The Marine Research Aquarium at the Vizhinjam Research Centre of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), which was opened recently on new premises, is turning out to be a popular spot for tourists and students.
The research and development (R&D) aquarium, set up at Vizhinjam in 1996, was shifted to the CMFRI campus near Kovalam in June and is open to the public on all days from 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.
The aquarium exhibits varieties of vertebrates and invertebrates in 25 large glass aquaria of 1,300 litre capacity each.
A 4,000-litre acrylic cylindrical tank provides visitors with a view of shoaling fishes like Silver Moonies and Snub-nose Pompanos in three dimension. A reef tank with live, hard and soft corals is an attempt to recreate marine life and is one of the main attractions of the aquarium.
There are a variety of angelfish; butterfly fish in an amazing array of colours and patterns; damselfish that are extremely hardy but lively; clown fish with peculiar colour banding patterns and swimming movement; Sergeant Majors with brightly striped sides that are indicative of the insignia a military officer; seahorses; surgeon fish; box fish; cow fish; the venomous lionfish; eels and wrasses in a wide assortment of colours, shapes and sizes are also among the highlights at the aquarium.
There are marine invertebrates including crabs, prawns, shrimp, star fish; invertebrates including soft corals, sponges, sea lilies and associated fauna as well in the reef tank.
Pearls tooAs for the Research Centre, where ornamental fish breeding and production, sea-cage farming of lobsters and sea bass and image-pearl production among other activities are taken up, there is a unique display of image/designer pearls.
The Research Centre also organises training programs at regular intervals for officials and farmers on marine ornamental fish breeding and keeping, sea cage farming and designer pearl production, officials said.
