You know what really makes a team of dedicated, passionate, professional, and occasionally tired people paint big happy smiles on their faces?
When the never quite as tired marketing person dreams up bright ideas such as:
“I know, let’s do a team Q&A! It’ll offer insight, raise spirits and lighten days! It’ll celebrate the work you all do, and give me something to do. Sure, it might not win any awards…but I bet it gets nominated!”
“Who’s in?”
Cue a weighty silence I can only presume was heavy with excitement.
It went on for a while.
But, a few days later, things began to happen.
Here’s one of those things.
Meet Abby, our Displays Supervisor, which basically means she oversees the team of aquarists, averts many disasters, befriends many, many fish, and delivers talks to inspire the next generation of curious minds who walk through our doors.
Displays Supervisor? It sounds a bit tame. Like she does the window at M&S.
Hmm…Meet Abby, ‘Undersea Overlord and Fish Tamer’.
Blue Reef: Hi Abby, a huge thank you for agreeing to find time you didn’t have to complete a questionnaire you didn’t need. It’s hugely appreciated!
Let’s kick things off by getting an overview of your time as part of the Blue Reef Aquarium team and what drove you towards this career path?
Abby: I came into the industry through a work experience placement here while I was at University.
I was studying marine and natural history photography. Whilst on my two-week placement here, I realised that this was the career I wanted, so I ditched the camera and interviewed for a job.
In total I volunteered for two years before a job came up.
Blue Reef: Two years as a volunteer, that’s some dedication! Do you have any particularly fond memories of your time here so far?
Abby: Successfully rehabbing and releasing five loggerhead sea turtles. We would syringe feeding them every two hours for the first two weeks, warming gradually due to their cold stunned state. Watching them swim for the first time was an amazing moment. I now speak at Universities and conferences sharing techniques and the journey.
Blue Reef: That’s very cool! It also really illustrates the sort of wild, diverse way an aquarist’s day can unfold. But, speaking of days that are anything but typical, are there any you’d rather forget?
Abby: There are a few! One in particular would be the storm that hit! The sea broke the promenade, and left us with no power or water for the aquarium! We did our best and thankfully had an emergency plan in place, just in case this ever happened!
Blue Reef: Sounds like a fun day at the office! On the aquarium itself, do you have any personal favourite tanks at Blue Reef?
Abby: Bubble tip anemones with the saddle back clownfish. I love Saddleback Clownfish as they use pops and clicks to communicate to each other, and bubble tip anemones are just beautiful. The clownfish and the anemones have a symbiotic relationship looking after each other.
Follow this link to hear Abby talk about her favourite tank.
Blue Reef: Symbiotic? Very much how the aquarist team works on site ensuring this indoor ocean keeps ticking along! And, segueing beautifully into the life of an aquarist, what would your advice be to anyone considering a similar career?
Abby: DO IT! The hard work is worth it, the animals we work with surprise us every day with new behaviors or training, it’s a very hands-on, all rounded job that can teach you lots of different skills.
Blue Reef: And, although this is some time off yet, when you eventually call time on your career with the aquarium, what song will be playing as the end credits roll?
Abby: Something really silly as I probably would have lost my marbles by then!
Blue Reef: When you’re not busy caring for the aquarium residents, and you’ve gathered your scattered marbles, what do you like to do with your days?
Abby: I run Newquay Beach Care and I’m an ambassador for Keep Britain Tidy, so I like to host community beach cleans and work with the local areas on reducing plastic pollution. I also love spending time with friends snorkeling or sea swimming and going for long walks with my cocker spaniel.
Blue Reef: Sounds like a busy life! So, in order to relax a moment we can move onto the quickfire section!
Fingers on buzzers…let’s begin.
Blue Reef: What was the last film to make you cry?
Abby: Marley and me
Blue Reef: Which song always gets you moving?
Abby: I’m coming out, Diana ross
Blue Reef: Is there a book you can never forget?
Abby: David Attenborough ‘Ocean’
Blue Reef: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would that be?
Abby: Right here in Cornwall, im never leaving
Blue Reef: What superpower would you choose (other than being an aquarist of course)?
Abby: To freeze time so I can nap more
Blue Reef: And finally…which four dream guests would you invite to dinner?
Abby: David Attenborough, Robin Wiliams, Jane Goodall, and Beyonce.
And with that, Abby was gone again. Off to tend to the needs of some very needy fish, to clean beaches to their golden sandy best, and potentially, to nap.