20 | 1 2020 20 ANNUAL OCEANÁRIOREPORT DE LISBOA 2 | 20 20 | 3 20 20 CONTENTS 4 Mission and Vision 5 Message from the Chairman 6 The Year 2020 10 An Aquarium To Discover And Thrill 16 Conservation and Knowledge 24 Education and Awareness-Raising 30 Communication and Dissemination 31 Human Resources 32 Economic and Financial Analysis 38 Proposed Earnings Distribution 38 Prospects for 2021 39 Acknowledgements 4 | 20 20 | 5 20 20 SHAREHOLDER The Oceano Azul Foundation, a non-profit VISION foundation under Portuguese private law whose purpose is to contribute to the Ocean conservation and sustainable use of the ocean, is the sole shareholder of Oceanário de Lisboa. conservation is a responsibility shared by all. GOVERNING BODIES MISSION PRESIDING BOARD OF THE GENERAL MEETING Chairman To encourage Tiago Ferreira Lemos Secretary people to learn Nuno de Deus Pinheiro more about the BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chairman José Soares dos Santos ocean and make Members João Falcato Pereira all citizens aware Tiago Pitta e Cunha Pedro Curto Simões of their duty to David Lopes (until 31 May 2020) Pedro Veloso (since 01 June 2020) conserve their AUDIT COMMITTEE natural heritage, Auditor ERNST & YOUNG AUDIT & ASSOCIADOS - SROC, S.A. represented by João Alves ou Luís Rosado by changing their Substitute Rui Abel Serra Martins behaviour. 6 | | 7 20 MAY 20 Reopening with new “Safe Visit” 20 measures 20 SEPTEMBER The “Agarra o Momento” [Seize the Visit by the Minister of the Sea publicizes Moment] campaign successfully gave a 2020 measures to ensure the well-being large number of young people up to 25 and safety of all visitors years of age the opportunity to visit the aquarium for just €5 JULY JANUARY Visit by the President of the Republic Launch of the “5€ até aos 18 anos” NOVEMBER Inauguration of the new publicizes the Oceanário de Lisboa and [€5 for under 18s] campaign to Birth of a new Magellanic penguin “Zazu”, Launch of an unprecedented campaign exhibition “One - The Oceano Azul Foundation’s vision encourage young people and families whose name was chosen by Oceanário promotes the early purchase of tickets, ocean as you never felt it” and action for ocean sustainability to visit Oceanário de Lisboa’s exhibitions de Lisboa followers on social media offering special conditions MARCH Oceanário de Lisboa closes to the public as a preventive measure due to the COVID-19 pandemic FEBRUARY APRIL JUNE AUGUST OCTOBER DECEMB Visit to the sea turtle conservation New online activities and Celebration of Children’s Month Frederico Morais becomes an “Ocean “Happy hour” campaign invites visitors Two whitetip reef sharks were programme in São Tomé with a educational contents are launched: with promotional offer Leader” and an active voice in the to enjoy the end of the day with a introduced to the Central Aquarium, television report during Jornal da “At school watching the sea” and defence of the ocean “dive” into the ocean raising further awareness to Noite [evening newscast] “At home watching the sea” visitors of the importance of marine biodiversity Launch of the new online shop with sustainable products A holiday season campaign offers all Oceanário de Lisboa Educational visitors between the ages of 13 and Programme online edition 64 the special price of €15 Acquisition of a new coral reproduction system 8 | 20 20 | 9 20 20 VISITORS 522 211 (-63%) 2020 PARTICIPANTS IN EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN NUMBERS 56 686 (-74%) TRIPADVISOR RATING 4,62 (+ 0,7) VIEWS OF OCEANÁRIO VIDEOS 721 471 INVESTMENT IN FREE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES EUR 143 000 SUPPORT FOR CONSERVATION PROJECTS EUR 111 000 ONGOING CONSERVATION PROJECTS 16 SPECIES BREEDING PROGRAMMES 16 OPERATING INCOME EUR 6,4 M (-67%) NET INCOME EUR -5,1 M (-7,2M€) INVESTMENTS IN EQUIPMENT EUR 746 000 (-75%) 10 | 20 20 | 11 20 20 AN AQUARIUM VISITORS TO DISCOVER 522 211 (-63%) The year 2020 began promisingly. The inauguration of the Exhibition “ONE – The Ocean as AND THRILL you never felt it”, in January, proved to be a winning bet, and together, the first two months of the year were the best ever. On 16 March, Oceanário de Lisboa closed its doors after being open every day for more than 21 years. The COVID-19 pandemic posed huge challenges to the Oceanário in 2020. Its main visitors, foreign tourists, were absent from the city of Lisbon. The attractiveness of indoor spaces was reduced, and the equipment’s capacity was restricted to less than a third of its usual capacity. The priority of the institution has always been the health of its employees, the welfare of its animals and the safety of visitors. In this regard, 2020 was a success, and all challenges were overcome, at an institution that must operate daily, even when closed to the public. Despite all the efforts and creativity of the team, Oceanário de Lisboa registered a 63 % reduction in visitors compared to 2019. The number of Portuguese visitors was 371 970, a 23 % drop year-on-year, and the number of foreign visitors was 150 241, representing a reduction of 84 %. 2020 was also an exceptional for the notable figures who honoured Oceanário de Lisboa with their visit, namely the Mayor of Lisbon Fernando Medina, Minister of the Environment João Matos Fernan- des, Minister of the Sea, Ricardo Serrão Santos, Minister of the Education, Tiago Brandão Rodrigues, Vice President of the European union Frans Timmermans, Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres Prime minister António Costa and the President of the Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. 12 | 20 AN AQUARIUM TO DISCOVER AND THRILL 20 | 13 20 20 OPENING OF THE NEW EXHIBITION INNOVATIVE MARKETING “ONE – THE OCEAN AS YOU NEVER CAMPAIGNS FELT IT” The absence of tourists and the increased avoidance of The new temporary exhibition was opened to the public in January indoor spaces drove the creation of conditions to attract 2020, hosted in the main lobby, in a new exhibition space OF 110 Portuguese visitors. With this objective, a series of innovative m2, specifically for this purpose. Created exclusively for Oceanário marketing campaigns were launched throughout the year, de Lisboa, this immersive audiovisual installation conveys the giving children, young people and adults the unprecedented immensity of the ocean and the deep connection humans have opportunity to visit the aquarium with very special conditions. with the sea, while conveying a sense of responsibility for its The campaigns were effective among large numbers of people preservation. The installation is by Portuguese artist Maya Almeida and demonstrated the public’s interest in experiencing a visit to (director and artistic director) who specializes in underwater Oceanário de Lisboa. photography in motion. The opening ceremony for the exhibition “ONE – The Ocean as you never felt it” was part of the opening RENOVATED AQUARIUMS event for the “Lisbon European Green Capital 2020” initiative, Several interventions were carried out, targeting lighting, the attended by several entities. provision of ornamental elements and the introduction of new animals, guaranteeing the continuous improvement of the CLOSING TO THE PUBLIC FROM 16 quality of the exhibition and recognising the importance of MARCH TO 10 MAY existing species. As a result of the state of emergency decreed by the Portuguese Government, and as a preventive measure to contain the SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA FISH AQUARIUM IN THE SOUTHERN GALLERY COVID-19 pandemic, Oceanário de Lisboa closed to the public ROCKY REEF AQUARIUM IN THE PACIFIC GALLERY on 16 March, 2020, for the first time in its history, and remained MANGROVE AQUARIUM IN THE INDIAN GALLERY closed until 10 May, suspending all on-site educational activities. OPENING OF A NEW CODFISH “SAFE VISIT” AND “CLEAN AND SAFE” AQUARIUM GUARANTEE The new aquarium in the Atlantic Habitat enriches the experience After being closed to the public for almost two months and in of visitors and raises their awareness to the importance of collaboration and articulation with official entities, Oceanário de conserving this species with great cultural importance in Lisboa reopened its doors on 11 May, with enhanced prevention Portugal, while addressing the theme of the sustainability of and safety measures, providing its visitors the guarantee of a “Safe fisheries. Visit”. Oceanário de Lisboa was also recognised with the “Clean and Safe” seal awarded by Turismo de Portugal for compliance with the recommendations issued by the Directorate-General for Health. Among the various implemented measures, we highlight the following: reduction in the number of visitors at any given time; compulsory use of face mask during the visit; face masks were offered to all visitors; spaces frequently cleaned; number of disinfectant gel dispensers available to visitors was increased; ticket payment exclusively through automated means. 14 | 20 AN AQUARIUM TO DISCOVER AND THRILL 20 | 15 20 20 NEW ANIMALS IN THE COLLECTION LAUNCH OF THE NEW ONLINE GIFT SHOP GORGONIANS Responding to the challenges of the pandemic, the new The Rocky reef aquarium received some gorgonian species: Oceanário de Lisboa online gift shop was launched in June 2020. Eunicella gazella, Paramuricea grayi and Spinimuricea atlantica. Reinforcing its positioning on sustainability, with the objective These additions are the result of the collaboration between of facilitating the adoption of more responsible behaviour, Oceanário de Lisboa and the CCMAR – Centre for Marine under the motto “Choose to change. Buy sustainable”, allowing Sciences of University of Algarve, through a project to recover those who cannot visit in person to purchase products from the gorgonians and corals stuck in fishing nets. SeatheFuture line. Produced with raw materials and processes with reduced impact on the planet, the aim is to make the BLUEBANDED GOBY (Lythrypnus dalli) difference and take another step towards the adoption of a more This territorial goby inhabits rocky areas and reefs at depths of conscious and responsible lifestyle.