People Are Angry That A Japanese Theme Park Froze Fish Into Its Ice Rink

Kengo Umeno / AP

An amusement park that froze real fish into its ice rink has been forced to close the attraction following public outcry.

Space World, in the Japanese city of Kitakyushu, embedded around 5,000 small fish into the ice to allow visitors to "glide across the sea," according to its website.

Kengo Umeno / AP

"The unprecedented attraction must be the world’s first, not to mention Japan’s first," the park added.

But the frozen-fish rink was described as "cruel," "weird," and "immoral," according to local media reports.

Many complained about the macabre attraction via the park's Twitter and Facebook pages after the rink was featured on Japanese television in the Yamaguchi Prefecture region on Saturday.

"I won't go to such a amusement park again," Ayako Sato commented on Facebook. On Twitter, @renkonorho called the spectacle "bad taste".

Following the outcry, Space World issued a statement on Facebook and Twitter apologizing for any offense caused and confirming that it would close the rink.

"Everyone seemed to be uncomfortable about 'Ice Aquarium' deeply apologize. 'Ice Aquarium' plan will be suspended," a translation of the Tweet read.

A spokesperson for Space World told the Asahi Shimbun the fish were already dead when they were purchased from a local market with the purpose of creating the unique ice rink.

“We purchased fish hauled and sold dead at a market through a dealer,” the spokesperson said. “Misunderstanding spread on the Internet that the fish were frozen alive, but that was not the case. We should have explained more.”

A memorial is reportedly planned for the fish at the park this time next year.