The annual stock-take takes place from Saturday, January 14th to Sunday, January 15th at Portsmouth’s Blue Reef Aquarium with their own version of a ‘fishy census!’
Throughout the weekend, staff at the Southsea aquarium are inviting visitors to volunteer to help spot and record the number of certain species including sharks, rays and seahorses.
The experts at Blue Reef will then do an official check and the child who most accurately reports the population of each of the above animals will win a free Family Pass to the aquarium for them and their family.
Blue Reef’s Hannah Butt said: “While the team of aquarists will be conducting their own official checks, they have also organised a series of special fishy censuses for members of the public.
“Although we monitor all the displays on a daily basis this is our annual opportunity to double check our figures and to see if we’ve had any unexpected additional births.
“It can sometimes be seen as a bit of a chore but we are planning on making it into a fun, interactive event by asking our visitors to get involved as well to ensure we haven’t miscounted.
“Obviously some creatures will be 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.
“Seahorses can be a little tricky and hermit crabs are always something of a guesstimate as it’s difficult to tell which shells are inhabited and which are currently vacant!” she added.
Issued by Blue Reef Aquarium. For more information and to arrange interviews and picture/filming opportunities please contact Hannah Butt on 02392 875222.
