The preliminary date for the 2012 IAC New Aquariums session is Tuesday, 11 September.
Click here for the preliminary programme.
Abstracts of presentations
Forming the new National Aquarium of Denmark
By: Jesper Horsted, Ditte Weldingh & Anders Kofoed
Institution: Danmarks Akvarium, Charlottenlund, Denmark
Danmarks Akvarium is building a new aquarium in Copenhagen that will be one of the largest in Europe. It is due to open in March 2013 and intends sharing experiences and inspiring change in the views of hundreds of thousands of visitors. We aim to increase understanding of the aquatic world and the need to preserve nature, and to share a greater joy in the life under the surface. Our vision is of an Aquarium that is world-class, aesthetic, barrier-breaking, green and engaging.
A holistic approach to a new exhibit: animal acquisition for Ocean Park’s Polar Adventure
By: Suzanne Gendron, Grant Able, Shirley Wong & Olga Shpak
Institution: Ocean Park Corporation, Hong Kong, China
After the 1997 financial crisis, Ocean Park in Hong Kong was facing challenging times. We realised that redevelopment and expansion were essential for the Park’s survival. In 1999 the Hong Kong Government signed a deal with Disney, and in 2004 a team was formed to develop a Master Redevelopment Plan for Ocean Park. We decided to retain the existing mix of 65% animal attractions and 35% rides during the Park’s redevelopment. We determined which animal stories to tell, through what types of exhibit, and developed animal acquisition plans, guided by the Park’s Acquisition Policy. Most animals could be sourced from other zoological facilities through captive breeding exchanges.
Global extremes: Harnessing immersive climatic experiences for a sustainable message
By: Peter Kuttner (1), Patricia E Intrieri (1), Mark Smith (2), Elena Kazlas (3) & Waleed Aleisa (4)
Institution: 1) Cambridge Seven Associates, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA; 2) Ocean Explorium at New Bedford Seaport, New Bedford, MA, USA; 3) ConsultEcon, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA; 4) King Abdullah Financial District Project, Rayadah Investment Company, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
A panel of five experts, collaborating on the new National Aquarium of Saudi Arabia, will present specialized perspectives on how their respective issues must be addressed together to create a fully integrated, sustainable institution. They will show how an aquarium experience that focuses on extreme climates and habitats, and resultant adaptations and biodiversity, can establish a framework for sustainability throughout the institution. The panel will follow the thread of sustainability through the conservation message, green design, animal selection and husbandry, the strategy for a sustainable business plan, and the goals of the owner for a fully sustainable operation.
Gondwanaland: The new tropical world of experience at Leipzig Zoo
By: Fabian Schmidt
Institution: Leipzig Zoo, Germany
Leipzig Zoo is being transformed into one of the world’s most modern and innovative zoos. Opening ‘Gondwanaland’ in 2011 was an important stage in creating this ‘zoo of the future’. Covering an area of 16 500 m², it is the largest tropical house of its kind in Europe. It houses more than 17 000 tropical plants and 300 animals typical of rainforests that once characterised Gondwana, and provides visitors with new insights into rainforest ecosystems and their protection.
Jeddah Aquarium, Saudi Arabia’s first public aquarium: An invitation to a submarine tour
By: Jerome Cuchet, Project Manager
Institution: Groupe Coutant
Saudi Arabia is about to open its first public aquarium in Jeddah on the Red Sea coast. Group Coutant designed and executed all aquariological aspects and Alter ego, the design branch of Coutant Aquariums, has developed the interior scenography.
Merlin Entertainments, SEA LIFE – new aquariums
By: Rob Hicks, Displays Development Director
Institution: Merlin Entertainments, SEA LIFE, UK
Over the past three years Merlin Entertainments has built eight new SEA LIFE aquariums, and now runs 40 aquariums on three continents. At all stages of development and operations, a sustainable business model is important. This presentation discusses key aspects of this model, giving examples.
Open Seas
By: Jon Hoech, Director of Husbandry Operations
Institution: Monterey Bay Aquarium, California, USA
In 2011, Monterey Bay Aquarium’s million-gallon Outer Bay Waters and surrounding exhibits re-opened as the newly renovated Open Seas. This presentation provides an overview of the new Open Seas Galleries; shares the integrated exhibit components that aim to advocate and inspire ocean conservation; and highlights how we have reduced the environmental impact of construction and operations.
The development of Chinese aquarium industry
By: Weiyong Hu (1), Xiangguo Fan (2) & Zhijie Guo (2)
Institutions: 1) Beijing Aquarium, Beijing, China; 2) Aquatic Wildlife Protection Branch, Association of Wildlife Protection of China, Beijing, China
The Chinese aquarium industry is developing rapidly, with 87 aquariums opening since the end of 2010. Most provinces and cities have aquariums, which employ about 10,000 people and are important tourist attractions. The aquarium industry is important to the Chinese government, which monitors wildlife protection and occupational standards.
The difficulties of building world-class aquariums simultaneously and assessing Korean aquarium industry
By: Kyung Sup Byun
Institution: Hanwha Marine Biology Research Center, Seoul, South Korea
For 25 years after the first aquarium opened in Korea in 1985, only two more aquariums were introduced. Recently steady economic growth has resulted in more aquariums being opened. Yeosu Expo Seaworld opens in May 2012 and is South Korea’s first world-class aquarium, featuring 350 species and 33 000 animals including beluga whales. It is followed by Jeju Ocean Life Park in July 2012, featuring 450 species and 42 000 animals including whale sharks.
The interpretation centre of Cabrera Archipelago (Mallorca Island), or how to reveal to the public the beauties of a protected underwater park
By: Philippe de Lacaze, Managing Director
Institution: Groupe Coutant
Spain has 13 Natural Parks managed by Parques Nacionales, which is part of the Ministry of Environment. One of these parks is located in the Archipelago of Cabrera, near Mallorca in the Balearic Islands of Spain, and integrates a very rich protected underwater park. This centre opened in 2008 to present to visitors the underwater beauties that they cannot experience due to the protected status of the park.
The Oceanário de Lisboa new building: ‘Edifício do Mar’
By: João Falcato
Institution: Oceanário de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
In 2007, it was decided to expand Oceanário de Lisboa. Three main objectives of the Oceanário’s new building ‘Edifício do Mar’ were to: reinforce Oceanário’s ability to fulfill its mission; ensure Oceanário’s economic sustainability; and improve visitors’ comfort and satisfaction. The new building was inaugurated in April 2011, in the middle of a big economic crisis in Portugal.
The Toledo Aquarium
By: Ursula Currie
Institution: EHDD Architecture, San Francisco, California, USA
A freshwater Aquarium at the Toledo Zoo opened to the public in 1939 in an historical building. Marine exhibits were introduced in the 1970s and salt from these exhibits hastened the building’s deterioration, necessitating a major renovation. The renovated aquarium will have fewer species and exhibit types but significantly larger and more dynamic exhibits affording much more visitor interaction.