Tanks for seals and otters, condemned by animal rights activists, will be built at an aquarium.

Slips of paper with the word "shame" printed on them rained down moments after Brighton and Hove city councillors approved plans for the two enclosures to be built at the Sea Life Centre in Madeira Drive, Brighton.

Yesterday's decision put an end to months of wrangling between the aquarium and animal charities who deem the plans inhumane.

Councillor Les Hamilton, chairman of the planning committee, cast the deciding vote after members were equally split.

Security guards ordered protesters to leave the public balcony at Hove Town Hall as they shouted at the councillors "I would like you all in tanks".

Protesters fear the animals will be distressed by fireworks and drunken revellers, but animal welfare cannot be taken into account by the planning committee.

Work on the two tanks, to house two captive-bred common seals which cannot legally be released into the wild and Asian short-clawed otters, could begin by the end of the year.

Speaking after the decision, Toby Forer, general manager of the Sea Life Centre, said: "I cannot stress enough how passionately we care for the animals and want to provide long-term homes for them.

"We would not have entered into this if their welfare was in doubt.

"I am delighted with the outcome, both from a personal point of view and for the animals.

"If this was not approved they would have had to carry on living in small conditions.

"We have been raring to go for some time and we will start work when the time is right.

"What we don't want to do is disrupt the seafront in the busy period but it's possible we could get going by the end of the year."

Councillors raised concerns about how the work would affect the listed building and whether the open tanks would put young visitors' safety at risk.

Green party councillor Sue Paskins said: "The idea of having people, especially children, viewing moving animals from a flight of steps is highly dangerous. It is asking for trouble."

Councillors praised improvements to the disabled access tunnel which leads from the beach into the aquarium.

Labour councillor Delia Forester added: "The applicants have rescued this building from dereliction and are now proposing further renovation work and improvements to disabled access which are much needed.

"I agree animal welfare should not be something we consider. What we are looking at is the concrete alterations to the building. Whether it is water lilies or octopus which go in that tank is not actually our business."

Protesters were dismayed by the decision and have mounted a petition asking people to boycott the aquarium.

Sue Baumgardt, of Brighton Animal Action, said: "It is because of this ridiculous law that animal welfare cannot be considered by the planning committee. Who made this law? It is not set in stone and it needs to be changed.

"The Sea Life Centre is not an animal welfare organisation, it's not a charity: it's a money-making venture."