A New Year stock-take with a difference is taking place from Saturday January 18th to Sunday January 19th at Newquay’s Blue Reef Aquarium with their own version of a ‘fishy census’.
In January staff undertake a comprehensive count of all their residents and this year they’re inviting visitors to volunteer to help spot and record the number of certain species including tropical fish, sharks, turtles and rays. The experts at Blue Reef will then carry out their own official count and the child who most accurately reports the population of the animals will win a free full year’s child membership to the aquarium.
Blue Reef’s Steve Matchett said: “January has traditionally always been the time of year when we do an official check on all our stock numbers.
“We thought it would be a good idea to involve the visitors in the whole process as well and turn it into a fun activity that everyone can take part in.
“Obviously some creatures will be rather easier to count than others; the sharks are usually fairly straightforward, although there are a number of species that like to spend much of their time either hidden among the rocks or under the sand.
“Flatfish can be a little tricky as they’re very well camouflaged and species like our seahorses are also tough as they can produce hundreds of babies at a time which are little bigger than the end of a matchstick,” he added.
Newquay’s award-winning Blue Reef Aquarium provides an amazing undersea adventure through the world’s seas and oceans. Over 40 naturally-themed displays transport visitors from rocky Cornish shores to exotic coral reefs. At the aquarium’s heart is a giant ocean tank with underwater walkthrough tunnel which is home to hundreds of colourful fish, tropical sharks and Omiros the rescued loggerhead turtle.Other displays feature everything from giant Pacific octopus, seahorses and lobsters to cuttlefish, piranhas and caiman crocodiles.
