Eight dolphins currently housed in the keep at Dockyard will soon have more room to roam if Government approves a plan to add to their waters.

Dolphin Quest has submitted an application to the Planning department to pen off 2.56 acres of ocean floor off the Maritime Museum for the animals.

"The existing keep pond and buildings currently accommodates the Dolphin Quest facility," General Manager Christine Mihelcic wrote in a letter to Planning.

"Dolphin Quest now wishes to expand and enhance the facility with the addition of a habitat area."

The company had an environmental assessment carried out to look at the effects adding the habitat might have on humans, the area and the dolphins themselves.

It was carried out by a team of veterinarians, Dolphin Quest staff and technicians.

The assessment found that the company's proposal will have no negative effect on either the marine environment or human populations.

It is expected to benefit the dolphins greatly, however.

"With the decision made to remain at the Maritime Museum complex, it is very much in the interest of the dolphins and the guest programme to expand the overall marine facility," Ms Mihelcic said.

"The introduction of a natural extended habitat into the facility design of Dolphin Quest Bermuda offers a plethora of benefits to the resident dolphins and community alike.

"The addition would offer new environmental and physical enrichment opportunities for the animals.

"These include new stimuli provided by the local marine environment and integration of boating resources.

"Public and animal social interactions will benefit from an increased variety in programme structure and type."

The new habitat will be attached to the current pond by an existing tunnel.

"The access tunnel was previously used for the passage of boats in and out of the protected keep area," Ms Mihelcic noted.

The habitat will be separated from the open water by a four-inch PVC mesh fence with a stainless steel cable float line and anchored to the sea floor.

The environmental assessment said the sea floor where the habitat will be located is flat and relatively uniform in composition.

Dolphin Quest consulted with the Department of the Environment and the Marine Resources Board on its proposals.

MRB supports the project but has asked that a number of conditions be attached to it including that the company will not open the South Shore site and commits to cleaning up and restoring the Dockyard site should the facility be abandoned.

Dolphin Quest was forced to close its South Shore site off the Southampton Princess after it was damaged during Hurricane Gert.

The application for the new habitat was submitted to Planning on November 28.