DETROIT -- Supporters continued their fight on Monday to save the Belle Isle Aquarium from closing, Local 4's Emery King reported.

The aquarium, which is operated by the Detroit Zoological Institute, is scheduled to close on March 1 as part of a massive budget cut in the city of Detroit. Zoo Director Ron Kagan and city officials say closing the facility will save the city more than $530,000 in annual expenses and millions in capital needed to keep the structure sound.

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VIDEO: Belle Isle Groups Address City Council
QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should Aquarium Close?
HISTORY: Belle Isle Aquarium

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Representatives from the Friends of Belle Isle, Friends of the Belle Isle Aquarium and Friends of the Belle Isle Conservatory gathered before City Council to argue their case for saving the 101-year-old aquarium.

"It gets to a point that, after a while, what is there going to be to go out on Belle Isle to do?" said Thomas Wilson Jr., of Friends of Belle Isle. "I know there's talk about bringing the glory days of Belle Isle back, but right now all of that is a dream."

Wilson and others proposed that the city instead shut down the Ford Auditorium, which costs the same yearly amount to maintain, Local 4 reported.

Officials site declining attendance as part of the reason for the aquarium's closure. Detroit Zoological Institute and Society have also been working for a number of years on a plan to create a state-of-the-art riverfront aquarium in the near future, according to a Detroit Zoo news release.

"The closing of this building is unfortunate, especially considering the outstanding conservation work," Kagan said. "However, we need a much larger and modern facility as soon as possible; one that will offer the community and tourists great experiences and economic benefits for Detroit."

Built in 1904, the Belle Isle Aquarium is North America's oldest, continuously operating public aquarium. It was designed by famed Detroit architect Albert Kahn.

If the structure closes as planned, staff members will be sent to the Detroit Zoo and the Belle Isle Zoo. Aquarium operators will also find new homes for the freshwater and tropical freshwater fish, according to reports.

For more information on how to make a donation to keep the aquarium open or to sign an online petition, click here.