It's the last straw for the aquarium ... Following the announcement of its "Réveillon d'exception", scheduled for Sunday December 31, 2023, theAquarium de Paris, France's largest aquarium and one of the oldest in the world, has once again drawn the wrath of animal rights activists. Located in the Trocadéro gardens, opposite the Eiffel Tower, the spot has been transformed into a discotheque on certain nights since 2006. Despite allegations by the Paris Animaux Zoopolis (PAZ) association that these evenings are illegal under a 2021 law prohibiting the "presentation of animals in discotheques", the aquarium's president, Alexis Powilewicz, defends the legality of the event.
A New Year's Eve party in 2024 that then brought out the banners of the demonstrators who came to protest this Thursday, December 28, 2023 in front of theParis Aquarium. The crux of the debate lies in animal welfare, according to PAZ, which claims that fish are disturbed by the sound and light effects during these evenings. However, the aquarium's president maintains that the tank walls provide adequate protection and that the animals show no stereotyped behavior, according to veterinary reports and previous checks.
Despite ongoing litigation since the decision of the Paris Administrative Court in February 2022, ordering the aquarium to regularize its situation, the establishment continues to offer evening entertainment. The City of Paris, which owns the premises, is currently examining the necessary measures to ensure compliance with regulations. The case remains a cause for concern, highlighting the continuing tension between human entertainment and animal welfare.
