Seattle Aquarium unveils coral nursery highlighting conservation efforts - KING5.com

Seattle Aquarium unveils coral nursery highlighting conservation efforts - KING5.com

Seattle Aquarium unveils coral nursery highlighting conservation efforts - KING5.com

Posted: 12 May 2021 12:00 AM PDT

A coral nursery on display at the Seattle Aquarium will grow coral for exhibits in the new Ocean Pavilion, which is expected to open in 2024.

SEATTLE — When we think of baby animals at the Seattle Aquarium, fish or seals may come to mind, but the aquarium is unveiling its newest exhibit, and it's all about raising coral.  

For the last 20 years, curators at the Seattle Aquarium have been working to raise and grow more than 40 species of coral. 

It's important work, because raising coral in-house means curators don't have to disrupt coral populations in the wild. It's a lengthy process and one that's been done almost entirely in secret.

Andrew Sim, associate curator of fish and invertebrates at the Seattle Aquarium, says that's due to a few reasons. Space in the building is an issue, and there hasn't been a need to make more room for the corals to mature. It's also allowed time for curators to figure out the process behind closed doors before going live to the public. 

"We learned so much about what we need to do to care for these corals in an aquarium setting," said Sim during an exclusive inside preview with KING 5.

Coral needs a lot of light to grow. Sim says the deeper the water, the more intense the light needs to be. 

Because the corals were raised to fill current exhibits around the aquarium, they could be grown in tanks with 8 to 10 inches of water. But as the aquarium plans for its Ocean Pavilion expansion in 2024, curators are going to need a lot more coral and water. 

"Maybe 10 times the size of anything we see here at the Seattle Aquarium right now," said Sim. 

And that's where the coral nursery comes in. While the goal is to entertain and educate, the nursery's larger, deeper tank will help prepare these water creatures for larger exhibits. 

"2024 is still a little ways away but for these corals to reach maturity, that can take a year, which is on the faster end," said Sim, whose love for the aquarium started when he was a child. 

"I can remember coming into the Pacific Coral Reef Gallery when it opened in the 80s and being blown away and inspired," the curator added. "And that's a really important part of our role here at the aquarium is kind of inspiring the next generation to understand their impact on the world."

The coral nursery is open to visitors now but as a reminder, you must plan your trip to the aquarium in advance and online.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

This fish is worth $300,000 - New York Post

This fish is worth $300,000 - New York Post This fish is worth $300,000 - New York Post Posted: 05 Jun 2016 12:00 AM PDT With exacting precision, the surgeon inserted the scalpel above the eyeball and cut out a snotty deposit of fatty tissue. The routine eye-lift was nearly complete when suddenly the patient awoke, suffocating, and began to flop about on the table. The audience gasped. Knowing time was of the essence, the surgeon scooped up the patient in his arms, raced across the stage, and dropped her into a tank of water. She revived. Because she was a fish. Yes, fish eye-lifts exist. As do fin jobs and tail tucks. The operating theater was a mall in Jakarta, Indonesia, where a pet expo was under way. As for the patient, she survived, her formerly droopy eyes now bright and perky. A good thing, too, as this was no ordinary goldfish but rather an Asian arowana, the world's most expensive aquarium denizen, rumored to sell for as mu
Read more

NilocG Launches New Website for the Only All-in-One Thrive Fertilization Solution for Planted Aquariums - PRNewswire

Image
NilocG Launches New Website for the Only All-in-One Thrive Fertilization Solution for Planted Aquariums - PRNewswire NilocG Launches New Website for the Only All-in-One Thrive Fertilization Solution for Planted Aquariums - PRNewswire Posted: 11 Mar 2021 02:00 AM PST ALBANY, Ore. , March 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NilocG launches a new website for planted tank enthusiasts to gather and make THRIVE, a plant fertilizer that assures planted tank aquascapes flourish while eliminating the need for multiple products more readily available online. The company also takes it a step further in the industry, making its flagship product easy to dose, super-concentrated, and an all-in-one solution based on an effective EL dosing method with all essential micro and macronutrients. Continue Reading Thrive fertilizer: North America's most trusted aquarium plant fertilizer Colin Grice , CEO, a self-described planted tank lover, re
Read more

Catching Dory: selling aquarium fish supports coastal livelihoods in Indonesia | npj Ocean Sustainability - Nature.com

Image
Abstract The global marine aquarium trade has created new local markets across the planet, including in Indonesia, now the second-largest exporting country of marine aquarium fish in the world. Participating in the global aquarium trade has been touted as a potentially sustainable addition to fisher livelihoods, but scant data exist showing the numbers of fish coming off the reef and how those fish contribute to income. To determine how participants in the trade incorporate aquarium species in their livelihoods, we examine source-level aquarium fish collecting and trading data in the Banggai Archipelago, a region in Central Sulawesi that has become a significant source for popular aquarium, also known as ornamental, fish species. Using a sustainable livelihoods lens, we examine this data to understand how participants in the aquarium trade both contribute to as well as benefit from the trade and consider how their participation relates to emerging Blue Justice principles. From one year
Read more