The chance to touch the sea life made the aquarium popular with families.

Ten fire crews raced to the fire at about 3am.

A popular aquarium in Mapua, near Nelson, has been destroyed in a suspicious fire early this morning.

Ten fire crews turned out to Aranui Rd at 3am and put out two other fires at a tennis court and in a rubbish bin.

Touch the Sea Aquarium owner Murray Goss was in Wellington on business, taking calls from friends who were at the scene watching his business burn.

He was catching the first flight home this morning.

''It's the end of an era - that's what I'm thinking. I think of the school children and the people who won't be able to come to the aquarium anymore and the effect it will have on the Mapua Wharf.

"It's not the physical loss - it's the emotional side - the fact my grandchild has turned one year old and won't be able to see it.''

Goss said the business was insured but it was far too soon for him to say whether he'd rebuild. He started the aquarium in 1999. ''It was a big effort on my part.''