
“Of the eight species present in the St. Lawrence, seven are threatened,” explains the director of the Haute-Gaspésie scientific museum, Sandra Gauthier.
The new museum includes a virtual experience by Moment Factory and a new children’s exhibition curated by Patrice Michaud, originally from the region.
The future pavilion will also feature small sharks and rays in a 250,000 liter saltwater aquarium. The project requires an investment of $18 million – it was initially estimated at $10 million when it was launched in 2020. Management is in discussions with Quebec and Ottawa to complete the new budget, adjusted for cost overruns.
With its shark pavilion, Exploramer hopes to double its traffic to 70,000 visitors annually, in addition to attracting researchers in residence from here and elsewhere. Scheduled opening: summer 2025.