Business Expert
Photograph by Robyn Angliss
National
Marine Mammal Laboratory
Alaska
Fisheries Science Center
You are in charge of being an
expert on the funding necessary for this proposal to be carried out. In
terms of funding for food, staffing, and the construction of the tank,
consider a budget in general terms. In other words, plan out a weekly budget
for food and staff salary with the information provided.
Marine parks are not established
merely for entertainment purposes. For example, Sea World has an educational
mission driving people to learn about marine life through their exhibitions
and aquariums. You must understand that your purpose is to construct this
proposal as educationally fitting as possible. In order to understand your
role better, read the following summaries and driving questions pertaining
to your tasks during the creation of your proposal:
-
It is your duty to research the general
expenses that will be needed for the completion of this proposal. Is this
going to be an expensive investment? What could you do to raise money?
-
The construction and maintenance of
the tank will be a major expense. You will need to calculate these expenses
with the web sites provided.
-
Who will you need to hire in order to
fulfill the necessary deeds of this project? Who will take care of the
whale's needs (feeding, cleaning, training, etc.)? Include these expenses
for your total weekly budget.
Use the following approximations
to design a weekly budget. You must account for the following people (and
# of each) to work in your aquarium.
|
JOB (# of workers)
|
SALARY per WEEK
|
| Marine Biologist (1) |
$1500
|
| Veterinarian (2) |
$1500
|
| Aquarium Manager (1) |
$1000
|
| Trainer (4) |
$800
|
| Gift Shop Keeper (2) |
$600
|
| Ticket Collector (4) |
$600
|
| Janitor (2) |
$600
|
-
Your research must include the size
and eating habits of a baby and a growing whale. He is 18 months when you
find him, but when he grows, adjustments will need to be made unless you
plan accordingly. His eating habits will change. Will this affect costs
in the future? Generally speaking, how so?
-
Are you going to open the aquarium to
the public? Will the Beluga whale be on display? Will he perform? Will
it be necessary to charge visitors? If so, how much will you charge?
The following links will aid you
in your research. They have been chosen for you because for the depth and
breadth of information they contain. Use your expertise wisely to choose
the statistics about the whale (baby and adult) so that your group can
design the best and most appropriate proposal.