National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth
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National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth | |
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50°22′00″N 4°07′53″W / 50.3666°N 4.1313°W | |
Date opened | 1998[1] |
Location | Plymouth, England |
No. of animals | 5,000 |
No. of species | 400 |
Volume of largest tank | 2,500,000 L (660,000 US gal) |
Memberships | BIAZA[2] |
Major exhibits | 4 main zones |
Website | www |
The National Marine Aquarium, which opened in May 1998, is situated in Plymouth in south-west England. It is the largest aquarium in the UK[3] and houses over 5,000 animals.
It acts as an educational institution by teaching visitors about the marine environment.[3] The National Marine Aquarium is run by the Ocean Conservation Trust, a charity dedicated to ocean conservation.[3]
The marine aquarium is located in Sutton Harbour near the Barbican and fish market. It is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA).[citation needed]
Exhibits
The Aquarium is divided into four main zones: Plymouth Sound, Eddystone Reef, Atlantic Ocean and Blue Planet.[citation needed]
Plymouth Sound
This zone displays a variety of marine life found in Plymouth Sound. There are 17 tanks, which are home to approximately 80 species of fish and invertebrates, including local sharks, rays, and octopus.[citation needed]
Eddystone Reef
The Eddystone Reef exhibit is the largest local sea life exhibit in Britain, housing life-size models of whales and dolphins located around the island. The large Eddystone tank displays animals found on the Eddystone reef, a reef 19km south of Plymouth.[citation needed]
Atlantic Ocean
This zone contains the 'Ocean Drifters'
Blue Planet
This zone includes 'Biozone' and the 'Great Barrier Reef'. Biozone showcases the
Conservation
The National Marine Aquarium led a project to sink frigate HMS Scylla in 2004 to create an artificial reef in Whitsand Bay, Cornwall.[4]
References
- ^ "National Marine Aquarium". historyofplymouth.co.uk. Plymouth Places. Archived from the original on 17 August 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
- ^ "BIAZA Zoos and Aquariums". biaza.org.uk. BIAZA. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
- ^ a b c "About the National Marine Aquarium | The UK's Largest Aquarium". National Marine Aquarium. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ "Artifical [sic] reef has generated millions for the Cornish economy". wrecktoreef.co.uk. 7 April 2014.