Aquamarine Fukushima

Aquamarine Fukushima (アクアマリンふくしま, Akuamarin Fukushima), officially the Marine Science Museum, Fukushima Prefecture (ふくしま海洋科学館, Fukushima Kaiyō Kagakukan), is a public aquariumlocated in Iwaki, Fukushima, Japan. The aquarium opened on 15 July 2000. It is the largest in the Tohoku region and focuses on environmental education.

Aquamarine Fukushima
36°56′33.9″N 140°54′05.4″E
Date opened15 July 2000[1]
LocationIwaki, Fukushima, Japan
Floor space15,233 m2 (163,970 sq ft)
No. of animals100,000
No. of species800
Volume of largest tank2,050,000 litres (542,000 US gal)[2]
Total volume of tanks3,900,000 litres (1,030,000 US gal)[3]
MembershipsJAZA[4]
Major exhibitsThe Sea of tide tanks, Evolution of the sea and life etc.
WebsiteOfficial website

History

The nickname "Aquamarine Fukushima" was selected in 1998 from a total of 4,722 applications.[5]

The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami on 11 March 2011 resulted in power being cut off to the aquarium. Many fish died, but some marine mammals and sea birds were subsequently transferred to Kamogawa Sea World, 250 kilometers (155 mi) to the south, Ueno Zoo, Tokyo Sea Life Park, Kamogawa Sea World, Izu Mito Sea Paradise, and Enoshima Aquarium. Although the main building sustained only minor damage, outside pools were washed away,[6] and there was major damage to the electrical system (causing the death of about 90% of the animals in the aquarium).[7] The facility was closed after the tsunami, and reopened to the public on 15 July 2011, following restoration.[7]

Exhibits
The Sea of tide tanks and SushiShop

The aquarium highlights the sea life in the Shiome Sea, where rivers flow into the sea and meet the collision of the Kuroshio and Oyashio ocean currents.[3]

The centerpiece tank, "The Sea of tide", holds 2,050 cubic meters (540,000 U.S. gal) and contains a triangular tunnel that separates two tanks with different water temperatures (the two currents).[1][2]

In the main tank, Saury and Tuna are exhibited on the Kuroshio side, and the theme is the rules of the ocean in the natural world where strong ones survive. The aquarium includes a botanical garden on the fourth floor that shows the plant life of Fukushima, and from which visitors can see the top of the main tank.[1]　In 2009 and 2020, aquariums succeeded in raising Indo-Pacific sailfish for two months.[8]

Aquariums are also focused on education about evolution. The coelacanth exhibition area holds multiple frozen specimens of West Indian Ocean coelacanth and Indonesian coelacanth.　Succeeded in underwater photography of the world's second coelacanth in the Indonesian waters.[9] In Aquamarine Fukushima, a coelacanth robot that reproduces the movements of the coelacanth skeleton and muscles is installed.[10]

The aquarium has the world's largest touch pool of 4,500 m2 (48,000 sq ft).[11]　There are also a variety of experience programs such as a fishing pond where you can experience charcoal grilling and canning.[12]　

Research and conservation will be reported in Bulletin "AMF NEWS".[13] Aquariums also have a friendly tie-up with Tokyo Sea Life Park, Niigata City Aquarium, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Palau International Coral Reef Center, Ocean Park Hong Kong, Baltimore National Aquarium. [14]

Facilities

The area is as follows.

  • Evolution of the sea and life
  • Fukushima river and coast
  • Seabirds and seabirds in the North Sea
  • Oceanic Galleria
  • Tropical Asian waterfront
  • Coral reef sea
  • Oyashio Ice Box
  • Sea of tide
  • Fukushima Sea-Road to the Continental Shelf-
  • Friendship tie-up garden information corner
  • Children's Experience Center Aquamarine Egg
  • Aquamarine Uonozoki-Children's Fisheries Museum-
  • BIOBIO Kappa no Sato
  • Serpent's Eye Beach
  • Goldfish Museum
  • Exciting Satoyama / Jomon no Sato
  • Kuwait-Fukushima Friendship Memorial Japanese Garden
  • Denma Ship Studio

See also

References
  1. "Aquamarine Fukushima". pref.fukushima.jp. Fukushima Prefectural Government. 15 July 2011. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  2. "Aquamarine Fukushima". city.iwaki.fukushima.jp. City of Fukushima. Archived from the original on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  3. "About Us". marine.fks.ed.jp. Aquamarine Fukushima. Archived from the original on 11 May 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  4. "正会員名簿 水族館 / 動物園と水族館" [Member List - Aquarium April 30 3rd year Reiwa 2021]. Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums. 1 November 2021. Archived from the original on 1 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  5. Decision on nickname "Aquamarine Fukushima" Archived 2007-11-02 at the Wayback Machine
  6. Garratt, Patrick (1 April 2011). "Japan earthquake: Fukushima Aquarium damage". aquarium.co.za. Two Oceans Aquarium. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  7. "Aquarium brings hope to people" (PDF). Highlighting Japan. September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  8. "(The exhibition was closed on December 5th) We brought in sailfish". アクアマリンふくしま.
  9. "Evolution of the sea and life". アクアマリンふくしま.
  10. "ボティクス学科佐藤研究室が製作したシーラカンスロボットが福島県の水族館で展示".
  11. "Serpent's Eye Beach". アクアマリンふくしま.
  12. "Participation experience corner". アクアマリンふくしま.
  13. "Bulletin "AMF NEWS"". アクアマリンふくしま.
  14. "Bulletin "AMF NEWS" No.58". アクアマリンふくしま.
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