Blue Reef Aquarium
This article contains promotional content. (May 2021) |
Blue Reef Aquarium | |
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Location | In England with locations in Portsmouth, Newquay, Tynemouth, Hastings, and Bristol |
Owner | Aspro Parks |
Website | www |
Blue Reef is a national chain of public aquariums in England.
Blue Reef Portsmouth
Blue Reef Aquarium Portsmouth is an aquarium situated on Clarence Esplanade, Southsea, Portsmouth, England. Over 40 living displays are home to various species from tropical sharks and lobsters or seahorses and tropical fish.[1]
At the Aquarium’s heart is a large ocean tank where an underwater walkthrough tunnel offers close encounters with reef fish.
In 2007 the aquarium opened the Blue Reef Beach Club. The Blue Reef Beach Club is a new outdoor activity area incorporating a wet play zone for children complete with fountains and giant showers.
Blue Reef Aquarium in Tynemouth
Blue Reef Aquarium in Tynemouth is an aquarium located in Tynemouth, England. It is home to over 40 living displays, from tropical sharks and lobsters to seahorses and tropical fish.[2]
At the Aquarium’s heart is a large ocean tank where an underwater walkthrough tunnel offers close encounters with the tropical coral reef fish.
Other displays are home to poison dart frogs, nautilus, toxic toads, turtles, terrapins, and otters.
In Easter 2007, the aquarium opened "Seal Cove". The naturally themed 500,000-litre pool includes rocky haul out areas and underwater caves along with other environmental enrichment features to ensure the seals are kept in near natural conditions.
In July 2019, the aquarium left the Blue Reef brand and was renamed as the Tynemouth Aquarium. The aquarium is still run and operated by Aspro Parks.[3][4]
Newquay
Blue Reef Aquarium Newquay is an aquarium in Newquay, England. It is home to over 40 living displays from tropical sharks and lobsters to seahorses and tropical fish.[5]
At the Aquarium’s heart is a large ocean tank where an underwater walkthrough tunnel offers close encounters with the tropical coral reef fish.
Other displays are home to giant Pacific octopus, triggerfish, nautilus, cuttlefish, turtles and terrapins.
In 2008 the aquarium opened "Tropical Shark Lagoon". Themed as a mangrove lagoon, the display is home to a variety of tropical shark and ray species. The display allows for close-up views both above and below the waterline of stingrays, zebra sharks, blue spotted rays and exotic fish. The display is also home to a variety of juvenile species which use the mangrove as a nursery before moving on to the open ocean.
In 2009, a four-foot polychaete worm nicknamed Barry,[6] was eventually captured after months of trap laying. The polychaete worm had been damaging the coral reefs in one tank in the aquarium, in some cases ripping the coral in half. The polychaete worm also injured a Tang fish [citation needed]. Contact with the venomous bristles at the mouth of the worm can cause permanent numbness, the worm was moved into its own tank.
Hastings
Blue Reef Aquarium Hastings is an aquarium in Hastings, England which opened on 21 March 2008. It was the fourth aquarium opened by Blue Reef.[7]
Following a £1.5m re-development programme over the winter the aquarium has been transformed into a state-of-the-art visitor attraction.
The centrepiece of the aquarium is the coral reef housed within a large ocean display with its underwater walkthrough tunnel.
When Blue Reef acquired the aquarium, then named Underwater World, they also bought another local attraction in Smugglers Adventure based in St. Clement's Caves.
Bristol
Bristol Aquarium is an aquarium in Bristol, England. In April 2008 Blue Reef signed a lease for the Wildwalk and IMAX buildings on the At-Bristol site, and opened the aquarium in November 2009. The aquarium then became Bristol Aquarium, leaving the Blue Reef brand, but still being operated by Aspro UK.
The aquarium is home to over 40 living displays from tropical sharks and lobsters to seahorses and tropical fish.[8]
At the Aquarium’s heart is a large ocean tank where an underwater walkthrough tunnel offers close encounters with the tropical coral reef fish.
Other displays are home to octopus, puffer fish, electric eel, tropical sharks, terrapins and giant Amazon river fish. It is the only aquarium in the UK to feature a giant botanical house home to hundreds of species of plants and flowers from around the world.
References
- ^ "Welcome to Blue Reef in Portsmouth". bluereefaquarium.co.uk. Blue Reef Aquarium. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ "Welcome to Blue Reef Aquarium in Tynemouth". bluereefaquarium.co.uk. Blue Reef Aquarium. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ "Welcome to Tynemouth Aquarium". Tynemouth Aquarium. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
Welcome to Tynemouth Aquarium – the new name for Blue Reef Tynemouth.
- ^ "Blue Reef Aquarium is changing to Tynemouth Aquarium". MetroRadio. 16 July 2019.
- ^ "Welcome to Blue Reef Aquarium in Newquay". bluereefaquarium.co.uk. Blue Reef Aquarium. Archived from the original on 22 July 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ "Superstar Worm". bbc.co.uk. BBC Cornwall. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
- ^ "Welcome to Blue Reef Aquarium in Hastings". bluereefaquarium.co.uk. Blue Reef Aquarium. Archived from the original on 29 May 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
- ^ "Welcome to Blue Reef Aquarium in Bristol". bluereefaquarium.co.uk. Blue Reef Aquarium. Archived from the original on 9 July 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ "Bristol Wildwalk to be turned into a massive aquarium". Bristol Evening Post. Retrieved 8 April 2008.[permanent dead link ]