The new aquarium I’m sure you’ve read about Laura Griffith-Cochrane on the Everyone has a Story page. I first met Laura in 2011 when she was an enthusiastic young woman working at the aquarium. When I returned this year, I was pleasantly surprised to find that she is still at the aquarium, now holding the position of curator.
The new, larger Ucluelet Aquarium operates the same way as the old structure did, which prior to 2012 was not much more than a plywood shack. Periodically, specimens are collected from the waters around Ucluelet and put into tanks. Water is pumped directly from the bay into each tank, constantly recirculating, providing an environment for the aquatic critters as close to natural as it gets. After they have astonished, educated and wowed guests of all ages, those sea creatures are returned to their natural homes and a new batch of animals is collected. The whole process is designed to offer visitors a peak at some of the most amazing and mysterious animals on the planet while applying careful and thoughtful conservation techniques.
Since the new building opened in 2012, the aquarium has become a major international attraction in Ucluelet welcoming thousands of visitors through its doors each year. Visitors to the aquarium not only get a close-up view of these amazing animals, they get a hands-on experience, or at least a gentle touch experience, with some of the smaller critters. Education is the name of the game and the aquarium offers educational programs for school and tour groups.
This is a list of some of the aquatic creatures you’ll find at the aquarium: Octopus, Painted Anemone, Plankton, Scallops, Urchins, Green Surf Anemone, Sponges, Rockfish, Striped Surf Perch, Squat Lobster, Longfin Sculpin, Tubesnout, Bat Star, Turban Snail, Chiton, Strawberry Anemone, Umbrella Crab, Nudibranch, Sea Cucumber, Leather Star, Sand Dollar.
There is also a microplastics display that demonstrates the damage we are doing to this--not just precious but necessary ecosystem called the ocean.
Go to: www.uclueletaquarium.org to read more about the aquarium. It will necessarily need to be on your list of places to visit if you are anywhere near Ucluelet.
The new, larger Ucluelet Aquarium operates the same way as the old structure did, which prior to 2012 was not much more than a plywood shack. Periodically, specimens are collected from the waters around Ucluelet and put into tanks. Water is pumped directly from the bay into each tank, constantly recirculating, providing an environment for the aquatic critters as close to natural as it gets. After they have astonished, educated and wowed guests of all ages, those sea creatures are returned to their natural homes and a new batch of animals is collected. The whole process is designed to offer visitors a peak at some of the most amazing and mysterious animals on the planet while applying careful and thoughtful conservation techniques.
Since the new building opened in 2012, the aquarium has become a major international attraction in Ucluelet welcoming thousands of visitors through its doors each year. Visitors to the aquarium not only get a close-up view of these amazing animals, they get a hands-on experience, or at least a gentle touch experience, with some of the smaller critters. Education is the name of the game and the aquarium offers educational programs for school and tour groups.
This is a list of some of the aquatic creatures you’ll find at the aquarium: Octopus, Painted Anemone, Plankton, Scallops, Urchins, Green Surf Anemone, Sponges, Rockfish, Striped Surf Perch, Squat Lobster, Longfin Sculpin, Tubesnout, Bat Star, Turban Snail, Chiton, Strawberry Anemone, Umbrella Crab, Nudibranch, Sea Cucumber, Leather Star, Sand Dollar.
There is also a microplastics display that demonstrates the damage we are doing to this--not just precious but necessary ecosystem called the ocean.
Go to: www.uclueletaquarium.org to read more about the aquarium. It will necessarily need to be on your list of places to visit if you are anywhere near Ucluelet.
