Splash Magazine

Summer 2010

Tuna at steak Shark finning Shark Vs Whale

Hi! I’m Razor Look out for me in the Kids pull-out magazine.

There’s lots of fun activities and posters for everyone to enjoy!

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Meet Friday and Crusoe Get to know the staff Plus: All the latest news

F R E E

T O

A N N U A L

P A S S

H O L D E R S

This issue... Hello!

Regulars

Oceanarium News

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Events

p10

Species of the season p20 Our Friends

p24

Conservation Whaling

p12

Tuna at steak p14

Extras Meet the staff

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Shark Vs Whale p18 Home aquarium p22 Talking fish with p26 Oliver Buttling

W

elcome to The Splash, the brand new magazine for Bournemouth Oceanarium.

To kick off this shiny, new magazine we’ve searched high and low for all the best under-water news.

The Oceanarium is the perfect place to watch and learn about underwater creatures, but there are sadly a lot of dangers to many sea species. The Splash strongly supports various campaigns to help protect the ocean.

This issue exposes the reality of shark finning and whaling. Whilst these cruel, torturous acts are heard of, very little is known about them. We’ve provided in-depth information on this and how you can help prevent these deep sea disasters from happening.

However, along with the sad news we wanted to balance it out with the great. Catch up with all the latest from the Oceanarium in our News and Events sections. Also check out our species of the season, which was awarded to Friday and Crusoe, our treasured green sea turtles.

If all of this isn’t enough, there’s plenty more, with an exclusive interview with the Oceanarium’s group curator, Oliver Buttling and an interesting debate over two rulers of the ocean: the great white shark and the killer whale.

Who would you want to win? Well read our feature, Shark Vs Whale, to see who bagged our vote!

From your co-editors, Sarah Brogden, Jessica Macdonald and Fin Dan Taylor, we hope you enjoy the pullo d the kid first ever edition of The Splash and ut s the m magazin look forward to next seasons issue. e in idd

Have a wonderful summer!

le Spla sh, p of The a of ga cked me full post s, facts and ers f o to en r them joy!

Sarah Brogden Jessica Macdonald Dan Taylor

Sarah

Jessica

Dan

With special thanks to the Oceanarium. Without them, this magazine would not be possible!

Published on behalf of the Oceanarium by Southampton Solent University.

We would love to hear from you. If you have anything fishy that you want to send us, email editorial@thesplash.co.uk. Or write to us at; The Splash, Oceanarium, Pier Approach,West Beach, Bournemouth, BH2 5AA.

Pictures: The Splash editorial team and Flickr

Contributors

Meet the staff...

The hard-working Oceanarium staff are always around to help.

Keen to answer all questions thrown at them, we asked them what their favourite cartoon fish was...

Sarah, Aquatics Supervisor

Gary, Welcome Host

Olly, Group Curator

Gary, the snail in Spongebob Squarepants. No other character is like him

Definitely Luca, the octopus in Shark Tale. He is awesome!

I love turtles so for me, it has to be Crush from Finding Nemo

“ “ ” ” “ ” Spongebob! He’s wacky and has personality

Chris, Duty Aquarist 4

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” Pictures: Flickr and The Splash editorial team

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News

NEWS All the latest from the award winning Oceanarium

Bull huss sharks are born!

M ar e

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One of our baby bull huss sharks

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To see video footage of the baby bull huss being born, visit our Facebook page. If you are not already a fan, search for us: Oceanarium, Bournemouth.

Mother bull huss shark

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newcom of the er fell into the ha Oceana nds pas r from th ser-by saw a ium after a e from a sky! Droppe pipe fish fall d fe Olly Bu arful height, by a sea gull ttling c Group rushed a C it to qu me to it's res urator cue and the pro arantin e. gn little mit osis wasn't pr Unfortunately omising e died a an couple o f days la d the ter.

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Pictures: The Splash editorial team and the Oceanarium

The babies

arch delivered big celebrations for us after three baby bull huss sharks were born. These little nippers were the first to ever be bred in captivity at the Oceanarium and are making good progress. For the first few weeks, they have to be monitored in quarantine but their proud mother can be found in the Mediterranean area. They will eventually be on show in the lobby area.

There are more eggs due to hatch, so we will be expecting more soon! The eggs are referred to as mermaid’s purses and can grow up to 9cm long.

Once born, these expected babies will be placed with their siblings.

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Fins can only Despite bans for shark finning in most EU waters, there are still areas allowing the cruel act to continue. The Oceanarium are supporting campaigns to implement further bans by launching a petition and it’s YOUR help they need.

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Hammerhead shark pups about to be finned

The Shark Trust launched a huge campaign back in 2001 to ban shark finning. Since then they have been fighting to have an indefinite ban on the procedure throughout the EU. Ali Hood, director of Conservation for Shark Trust cannot stress just how important the ban is.

“We have been very successful in our campaigns over the last few years. The end of 2009 saw our latest ban come into action, which aimed to fix the loophole in the original ban. We are now working on Spain and Portugal. We are due to address this issue over the coming months,” she says.

Keen to support this campaign, the Oceanarium has set up a petition to ban the remaining permits for good. Co-editor of The Splash, Sarah Brogden

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signed it and feels very strongly about these ongoing, vicious attacks: “This devastating act is still killing off numerous species of this beautiful animal. Sharks are rarely seen as innocent, harmful creatures and finning goes unnoticed by a lot of people. It is time to step up to the mark and really push to get this new ban put in place,” she says.

The petition is in the largest area of the Oceanarium, Great Barrier Reef, where their own collection of sharks can be found. The more people that sign the petition, the more chance there is of saving the sharks!

For more information about the Shark Trust, visit, www.sharkstrust.org.

Pictures: Flickr, Marine Photobank, SXC and The Splash editorial team.

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he Oceanarium has been working hard to promote their petition to stop shark finning in waters which currently hold no ban and are continuing this murderous act.

Despite an official ban back in 2003, a gap in the legislation allowed fishing boats to continue finning. This involves a scheme, which grants special permits to fishing vessels, allowing them to hunt for shark fins. This was provided if the fins weight is five per cent or less of the shark’s body.

Despite this, governments worked to close the loophole that has caused fishermen to continue killing sharks. This became a success in late 2009 but sadly there are permits still valid in Spanish and Portuguese waters.

Shark finning is a procedure that is happening all across the world. Shark fins are a very sought after, money making delicacy and are the key ingredient for expensive cuisine, shark fin soup.

On average, shark fisheries can get up £200 per kilo and sometimes even more. With such high value, shark finning has become more and more popular over the years.

Sharks are targeted by large boats, and pulled aboard to have their fin sliced off. This is a very brutal attack that is rapidly killing off many shark populations. Shark specialists estimate around 100 million sharks are being killed and various species are at large risk of being wiped out completely, due to less reproduction occurring.

So whilst they are seen as dangerous, blood thirsty killers it is actually us humans that sharks are fearful of. Still alive when they are thrown back in the ocean (finless) they are left to slowly die in agony. Their carcases are then eaten by other fish.

Most shark hunting is going unnoticed as it is not monitored, which is why it has increased greatly over the last decade.

Compared to other body parts of the fish, the fin is worth a lot of money to fishermen, whilst shark meat holds a very low value, which is why the rest of the animal is thrown back in the sea.

News

get better “ ” This devastating act is killing off numerous species of this beautiful animal

Sarah Brogden, co-editor of The Splash

Sarah signs the petition

Finning Facts

Fins can sell for around £200 per kilo.

Shark fins are used for Asian delicacy, shark fin soup.

Dogfish sharks supply meat for the UK ‘fish and chip’ market. Talks are currently in place to crack down on this.

Once finned, the shark is thrown back in the sea as it is more hassle to bring back to land. The shark eventually drowns and is eaten by other fish.

The wasted leftovers from a successful hunt

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News

Harriet’s new toy Harriet is a big attraction at the Oceanarium

It’s playtime for our friendly, North Pacific octopus

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arriet the octopus is rarely left with nothing to do. To prevent her from getting bored, we’ve invested in a new toy for our eightlegged friend. Inspired by the Vancouver Olympics, the team has introduced Harriet with a new challenge...hoopla! The toy, which involves five wooden blocks and five rings, keeps the octopus focussed and mentally challenged. Group Curator,

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Octopuses are very intelligent, running on the same level as a cat

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he African area of the Oceanarium has a new addition to the family. A freshwater globe fish was recently re-homed after outgrowing its original owner’s aquarium. The shy creature, which feeds of molluscs and is found in rivers in Western Africa, has settled in nicely with his new friends and seems happy to sit at the bottom of the tank in the sand.

Harriet can't get enough of hoopla

Cowfish cat fight

A The globe fish is content with his new home 8

pair of long horned cowfish unveiled their feisty side after being caught fighting. Unfortunately, one had to admit defeat when serious damage was caused to one of his eyes. He was quickly removed from the tank and put in quarantine to recover from the ordeal. The peculiar fish healed quickly, but lost the eye completely.

He is back out on display, only this time he has found some new, rather colourful friends in the starfish tank – a far more docile environment for him.

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Our cowfish may look a little sad, but he is on the road to recovery

Pictures: The Splash editorial team and Flickr

New home for globe fish

”

Olly Buttling, feels this is a very important thing to consider with all species of octopus.

“We want to make her life more interesting.

Octopuses are very intelligent, running on the same level as a cat. They can respond to things and we like to give Harriet a challenge. It’s mentally stimulating for her. We try to give her something new as she tends to break a lot of her toys, which is probably a sign of boredom,” he says.

To keep her entertained even further, feeding time is also a bit of an adventure for Harriet. To help keep her brain active, the Oceanarium team place her food in screw top tubs, which then get thrown in the tank. Harriet then has to un-screw the lids in order to get her grub. Sometimes, to fool her, tubs are put in bigger tubs, so it is even harder for her to get to her dinner.

Harriet can be found in the Abyss area, so keep a look-out for her hoopla tricks!

Events

From ‘Bush Tucker’ treats to the visit of TV chef Gordon Ramsay, the Oceanarium dished up plently this spring!

'Bush Tucker' bonanza February bought a pleasant serving of fried maggots for our Oceanarium visitors

Maggots

alive... ...maggots fried!

“ ” Yuck! It was so chewy!

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Jenny Lancaster, 8, from Pokesdown buckled up the courage to munch on one, but found the taste rather unpleasant. “Yuck. It was so chewy! My mouth feels horrible,” she said.

The Splash editorial team didn’t take too kindly to the free samples either. Jess Macdonald just about kept them down, whilst Dan Taylor, on the other hand, managed them without a flinch. “It was fine. They were quite flaky and made me want a drink straight after, but other than that I could handle more,” he said.

With that in mind, there may be some far more gruesome dishes for all to try in the near future.

Watch this space!

Curry magg ots were a stomach ch for The Spla urner sh team

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Pictures: The Oceanarium, The Splash editorial team, Flickr and Marine Photobank

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t may have been snowing all month, but the Oceanarium was a tropical paradise. To give visitors the chance to venture into the jungle, we hosted our very own ‘Bush Tucker’ trial.

ITV show ‘I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here’ is famous for its stomach churning menu of wilderness treats and with this in mind, we couldn’t resist setting up our own mini lunchtime taster session of spicy, curry grubs. To make the experience of chewing down a wrinkly, dead maggot even more thrilling, live grubs and grasshoppers were displayed in front of those who dared to try.

Events

Egg-tastic Easter Easter always brings fun and excitement for everyone. Steering away from the traditional theme of chocolate Easter eggs, the Oceanarium decided to bring something a little bit different...

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Ca tf

he Easter Bunny may not have visited the Oceanarium with the sweet-tooth delights many of us love to indulge in, however it did bring something interesting and spectacular.

With the recent birth of the baby bull huss sharks, there was strong focus on breeding this spring.

Sticking to the subject of eggs, an egg-stra-special fortnight full of activities and talks on underwater reproduction was whipped up.

From the hatching of baby turtles to the birth of sharks, fish and reptiles, visitors discovered all the wonders of sea birth. Many model eggs were on display in the marine research laboratory and staff gave special, detailed talks about what goes on behind the scenes in quarantine (the lab where newborn and ill fish are monitored).

Group Curator Olly Buttling felt the event overall was a big success and hopes it has educated visitors

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about life underwater. “The event was a great success. We had lots of different eggs on display from both fish and reptiles. All of them were laid here at the Oceanarium and our talks varied so people had a different selection to come and listen to,� he said.

Along with the egg displays, scrambled egg trails for youngsters were held plus a temporary tattoo bench for children to get their favourite underwater animal transfers. To keep the kids entertained even further, Easter badge making and colouring competitions were also run throughout the fortnight.

Donations were made for the Monk Seal Conservation project, a cause the Oceanarium greatly supports. This plan is working towards saving the endangered mammal by protecting its breeding habitat.

Iguan

a egg

g eg

Mermaid purse

Gordon's family day out Top TV chef, Gordon Ramsay visits the Oceanarium!

Baby iguana

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

H

e may love the taste of fish in his top-notch dishes, but Gordon Ramsay has recently exposed his love for learning about them.

The celebrity chef visited the Oceanarium with wife Tana and their eldest child, Megan. He did draw in some attention from other visitors and even some of our fish. Keen to get involved in a feeding session, Gordon happily chatted to our Group Curator Olly and got stuck into feeding time for the stingrays. Wonder if he was eyeing them up for a new signature dish‌

Gordon and Olly casually talk fshy business

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For more information about upcoming events, visit us on Facebook. All updates are posted on our page, Oceanarium Bournemouth, or you can visit our website, www.oceanarium.co.uk.

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Whaling:

The great debate

With news that the International Whaling Commission are planning to allow selected countries to start commercial whaling again, The Splash are asking why?

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It’s estimated, that on average, a total of 2,000 whales are killed each year. The USA’s bid aims to stop these loopholes and gradually reduce the number of whales killed.

Currently, Japan’s target catch is well over 900 minke whales per season. The proposal would instantly limit this catch to 400, which would then reduce to 200 in 2015/16. Although, in recent years, the anti-whaling group ‘Sea Shepherd’ have successfully managed to sabotage Japan’s hunt, as they returned to dock with little over half their target and the fewest number of whales in decades.

The confrontation between the two parties reached its peak earlier this year. Armed with ‘rancid-butter bombs’, the anti-whaling protestors bombarded the Japanese fleets, leading to a Japanese harpoon-ship destroying the Sea Shepherd’s £2m high-tech power boat, the Ady Gil.

The proposed agreement would also stop new nations entering the whaling trade, which has caused some unrest from South Korea and other nations.

Claire Bass from the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), thinks the thought of this proposal is ludicrous and ‘just goes to show how out of touch the IWC are with modern values’.

However, we believe it seems to be a case of making things worse, to eventually make them better. The agreement does seem like a realistic approach to eventually cutting down the death toll and will hopefully put an end to the loopholes that are currently being exploited.

Expected to be the main topic of conversation at the IWC annual meeting in June, make sure you keep a lookout in The Splash for any further developments.

A Japanese whaling ship savagely add one more to their catch

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Pictures: Flickr.com

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n 1982, the International Whaling Commission, or IWC, introduced a global ban on commercial whaling. You’d think a worldwide ban would be clear enough: No Whaling! Simple.

However, Japan, Norway and Iceland continue to hunt our blubbery friends, which has caused the USA to spearhead a radical new approach, in an attempt to cut the number of whales killed each year.

When the IWC hold their annual meeting in June of this year, the USA will propose a ten-year agreement, allowing Japan, Norway and Iceland to commercially hunt whales, with the intent to halve their quotas and regulate their whaling fleets.

The three countries would have to agree to regular inspections, tracking devices and a whale DNA registry, in an attempt to put a stop to the illegal trade of whale meat.

News recently emerged that whale meat, caught and served in Japan, was also being served in South Korean and American restaurants. This only goes to show how alive the whale meat black-market still is.

Scott Baker, from Oregon State University, has been performing DNA tests on whale meat sold since 1993. He agrees that since the ban, the general consensus is that the trade of whale meat has come to an end. However, he is regularly finding products from the same whale sold in Japan during 2007, and then in South Korea during 2009.

You may be asking yourself, how can they simply defy a worldwide ban so easily?

You see, when the 88 IWC countries agreed to the whaling ban, Norway objected and declared itself exempt, which allows them to still hunt.

Japan however were much more crafty. After initially lodging an objection to the ban, the USA threatened to cut their quota’s in US territorial waters, which led to the Japanese retracting their appeal. Since they could no longer commercially fish for whales, they found a loophole and began hunting under ‘scientific research’ purposes.

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Tuna at steak..

Bluefin tuna fish recently had a lifeline snatched away. In March 2010 an application for a ban against bluefin tuna fishing was rejected, so it is sad to say tis amazing fish is now coming closer to extinction.

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The Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) took a vote on the ban recently, with a majority result of 72 to 43; it was rejected, meaning the trading of this creature may continue.

It is surprising that the convention leant away from aiding the fish as they were provided with an extensive justification for the ban, as well as growing political support. This also included backing from the bluefin fisheries on both sides of the Atlantic.

Dr Sergi Tudela, head of fisheries at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Mediterranean was an observer at the recent conference. He said: “It’s scandalous that governments didn’t get a chance to debate. This could lead to accusations.”

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It’s scandalous...

An adult blue fin can reach up to two me ters in length .

The largest re corded was almost four m eters long!

They are s one classed a an’s of the oce tors top preda

Many tuna fish are caught by accident 14

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All Pictures: Sourced from Marine Photobank

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luefin tuna populations have plummeted at an alarming rate over the past few decades.

All species such as the Atlantic bluefin, the Pacific bluefin and Southern bluefin tuna are at risk as well as the Mediterranean bluefin which is, by far, the closest to complete extinction.

There are currently two populations of the Atlantic bluefin tuna. The smaller of the two, the Western Atlantic stock, has declined nearly 90 per cent since 1970s. This is exactly why it is sitting on the endangered species list, making the need for the ban much more important.

Massive, hi-tech commercial fishing fleets and illegal fishing could mean that this giant creature will soon be gone from Mediterranean waters. The biggest fears are that it will soon also affect the populations in the North Atlantic and this is what a ban would prevent.

Conservation Many people don’t know the true size of these great creatures

In Japa n, tuna wa a single giant s sold a ta for £80, 000 at T uction su Market in Tokyo kiji Fish

Sue Lieberman, director of international policy of the Pew Environment Group, suggested lobbying from the fishing industry was ultimately responsible for the defeat.

"This meeting presented an opportunity for governments to take a stand against overfishing, and too many governments failed to do so," she said. "The market for this fish is just too lucrative and the pressure from fishing interest is too great, for enough governments to support a truly sustainable future for the fish.”

Four decades of mass fishing in North Western Atlantic has led to this rapid decline in bluefin tuna. A large percentage of these fish end up on a conveyer belt in sushi bars across Japan as well as the many that are spread across the world.

Sushi chefs and fish dealers across Japan would have let out a huge sigh of relief after this ban was rejected. Many of the Japanese fear that this will turn into a ‘Japan-bashing’ especially after the Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama praised the rejection by saying: “I think it is a good decision.”

Sushi and Sashimi are a big trade in Japan, so to lose this may put the country into some big money problems. Although, a shocking fact is that bluefin tuna do not even sell easily there. It is an expensive fish to buy and so much of it is wasted. Many fish shop owners have commented in the past about their stock of bluefin tuna, some saying that they have several in their freezers unsold for weeks and therefore becoming waste.

It is sad to hear that not only is the bluefin tuna caught for commercial use, it is also caught for sporting purposes. The bluefin tuna has long been one of the most important big-game species sought by sports fishermen. Sport fishing for the Atlantic bluefin tuna has existed since the 1930s and continues to be popular to this day, particularly in the USA, Canada, France, Spain and Italy. If the ban was passed, it would h put an end to this barbaric sport.

They can reach speeds of 70-100km/ph

MAGAZINE NAME

At this current time, the Atlantic and Pacific bluefin can still be saved. This isn’t the same for the Mediterranean bluefin however. The Mediterranean fisheries have historically been poorly regulated and catches are under-reported, with French, Spanish and Italian fishermen competing with North African nations for the diminishing population. It seems that the ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) has reported that the Mediterranean bluefin, is in fact the closest to extinction and that something drastic would need to be done to prevent this.

All things considered, everybody loses. Scientists now consider the extinction of the Atlantic bluefin tuna and some species of sharks a real possibility.

They have predicted a sudden drop in population levels in coming years, which will not be reversible.

This happened to the once vast Atlantic cod population that used to live off the North American coast in the 1990s.

Environmental interest groups that had high hopes for the conference, which was held in Doha, were sourly disappointed. Marine biologists and other experts were unanimous in condemning the outcome, with many saying that this will spell the end for the tuna.

Despite the rejection, the WWF are not planning on giving up their fight. They have stated on their website that they will keep calling upon restaurants, retailers, chefs and consumers around the world to stop selling, buying and eating these fish. The WWF also say that this is a chance for people to act where politicians have failed.

However, there is a silver lining for this seemingly doomed specie. The WWF have reported that a growing population of the global seafood market is now avoiding the Atlantic bluefin tuna. This is to make sure that the warn-out fish stocks are given a chance to recover and grow.

November 2009 saw some top French chef ’s take a stand towards bluefin tuna fishing. They have pledged to keep the tuna off the menu regardless of the cost, which is exciting news for those who are still fighting for the ban. If this works, it may rub off onto other European countries.

If we can even get a temporary ban on the international trade of Atlantic bluefin tuna as well as the others, we may be able to allow the overfished species to pull through.

A Tuna bloodbath

Adults avera ge around 250kg, the largest recorded is 679kg - wh ich is heavier th an a horse!

n tuna Atlantic bluefi ly one larvae has on ance of in a million ch lthood reaching adu Sushi bars are the biggest tuna fish traders 16

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The Seahorse Trust is run solely on donations from the public. Each donation is greatly appreciated and every penny is put straight into the conservation of these beautiful creatures.

The Trust is a charitable organisation for: Research into seahorses and the environment worldwide Education into seahorses and marine observation The enjoyment of seahorses

www.theseahorsetrust.org Working in partnership with nature

SharkV

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The great white shark

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he first time I came face-to-face with a great white shark was at a very young age.

I vividly remember a 25ft beast terrorising the residents of a beach resort, savagely devouring anybody who dared set foot in the water.

OK, so that might be a slight exaggeration. I was behind the sofa at the time and the events in question were merely from the film ‘Jaws’.

The point is, that since Speilberg released ‘Jaws’ the great white has come in for some pretty bad press. Granted, nearly half the worldwide shark attacks

Whale Dan Taylor explores the champion predators of the sea

are attributed to the great white, but the majority of these are actually non-fatal. In fact, recent studies show that great whites, who are naturally curious, are simply “sample biting”. Now this may not sound overly reassuring when you’re being circled by a dorsal fin, but it does show that humans aren’t on their ‘A La Carte Menu’.

The typical great white can grow anywhere between 15-20ft and weigh in at around 5,000lbs.

As the largest predatory fish on earth they are nature’s most highly adapted killing machine.

Their mouths are lined with over 300 razor-sharp, serrated teeth and are designed to tear through their victim’s flesh. Travelling through the water at nearly 15mph, a great white can leap out of the water, known as breaching, to attack their prey. Stealth is

essential when stalking their victims. A slate-grey upper body makes them virtually undetectable from above and their underbellies aren’t just for show either. Taking their name from their ‘great white’ undersides, they are also practically invisible from below.

Living underwater, you may expect the sense of smell to be practically useless, however a typical shark can detect a single drop of blood from over 3miles away. And it isn’t just their enhanced sense of smell that helps them track a tasty meal.

All sharks have an extra sixth sense, allowing them to ‘feel’ the smallest of movements from miles away. Every living creature emits electro-magnetic waves when they move and using their lateral line, or Ampullae of Lorenzini, it doesn’t take long for a shark to quickly hunt down a sea lion, seal, or even a whale.

Did You Know?

1. Like other sharks, the great white continuously loses its teeth and replaces them with new ones.

2. The great white has over 3,000 teeth at any one time and

3. The largest great white recorded was 23-feet-long.

4. Great white sharks must continuously swim or they will sink.

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Pictures: Flickr

may use well over 20,000 in a lifetime.

Species of the season

The killer whale Rather ironically, the name ‘great white shark’ instils far more terror into any diver than that of the ‘killer whale’, but surely the name says it all.

I mean, when we think of killer whales, we remember the orca who happily jumped over a small boy to freedom at the end of Free Willy. Large, graceful creatures who can be tamed to swim with a trainer balanced on the tip of their nose.

But let’s start by clearing a few facts up first.

Orcas, or as they’re commonly known, killer whales, aren’t actually whales. They’re more closely related to dolphins and were given their name because they ‘kill’ whales.

There are three different types of killer whale; resident, transient and offshore.

Resident killer whales are usually found in the northeast Pacific and are the most commonly spotted by tourists. They live in large ‘families’ and their diet consists mainly of fish and sometimes squid.

The transient killer whales live in much smaller families, usually between two and six members.

Their diet primarily consists of seals, sea lions and even whales and they do not eat fish.

The offshore killer whales are a much more recent discovery and not much is known about their habits or diets. They have been spotted in large areas of open water and congregate in ‘pods’ of between 20-200. Because not much is known about their diet, it is presumed that they tend to feed on large schools of fish and maybe even larger mammals.

Despite the three types of killer whale all looking virtually identical, genetically they are all different and never interbreed or mingle.

Although usually preferring cooler regions, killer whales can be found in almost all parts of the world, with the largest population living in Antarctic waters.

The typical killer whale can grow in excess of

30ft long and weigh over six tonnes, making them one of the world’s largest predators. They are alphapredators at the top of their food chain, meaning there is no animal that hunts them.

The average lifespan of a male killer whale is approximately 30 years, while females tend to average about 50 years. However, many individuals have been reported to live to over 90 years old.

Much like their relative the dolphin, killer whales display lots of acrobatic behaviour whilst out at sea.

Breaching and tail-slapping are not uncommon, but the strangest of them all is spyhopping.

Spyhopping is a process where the whale will raise their top half out of the water so as to look around and judge their surroundings.

However, killer whales have become the main attractions at many ‘Sea Worlds’ across the globe.

Much like a dog, an orca can be trained to swim, jump and splash their way through a daily routine, attracting millions of visitors per year.

Despite their friendly appearance, there have been numerous accounts of trainers being injured or killed by orcas, with the most recent taking place this year in 2010.

Many scientists say that these attacks are due to the stress of captivity and the animal rights group Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has even compared their tanks to “the size of a bathtub”.

Did You Know?

1. The most famous killer whale was Keiko, from the film ‘Free Willy’ 2. In 1998, Keiko was flown to Iceland where his trainers planned on releasing him back into the wild.

3. The largest recorded male killer whale measured in at over 32-foot-long.

4. A killer whale can dive up to 100-feet-deep.

THE SPLASH

And the winner is...

Well, it’s clear to see that here we have two of nature’s most highly adapted killing machines, but with very different public perceptions.

The great white shark is a natu ral hunter, designed to seek out prey and kill as quickly as possible. Long feared, the dorsal fin of the great white is synonym ous with open-water-related terror.

On the other hand, the killer whale has a much more friendly and charming demeano ur. Every year, millions of tourists flock to watc h with awe as these 30-foot-long beasts leap through a hoop and splash till we’re soaked through.

What we seem to be forgetting thou gh, is the sheer size and power that the killer wha le possesses.

A single orca is able to devour anything from a fish, to a squid, to a sea lion and, when com bined with its family, even take down a blue wha le.

But, for a second, let’s imagine the killer whale and great white shark were the sam e size and weight.The great white’s vastly supe rior senses would only enhance it’s reputation as a naturalborn killer and stake for the number one slot.

It is for this reason, we have decided that the champion predator of the sea is: the great white shark!

Cham The Sp pion P lash’s redato r of th eS T

he Gr White eat Shark

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Species of the season This issue, we take a look at our most popular residents; Friday and Crusoe.

Washing ashore in the early 90s, they’ve quickly become the Oceanarium’s main attraction.

Species of the season

Why not get up close and personal with a real green sea turtle skeleton in the Great Barrier Reef display? There’s also an underwater camera that lets you explore the murky depths.

REMEMBER: Friday and Crusoe have to follow a strict diet to stay in shape.

So don’t throw anything into the water that might harm them.

through the water. The average sea turtle can grow up to five feet long and weigh more than 700 pounds. Identifiable by his longer tail, Friday is our male turtle and is slightly larger in size than Crusoe.

Although their beaks are sharp, turtles are herbivores, and Friday and Crusoe enjoy a balanced diet of peppers, lettuce and apples.

Due to their sheer size and weight, cleaning the tank is a really hard job for the Oceanarium staff. Despite Friday and Crusoe being a friendly natured species, play time can still be dangerous.

Chris, the duty aquarist at the Oceanarium said: “Last year I was in the tank cleaning the walkthrough tube and Friday kept nudging into me because he wanted to play. I obviously can’t stop cleaning so, frustrated, he nipped me on the side, which left a huge bruise for months. I know he didn’t mean to hurt me, but it goes to show how strong they really are.”

Friday and Crusoe can be found in the Great Barrier Reef display along with our reef sharks, stingrays and moray eels and are fed four times a day, every day.

“Look Ma, No Hands!”

Green Sea Turtle Skeleton “Stop splashing me!”

Pictures: Flickr & The Splash editorial team

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ur two green sea turtles, Friday and Crusoe, are the most popular residents here at the Oceanarium.

After washing ashore in Cornwall, they were housed at a local aquarium, before being brought here in 1999.

Green sea turtles are the largest turtles in the world and are one of the few species who were around when the dinosaurs roamed the earth.

Although Friday and Crusoe are between 25-30 years old, the average sea turtles can live to over 80, with many reported to exceed 100!

Named for their beautiful green skin, their thick, hard shells are often a dark brown and act as a defence from predators.

They also have large, flat, paddle-shaped fins which help them glide effortlessly

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Home Aquarium If you’re a regular visitor to the Bournemouth Oceanarium, or just love fish, why not take the magic home with you? Setting up a tank at home has never been easier and it can prove to be rewarding for all the family. There are three main types of home aquarium that you can set up; tropical aquariums, cold-water tanks and marine aquariums.

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Tropical fish tanks are probably the most popular type of home aquarium across the globe. They require more maintenance than the cold-water, tanks but allow for many different varieties of fish.

An underwater heater should be purchased as the water must be regulated to 22°C, and the filtration pump must remain on at all times. Some tanks have built in filtration systems, but these can be bought separately.

Tropical tanks allow you to keep smaller species of eel, shark and even puffer fish.

Neon tetra’s are probably the most common type of small, tropical fish you will find in aquatic stores. Often a bright blue and red colour, they like to swim in large schools and provide a simple but wonderful effect to any tank.

Marine

Marine, or reef, tanks are notorious for being difficult to set up and maintain, but offer truly breath-taking results.

The popularity of reef tanks has increased since Nemo and pals hit the big screen back in 2003, but they aren’t recommended for beginners, or for somebody who is unable to dedicate much time to regular maintenance.

Salt levels must be regularly checked, by a hydrometer, and a water skimmer is needed to remove all debris from the water before it converts into nitrates and poisons the fish.

The selection of fish and coral available are beautifully bright and vibrant. Simply taking the time to carefully select your desired ‘look’ will prove time well spent when the tank is fully operational.

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Cold-water

Cold-water aquariums are most popular with younger children and require the least amount of maintenance.

A cold-water bowl, or tank, is typically home to the common goldfish and the water can simply be changed and replaced with tap water.

No heaters or pumps are required, meaning you are able to keep them in virtually any shaped glass container. However, fish do jump so make sure you purchase something with a lid. It’s all well and good buying that beautiful vase, but there’s not much point if your fish are dead on the kitchen floor.

With a large and varied selection of goldfish to choose from, they have become increasingly popular with all fish lovers, proving they aren’t just for kids to win at the fair.

Pictures: Flickr, The Splash editorial team

Tropical

Your Fish Here we’ve included seven simple steps on how to set up your very own tropical fish aquarium.

Tropical fish are much better for beginners as the fish are more hardy and it can be relatively cheap to start up.

Make sure you’ve got all the equipment.

It isn’t as simple as buying a tank and plonking in the fish.

You need; a filter, a heater, gravel and water conditioner, as well as the optional scenery of rocks and plants.

Some tanks have built in filters. If yours doesn’t, ask the shop keeper for advice on which is the best filter and heater for your tank. Remember, it’s cheaper in the long run to pay that little bit extra, if it means you don’t have to keep buying replacements.

Make sure the tank, gravel and all other objects are washed throughly.

This can be done by pouring the gravel into a bowl and placing it under a running tap. Stir the gravel and mix it with your hands until the water is clear.

If you wish to include plants, rocks, timber or imitation plants, make sure they are washed throughly too. It is also a good idea to soak the rocks, timber and imitation plants in a bucket of water for at least 24 hours.

Placing the gravel.

Now that the gravel is clean, you can pour it into the bottom of the tank, making sure it is deep enough for your plants to root. Generally, people prefer the gravel level to be slightly lower at the front and steadily rise towards the back of the tank. A good height for the front is 5cm and the back 10cm. This will also work well if your tank has an underground filtration system.

Half-fill the tank with water.

It is often a good idea to use a hosepipe, or pour the water onto another object so as not to disturb the gravel you’ve just nicely landscaped. By only filling the tank half way, you are now able to place your rocks, plants etc into the tank without getting completely soaked. If your tank does not come with a built in filter or heater, now is the time to place them inside the tank, making sure no plants are in the way.

Fill the rest of the tank and condition the water.

Now that you have placed your accessories, it is now time to fill the rest of the tank. It’s often a wise idea, to leave at least an inch between the water mark and the top of the tank, so that next time, when you put your hand in, it doesn’t overflow.

Now you must treat the water. Normal tap water contains chlorine which can prove lethal to fish. Water conditioners can be purchased from all good aquatic stores and often only half a capful is required at a time, but make sure you read the instructions.

Turn on the tank.

Once everything is set up and you’re ready to go, you can now turn the filter and lighting system on and set the heater to approximately 22 °C. You must wait between 7-14 days before starting to add the fish as the tank needs to adjust the levels of Ammonia. It might be a good idea to read up about the ‘Nitrogen Cycle’ and how it affects fish tanks.

Add the fish.

You are now able to add your fish. Start off by only adding a few at a time, and research which species’ best live with other fish. When you bring them home, place the plastic bag into the tank and leave for 15-20 minutes. This will allow enough time for the water temperature to regulate. Then slowly cut open the bag and pour the fish, and the water, into your tank. The water from the aquatic store will be full of ‘friendly’ bacteria which will help your tank develop over the coming weeks.

With all the types we’ve discussed, we strongly recommend that you do your research first.

Talking to aquatic shop owners or searching online forums can prove essential in picking up all the latest tricks and tips.

THE SPLASH

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ow you have the opportunity to arrive at the Aquarium by boat or steam train!

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With Oliver Buttling Oliver Buttling is the Group Curator of Aquatics here at Bournemouth Oceanarium. He has worked here for a whopping nine years and has seen the place go from strength to strength. He’s also made a good friend in Harriet the octopus!

Q– Anything exciting happened during your time at the Oceanarium?

Q– If you could fix one problem in the world, Q–

“Probably the breeding of the cownose stingrays. It was a project that had never happened in the UK before, so to be part of a first was very exciting. It was an experience that everyone who was involved will remember, and now we’ve got some brilliant examples swimming in the aquarium. We like to get involved with projects like that, so are always on the look-out.”

“End all habitat destruction, above and below the water. If things continue the way they are there will be nothing left. We are constantly trying to show our visitors what is going on in the world conservation-wise, and want people to stand up and fight against all the destruction that really is going on around the world. Animals don’t have a voice of their own, so we have to do it for them.”

what would it be and why?

Q– What is your favourite part of your job?

“The fact that I get to work and play with some wonderful and weird creatures every day! I enjoy playing with Harriet the Octopus, she’s such an amazing creature. I also enjoy being able to impress our visitors with exactly how weird and wonderful these creatures really are. I never get bored of hearing gasps and wow’s as I walk through Abyss and the underwater tunnel. I think I am a very lucky person to be able to do it.”

“There are new things cropping up all the time, things are always different from one day to the next. Babies are growing, adults are breeding, exhibits are changed and re-arranged - a lot of work goes on to keep things fresh. We regularly put on events for our visitors too, so every time you come, there is something new to look at or experience. Also, we have some amazing creatures living here, sometimes you just don’t get bored of seeing them!”

Oliver regularly entertains the aquarium’s creatures.

Left: The spider crab in Abyss.

Below: The red studded starfish.

Pictures: The Splash editorial Team

Q – What is your biggest achievement so far?

“Easy, getting my two Blue Peter badges! I’ve been on the show at Television Centre a couple of times now, showing off some of our creatures that we have here at the Oceanarium. There have been one or two embarrassing moments, I don’t think the presenters were as brave about holding a crab as they pretend to be, but that doesn’t matter, I’m not sure many people would want to do it either!”

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Why should visitors come back to the Oceanarium?

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KEEP OUT ADULTS!! THIS BIT IS JUST FOR KIDS!! KEEP OUT ADULTS!! THIS BIT IS JUST FOR KIDS!!

Just for Kids!

Hey Kids!!

This bit is just for you, so tear it out and take a look inside!

Competitions!

Puzzles!

Posters!

Lots of animal facts and more inside !

KEEP OUT ADULTS!! THIS BIT IS JUST FOR KIDS!! KEEP OUT ADULTS!! THIS BIT IS JUST FOR KIDS!!

Bits’n’Bobs The latest news about your favourite sea creatures

Oceanarium’s fishy favourite Our mother shark can’t wait to see her babies

Did you know?

Doesn’t it look cute!

It is estimated that nearly HALF of Earth’s life lies below land. Known as the ‘subsurface biosphere’, scientists believe a large amount of Earth’s creatures live in oceans, lakes, soil, mines and tree roots.

What is a bull huss shark?

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2

ull huss are part of the cat shark family.

They are a stunning creature, with spotted skin and large eyes. The spots help them disguise as they act as a camouflage in wild waters. Found mostly in the Atlantic Ocean, they are quite shy and like to hide in small, dark areas. Despite this, these predators can be very defensive and can grow up to 170cm in length, which is rather big of a fish.

THE SPLASH

Pictures: Flickr, SXC, Marine Photobank and the Oceanarium

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he Oceanarium team can’t get enough of bull huss sharks. These beautiful predators are a must-see since the birth of three babies in March. Keep a look out for the little siblings, who will eventually go on display when they are strong enough. For now, you can see the proud mother shark in the Mediterranean area.

Kids

Googly goldfish

‘Crabzilla’ Britain’s biggest crab measures 10 feet in length! The Japanese spider species is still growing and can live up to 100 years.

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e all love goldfish, but have you seen this unusual bubble-eyed species pictured here?

These funny looking fellows are just the same as regular goldfish, but have large fluidfilled sacks under their eyes. These make the fish even more fragile so they are best kept seperate from larger, intimidating fish.

If you like the look of this fancy fishy, visit your local aquatic store. To guarantee it’s a healthy one, make sure the eye sacks match the colour of the rest of the fish.

Greedy grouper A

fish’s eyes were bigger than its belly at a local aquaculture shop in Cairns, Australia. A 40kg grouper, which is pictured left, mistook a plastic spout, which feeds the fish, for a squid and managed to lodge it in its stomach.

The incident caused an emergency operation to save the guzzling grouper’s life.

The fish could only be out of the water for four minutes so the vet, Paul Matthews had to operate very quickly. Gagging the grouper, he had to insert his hand through it’s mouth to grab the pipe, which was blocking the fish’s gills.

Luckily, Paul managed to wriggle the pipe out and with a quick dose of medicine; the grouper was happily placed back in his tank with his friends.

Hello Ziggy!

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he Oceanarium has recently welcomed a new friend into the aquarium. Ziggy the iguana is two years old and already three feet long!

The lanky reptile was brought to the Oceanarium by the RSPCA after his owner could not care for him and another male iguana any longer. He has settled nicely into his new home and cannot wait to make new friends.

What is a grouper?

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here are two species of grouper: the Western blue and the Eastern blue; however they are actually part of the wrasses family. Both live in Australian waters and are an incredibly hungry fish, feeding mostly off mussels, crabs and sea urchins. They can grow up to four feet long and have thick lips, large scales and heavy tails.

Their colour can vary, from a dark navy to a lighter shade of blue.

An unusual fact about blue groupers is that they are actually all born female. It is not until they get older that they may be male or female. To identify what sex the grouper is, males have orange lines around their eyes, whilst females turn a browner shade of colour when they mature.

Ziggy loves his new home

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Picture Credits:

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MAGAZINE NAME

Kids

Pictures: Bournemouth Harry Ramsden’s & Oceanarium

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MAGAZINE NAME

Pictures: The Splash editorial team

Poster

Poster

Pictures: Flickr

Ariel

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riel is well-known for her long red hair, green sparkling tail and he seashell bikini top. She is an adventurous girl with lots of energy. She likes to swim around shipwrecks in search for human belongings. She is easily impressed by her findings and curious to find out more about the forbidden land above the surface.

Ariel is also well known for her beautiful voice, which she trades in for a pair of legs so she can meet her Prince Eric.

Because of her close friendships with crabs and fish, we know that her diet avoids eating any of her fishie friends, so she sticks to her vegetables!

Manatee Manatee also sticks to veggie foods. They can grow to a

A

huge four meters long, which is much bigger than Ariel.

They are very friendly creatures that glide through the sea munching on seaweed as they go.

In fact, half of a Manatee’s day is spent sleeping in the water and rarely popping up for air. Unfortunately, a lot of Manatee’s become injured because of their curious ways-many have been hit by ships which they have been exploring during their rare visits to the surface. Sounds a lot like Ariel too!

Star

Lets take a look at some of our favourite film star fishies and their real life matches

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optimistic sea sponge (although his appearance more closely resembles a kitchen sponge) that lives in a pineapple under the sea with his pet snail Gary, who meows like a cat.

He has large blue eyes, many holes appearing all around his body and a mouth with big front teeth. He typically wears a white shirt with a red tie and brown trousers.

He is friends with many other creatures under the sea and has a job as a fry cook!

Sea sponge

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8

ven though they look like a plant, a sea sponge is the simplest of animals. It usually stays in one place, attaching itself to something solid where it can catch enough food to grow.

If you are unlucky enough to come into contact with a sea sponge, (although it is unlikely as they tend to live quite far down in the deep sea) you may get a stinging feeling similar to stinging nettles. So keep your eyes open and avoid them if you can!

So unlike Spongebob, they are quite immobile creatures and certainly do not wear any clothes!

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Pictures: Sourced from Flickr, Marine Photobank and Oceanarium

Spongebob pongebob Squarepants is an extremely energetic and

Nemo

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emo, the lucky little clown fish with a lucky fin, is constantly fighting his overprotective father. He and his dad live in a giant sea anemone, which protects them from other fishes. He thinks he is brave, but when it comes down to it, he will run scared. He’s only a child after all! His lucky fin prevents him from swimming as fast as his friends, but when he puts his mind to it, he can achieve great things!

Nemo is well known for his orange, black and white stripes and very friendly face!

Clown fish

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iny, peaceful little fish, which barely grow larger than 10cm in length. Just like Nemo, they seek protection within anemones whose poison can fend off many predators. Clown fish tend to live in small groups surrounding the anemone.

They are omnivores, meaning they eat meat as well as veggies such as algae. Many fish are not afraid of clown fish because of their small size and peaceful nature and, just like Nemo, they have lots of friends.

Fish Ernie and Bernie

How many famous fish can you name?

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wo Jamaican jellyfish who are bodyguards of Sykes.

Even though they look pretty weedy, they’re actually mean bullies. They love to play games and enjoy poking Oscar with their stingers.

They are forgetful characters who forget the motto at the car wash.

After bullying Oscar for most of their time, they decide to become his friend when he becomes famous! They stick together all the time and come across and quite unfriendly characters to poor Oscar.

Jellyfish

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ellyfish are found all over the seas, from the surface to the depths of the deep ocean. They are all sizes and colours too! They are called jellyfish simply because of their jelly-like appearance, blobbing slowly around the sea!

Just like Ernie and Bernie, they have nasty stings. If you come across one of the larger fish, they can cause you some serious harm; the least you could come out with is a nasty bumpy rash which people believe if you wee on it, it cures the sting!

Looking at our photo, you can be mistaken for thinking they are beautiful creatures who flop around in the sea minding their own business, but don’t be fooled - those long stingers kill fish for their food!

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n o i t i t e p m o C ! e m i T

We asked our visitors to draw a picture of an aquarium. Our favourite artist won a cuddly shark! Take a look at some of the fantastic pictures that we got back!

Noah, 5, Hampshire

Ellie, 5, Swindon

The Winner is...

Kaya, 8, Swansea

Win the cuddly shark thanks to the Oceanarium shop!

Marley, 11, Dorset

Why not have a go at our next competition?

We want you to make your own sea creature! It’s all about recycling any yoghurt pots, washing up liquid bottles, painting on old cereal boxes or even sticking on sweet wrappers.

So get your parents or guardians involved and make your very own sea creature!

Send a photo of your entry to editorial@splash.co.uk or post it to The Splash Our favourite will win another one of our cuddly sharks Oceanarium courtesy of the Oceanarium shop!

Pier Approach West Beach Here’s one we made earlier..

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Bournemouth BH2 5AA Make sure you put your name, age and address so we can post you your prize if you win!

THE SPLASH

Poster

Pictures: The Splash editorial team