News

Usually, shark sightings off of New York City's boardwalks and beaches bring only shrill screams and cleverly titled articles (similar to this one) in the next day's paper; but a new project at the New York Aquarium may change this.

This week, The New York Aquarium announced plans to build a $125-million shark exhibit that will extend over three city blocks: ending on the Coney Island Boarwalk. The exhibit, temporarily slated for completion in 2015, will feature at least seven different species of sharks and a population five-fold of the current “shark tank” on display at the Aquarium.

“The current shark tank exhibit is old and tiny, so we’re very excited to replace it,” explains New York Aquarium director Jon Dohlin in an article for The Brooklyn Paper. As of now, the city has allotted $49-million for the project, leaving a significant amount dependent on private financing.

This exhibit has the potential to give an urban population a little glimpse into the shark's natural role; but first there's a price tag that the rest of us will have to “sink our teeth” into.