New Aquariums and Exhibits Abstracts
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The Twilight Zone:
An Exhibition of Mesophotic Life Charles Delbeek, Steinhart Aquarium Califiornia Academy of Sciences Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Over the last 20 years, advances in rebreather diving technology has enabled an increasing number of researchers, marine life collectors, and explorers to access a relatively unexplored region of the aquatic realm. Mesophotic coral reefs, popularly called “the twilight zone”, have historically received little attention from either the scientific or the public aquarium community due to their being inaccessible to recreational SCUBA equipment and too shallow to justify the expense of submarine exploration. Lying between approximately 55 – 152 m (180 and 500 ft), the twilight zone is host to a unique and charismatic fauna that is well suited to public aquarium displays. Here we outline the diving technology, and collection and shipping techniques employed by Steinhart Aquarium biologists, divers, and scientists to create the California Academy of Science’s newest exhibit area, Twilight Zone: Deep Reefs Revealed. With the emphasis on the “Twilight Zone”, 11 new aquatic and several interactive exhibits were developed for this new exhibition. Through still images and video, topics will include descriptions of these new exhibits and the species they contain, the exhibit development and design process, and a discussion of the unique challenges faced in creating the first such exhibition in North America. |
Canada's Newest Aquarium Peter Doyle & Chris Eccles, Ripley Entertainment, Inc., PCA Global Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada is now open to the public, opening to great fanfare in October of 2013. The last major Northern America aquarium to open, the Aquarium is located in the heart of downtown Toronto, next door to the CN Tower. The project included two years of planning and design and a 26 month construction period. The Aquarium was designed by a multinational design team and built by contractors from Canada and the United States. The Aquarium is owned and operated by Ripley Entertainment of Orlando Florida a division of the Jim Pattison Group based out of Vancouver, British Columbia. The Aquarium features over 45 exhibits, 1.7 million gallons of water volume located throughout 130,000 square feet of building space. Key exhibits include a 800,000 gallon tropical shark tank, a cold water exhibit gallery featuring sea life from across Canada and the one of the world’s largest and unique jelly galleries. Due to its inland location, the Aquarium makes all of its own saltwater and has a unique exhibit path through the state of the art life support system. |
Collaborative Goal Setting in Developing
an Interactive Touchpool Gallery Jennie D. Janssen, Megan S. Anderson, Leigh Ann Clayton, National Aquarium Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Animal welfare is an understood goal when creating new exhibits. Ensuring that goal is achieved and maintained throughout the lifetime of an exhibit, particularly for interactive exhibits, is dependent upon the approach and choices made throughout the design process and beyond. In May 2015, National Aquarium opened a new interactive gallery, Living Seashore, including two touchpools and a variety of digital and tactile experiences. A deliberate approach was taken during the concept phase to set the exhibit’s goals which primarily addressed animal welfare, guest engagement, and conservation education. Establishing animal welfare specifically as an exhibit goal was integral to keeping animal welfare a high priority throughout the design, development, installation, and opening of this gallery. Key components of this goal were to select species that could be collected sustainably and to manage the care of the touchpool animals to the same high standards as their non-touchpool cohorts. Daily desensitization training sessions with touchpool elasmobranchs were conducted for several months prior to introduction to the exhibit. A multi-departmental collaborative proposal for the grand opening date allowed for a lengthy animal acclimation period prior to opening with continued acclimatization afterward as general attendance gradually increased to peak summer season. Allotting appropriate time for animal acclimatization and staying on schedule were additionally beneficial for departments across the aquarium. The summative evaluation of the gallery has shown that guest perception of animal and conservation messaging was significantly increased when guests interacted with touchpool staff (N=706), and 78% of the gallery’s primary target audience rated the gallery highly interesting (9 or 10, out of 10, N=255). After stabilization of the touchpool collections, 9 of 11 species remain in the collection plan going forward. The collaborative interdisciplinary approach used for creating this exhibit proved successful in keeping the exhibit’s goals in focus. |
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Facility Description of Renewed Kamo Aquarium Kazuya Okuizumi, Kamo Aquarium Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Kamo Aquarium was established in 1930 and has completed its third reconstruction. In June 2014 it was reopened as an unusually specialised aquarium concentrating on jellyfish exhibits. The total floor area is 4029m². With a total water volume is 461m³, Kamo is small by modern aquarium standards. The seal and sea lion breeding and display pools have a volume of 251m³. The invertebrate, fish, amphibian and reptile exhibits have 142m³ water volume. The jellyfish displays hold 68m³. Two species of marine mammals are held namely California sea lion of eight individuals and spotted seals of nine individuals. By reducing the number of animals breeding has occurred. The rest of the animal collection is comprised of local species that are collected by fishermen and staff. The aquarium is also assisted by a neighbouring aquarium for specimens. Specimen purchases from traders are minimal at approximately $300 pa. The specialised jellyfish exhibit section comprises five sections namely cnidarians, ctenophores, life cycle signage, Palau jellyfish (in conjunction with Yamagate University) and Jellyfish Dream Theatre with a symbolic moon jellyfish display. The Aquarium displays over 50 species of jellyfish in 60 exhibits. Forty-eight species are bred on site. Kamo collaborates with Universities and Aquariums in collecting jellyfishes. Research results are shared with students via a ‘Jellyfish Lecture’. This lecture had been delivered by five retired teachers to over 2,500 students. Kamo Aquarium has become popular and known as a jellyfish aquarium receiving 1.3 million visitors in the 20 months since opening. Kamo emphasises environmental education and is an example of a local aquarium with minimal environmental impact. |
Redevelopment of the Historic Toledo Zoo Aquarium Lynne Riesselman, Jay Hemdal, The Toledo Zoo, EHDD - Architect Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
The Toledo Zoo’s Aquarium building was originally constructed by unemployed craftsmen as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) effort during the Great Depression utilizing recycled and salvaged materials. Time and saltwater took quite a toll on the historic building, prompting the restoration plans. The Zoo’s goal was to create a state-ofthe art interactive Aquarium while preserving the WPA-era building, all under a strict budget. This goal presented unprecedented challenges, including spatial constraints, building flow and capacity and balancing animal needs with public space. After 5 years of planning and construction, the new Aquarium opened to the public in March 2015, on schedule and on budget. While the challenges were significant, the Aquarium project proved a resounding success. The renovation increased the amount of water volume from 48,000 to 182,000 gallons and the amount of public space by 74 percent. The new Aquarium is home to over 3,000 sea creatures representing 271 species in 32 contemporary exhibits. All of this was accomplished while keeping the impressive vestige of history and modernizing the systems, exhibits and space within. The new aquarium has also surpassed the Zoo’s expectations on attendance. Since its opening, well over half a million visitors have enjoyed discovering the revitalized Aquarium. Due in part to this project, the Toledo Zoo saw an all-time record attendance of over one million visitors in 2015. |
Catch and Release:
A New Wave of Coastal "Mini" Aquariums Melanie Knight, Philip Breucker, Ocean to Eye Level Consulting, Vancouver, Ucluelet Aquarium, Ucluelet, BC, Petty Harbour Mini Aquarium, Petty Harbour, Newfoundland Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Look out for a new wave of “mini” catch-and-release aquariums. These facilities are designed to be sustainable, affordable and scalable projects that coastal communities can launch with modest resources. With the goal of bringing the ocean education to every coast, the mini aquarium model makes it easier for small communities to develop new economic, tourism and environmental stewardship resources. Four mini aquariums have been launched across Canada since 2004 and are offering an alternative to communities that cannot support traditional, large-scale facilities. The founders of the first three mini aquariums in Canada have come together to create Ocean to Eye Level Consulting, helping environmental leaders get their projects off the ground. We will explore this new aquarium trend and how a mini aquarium mentality can be used at even the largest of facilities. |
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Planet Ocean - Defining a New Role for a Sea Centre in the Digital Age Philippe Vallette, Nausicaá, Centre National de la Mer, Boulogne sur Mer, France Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
This spring Nausicaá started construction to expand the exhibit space (from 5,000 to 10,000 m2). We aspire through this expansion to enhance our visitor experience, to increase our outreach and mission impact and to develop our role as a leader in advocacy on sustainable management of marine resources. In doing so, we hope to define the role of a sea centre (Aquarium) in the digital age as a catalyst for public engagement in marine sciences and in building a Blue Society. The highlights of the expansion will include 3 thematic zones: High Sea Adventure, A Visit to the Lands of Polar Lights, and Human Beings on the Coasts. Each zone will contain a forum being an interactive platform that will integrate stories, hot topics and messaging in each zone and will reflect the connections of man to the Ocean. A special focus will be on the Blue Society Forum in the main hall and the High Seas zone. The Blue Society Forum will inspire creativity and encourage innovation in the sustainable use of the oceans. The High Seas zone will be embodied by a spectacular 10,000 m3 aquarium that will host amongst others hammerhead sharks, sunfish, green turtles, manta rays and other fishes and will highlight the challenges related to the governance of the marine Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction. We will create fully immersive experiences and augmented reality environments that will extend our offer beyond the four walls. High quality educational and entertainment experiences will be provided before, during and after the visit to empower the projected 1 million annual visitors by 2019. |
The National Aquarium of Russia
(Primorsky Aquarium) is the Largest Aquarium in Russia Vadim M Serkov, National Aquarium of Russia (Research and Educational Centre Primorsky Aquarium), Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
The National Aquarium of Russia (Primorsky Aquarium) located in Russky Island, Russia is opening its doors in July 2016. The Primorsky Aquarium is a scientific and educational center with its mission aimed at raising public awareness about the threat to the ocean life and ways to conserve it. Construction of the Primorsky Aquarium occurred between 2009 to 2015; adjustment works and filling the aquariums and tanks were carried out in 2016. Uniquely designed in the shape of a seashell under oncoming sea, the exhibit building has total area of 35,000 m2 and contains about 25,000 m3 of water. Unique exhibits display fauna of Amur River, Lake Baikal, Lake Khanka, and the Far Eastern seas (Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, Bering Sea). There is a tropical rain forest exhibit containing live plants and freshwater tropical aquariums. The Tropical Seas exhibit includes a 70 meter long tunnel. Educational and awareness-raising is one of the most important areas of the Primorsky Aquarium activities. Such projects as the Annual Science Day and the Salmon Project for school- and preschool children have been conducted for the last few years. The Salmon Project allows children to learn about threats to salmon population in the Russian Far East. In 2016, the Aquarium consolidated with the Far Eastern Marine Biosphere Reserve and the Institute of Marine Biology to establish the National Scientific Center of Marine Biology in order to conduct marine research, protect sea-water areas from the human impact, and educate people on the ocean conservation issues by joint efforts. We invite researchers from around the world to use the up-todate scientific laboratories of the Aquarium for their investigations. |
Guide Toward the WAKUWAKU Satoyama*, Johmon** Village Yoshitaka Abe, Aquamarine Fukushima, Marine Science Museum Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
The Johmon Period wells up in the heart of people when there is an occlude feeling in the times. A famous philosopher has already expressed an alarm bell to humans. The making of environment of the Johmon period when Aquamarine Fukushima is going to unfold in the outward appearance part is not display of the Archaeology Museum in the whole country and reproduction of the human village of the remains of the Johmon period. It is an aquacape of nature of the Johmon period. The world should pass “Johmon period”. We could send environmental messages from the gardens of the Johmon to the world. We are challenging to reproduce the natural environments of the Johmon period of the Abukuma Mountain area of Fukushima Prefecture. The people look in the scene of the Johmon period from the windows (Kamachi) of box Calvert of all-weather type. The wall surface of the cave could be used for various events. Johomn village of approximately 1 hectare is never reproduction of the human’s environment of the Jomon period. It is the reproduction of natural environments of more than 3,000 years before the innocence. It will be the heaven for Japanese River Otter which became extinct in the 1990s. Eurasia River Otter acts as the substitute by cooperation of EEP. As for the use of the Johmon environment, it will be limited for a while until environment is stable and well matured. The events of the Johmon period will be spread out in the whole existing outward area of the Aquamarine Fukushima. Aquamarine Fukushima will escape from the bonds of the building called the “Aquarium”. Satoyama* Mountain village in Japanese. Johmon** Era of 3000-16500 years ago in Japanese Archipelagos. |
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Sustainable Institutional Collection Planning Mark Smith, New England Aquarium Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Public aquaria aspire to be centers for research, conservation, and education, as well as models for sustainability. In this endeavor public aquaria inspire their visitors through representation of marine and freshwater ecosystems by displaying a wide variety of aquatic organisms. The New England Aquarium alone presents over 850 different species. When selecting species for exhibition, it is critical to consider the following: justifiable rationales for acquiring a species; available infrastructure and operational capacity; animal husbandry capacity and animal welfare implications; a longterm deaccession plan; and sustainable sources for chosen display animals. The New England Aquarium addresses these demands through a structured planning process, using a set of Strategic Program Criteria and an Exhibition Species Selection Flowchart, implemented through a sustainable collection committee. Display animals are sourced through: (1) sustainable wild collection by aquarium personnel; (2) well-managed wild fisheries, where ecosystems are preserved and local communities benefit; (3) reputable, sustainable commercial collectors and aquaculture companies; (4) trading of surplus animals with other reputable institutions; and (5) culture of species breeding within the Aquarium. One mechanism employed at the Aquarium to improve collection sustainability is the strategic breeding and rearing of fish species highly demanded within the industry, yet rarely (or not yet) bred in human care. Examples include the blue chromis (Chromis cyanea), lookdowns (Selene vomer) and the smallmouth grunt (Haemulon chrysargyreum). In addition to careful stewardship of its living collection, the New England Aquarium regularly reviews its animal food sources to ensure sustainable practice is employed. |
Husbandry and Transportation of the Scalloped Hammerhead Shark
(Sphyrna Lewini) Jeffrey de Pauw, De Jong Marinelife Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Sphyrna lewini is one of the hardiest aquarium species and transports well. Only six institutions throughout Europe are maintaining Sphyrna lewini on display. The small numbers of animals in captivity makes getting new information about this species difficult and are mainly limited to behaviour and observation research. When first captured hammerhead sharks are kept for several months at De Jong Marinelife before they are shipped to the final institution. During this acclimatisation period data has been collected about their behaviour and feeding, but also pathology reports from sharks that died provide important information. De Jong Marinelife has supplied the Sphyrna lewini to institutions throughout Europe and Israel. This experience has resulted in a lot of expertise and information regarding the husbandry and transportation of the Sphyrna lewini. During this presentation information will be shared about the transportation method used to travel up to 48 hours by truck. During these transports a variety of water parameters were measured, which indicate the range of water quality parameters that these sharks can tolerate during transportation. This information has led to more insight about this sensitive, but beautiful shark species. |
Please Don’t Eat Me or
Can't We All Just Get Along Natasha Christie, Steve Kaiser, Lost Chambers Aquarium at Atlantis the Palm, Dubai Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Large exhibits (over 3,800m3) have been come increasingly common in many parts of the world. And while these exhibits are a show case for large mega charismatic marine animals, many of them have species compositions that concentrate on larger predator species. This situation has not always allowed for smaller prey species to coexist. However, by balancing both predator and prey, working with diets and habitat, it is possible to display both successfully. This methods can also be applied to smaller exhibits and creates a much more dynamic and naturalistic exhibit that more closely resembles natural ecosystems. |