Ingenious aquarists at Living Coasts, Torquay’s coastal zoo and aquarium, have trained strange fish to help clean their tank of a naturally-occurring pest.
Filefish, or leatherjackets, have been introduced into the charity zoo’s large stingray tank to help control an invasive anemone.
Aquarist Tom Fielding: “Aiptasia is a common temperate and tropical sea anemone. It comes in through our filtration system when seawater is drawn from the Bay. It’s regarded as a pest in saltwater aquariums because it can multiply rapidly and compete for food and space and occasionally even...
England’s Seafood Coast is hosting England’s Seafood FEAST – and Torquay’s coastal zoo has a seat at the table.
Of course, seafood is always on the menu at Living Coasts – the penguins, seals and others all love fish. Penguins eat sprats, for example, seals eat mackerel. Guests, meanwhile, can try a local delicacy – mussels.
Spokesperson Phil Knowling said: “As part of England’s Seafood FEAST, Living Coasts is inviting people to enjoy fresh local mussels, accompanied by the panoramic views of the Terrace Café. And the food miles are almost non-existent, as the mussels come...
A stunning state-of-the-art lighting system has been installed at Living Coasts – for the fish.
The sophisticated new system in the aquarium of Torquay’s coastal zoo means that fish can experience natural dawns and dusks. Staff hope this will lead to more of what comes naturally…
One of the zoo’s aquarists, Sam Worthington, explained: “Now, each tank can have its own settings. We can do gradual sunrises and sunsets with different colour temperatures, going from a soft pink dawn to a bright middle of the day and back down to dusk.
Fish at Living Coasts in Torquay have been observed performing a mating behaviour that zookeepers think has never before been recorded. Animal experts filmed female four-eyed fish (Anableps anableps) rocking from side-to-side; this appeared to attract the male to come and mate.
Sharp-eyed aquarists Tom Fielding and Sam Worthington noted and eventually videoed the curious behaviour. Clare Rugg, curator of the Devon coastal zoo, has a theory: “One possibility is that the movement of the female fish is releasing pheromones into the water to signal that she is ready for mating. She...
The nationwide search for the UK’s best fishermen, seafood restaurants and ports is set to close on 17 February and time is running out to nominate your favourite. The Fishing News Awards, the country’s only awards programme recognising the hard work of those serving in the fishing industry, is back for 2017 following its successful relaunch last year.
The awards cover twelve categories, including specialist awards for particular types of fishing, ports, technical achievements and restaurants, and prizes for the Young Fisherman of the Year and Lifetime Achievement. The awards are...
A national awards programme is looking for the foremost commercial fishermen in the UK and Ireland, and the public are being asked to put forward their nominations. Designed to celebrate the dedication, skills, and ingenuity of those working within UK and Irish commercial fishing, the Fishing News Awards 2017 will shine a spotlight on those fishermen and fishing organisations who have excelled in commercial fishing throughout 2016.
The 2017 Fishing News Awards will recognise excellence in commercial fishing across 12 categories, including ‘Young Fisherman of the Year’, ‘Fishing...
A University of Exeter marine biologist has won a prestigious award for his world-class work in the field of fish ecology.
Professor Steve Simpson, Associate Professor in Marine Biology and Global Change, received a medal from the Fisheries Society of the British Isles (FSBI), a learned society that promotes the interests of fish biology and fisheries management, at a recent Symposium held in Bangor.
The FSBI medal is awarded annually to younger scientists who have made exceptional advances in the study of fish biology and/or fisheries science and Professor Simpson was...
A new £1.125million quay built to boost fishing, leisure and tourism industries in Teignmouth is open for use.
Teignbridge District Council has worked with a range of partners to regenerate the Fish Quay at Gales Hill, something that will boost the livelihoods of local fishermen and shore-dependent jobs, retain the important fishing heritage and encourage more visitors with new, modern recreational facilities for passenger boats.
The old wooden jetty has been replaced with a new pontoon and equipment that makes it much easier and quicker for fishermen to process their...
The ability of baby fish to find a home, or other safe haven, to grow into adulthood will be severely impacted under predicted ocean acidification, academics have found.
Research published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the international team, which included a researcher from the University of Exeter, reports the interpretation of normal ocean sound cues which help baby fish find an appropriate home is completely confused under the levels of CO2 predicted to be found in oceans by the end of the century.
Team member Dr Stephen Simpson, from the University...
