Scarborough Sea Life and Marine Sanctuary

But Scarborough Sea Life and Marine Sanctuary, driven by a genuine desire to save endangered species - and fascinate the world at the same time - does just that. It is also dedicated to ensuring that children understand that there is more to heaven, earth and the oceans than they ever dreamed of.

For these reasons alone, it is a worthy candidate for both the Environmental Business of the Year and Best Business and Education Link categories in the 2004 Evening Press Business of the Year.

The grey and common seals are cared for, in a special hospital if necessary, then let back into the wild. The centre also cares for Antiopi and Lefteris, two Loggerhead sea turtles rescued in Greece, a pair of rare otters, and penguins who are taking part in a world breeding project, particularly endangered Humboldt Penguins from South America of which there are only 10,000 pairs left in the world.

To that end the centre, at Scalby Mills, has built a new penguin sanctuary, which has proved a huge hit with the public, with visitor numbers up by five per cent to about 250,000. Among these are RSPCA inspectors who are taught at the sanctuary how to handle these wonderful creatures.

The numbers were also boosted this year by the arrival of the centre's new "creature feature" - Jellyfish! - part of an ultra-violet lit jellyfish area populated by six species of jellyfish. The audience is informed about the creatures using a "glow in the dark" lettering on an interpretation panel.

Latest occupant is a Flower Hat jellyfish, which looks like a Victorian beaded hat.

Among the up-to-40 people employed at the 13-year-old attraction is a marketing co-ordinator who organises visits by 20,000 schoolchildren a year and presents them with a curriculum-based programme of fun, including an interactive quiz trail aided by pushbuttons, viewing windows, lights and sounds.

Updated: 12:30 Wednesday, July 07, 2004