Media Releases
Sex in the Salish Sea
Posted on: February 11, 2011
February 10, 2011 SIDNEY, BC — Love is in the air—or in the water—at Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre. Beginning on Valentine’s Day, “Sex in the Salish Sea” is the aquarium’s latest theme, focusing on reproductive methods of animals in our local waters.
Discover how plumose anemones clone themselves, why perch bear live offspring, which fish lays an egg known as a mermaid’s purse and how barnacles prove that size matters.
New aquarium exhibits feature the mating behaviours of marine life, and explain how certain habitats are critical for the reproduction and growth of animals in the Salish Sea.
“Two particularly important habitats are eelgrass meadows and kelp forests,” notes Tina Kelly, the centre’s visitor experience director. “They’re nurseries, providing refuge for eggs, juvenile fish, and invertebrates.”
One new aquarium habitat shows an eelgrass meadow, complete with fish eggs, newly-hatched fish, and other critters swimming among the blades of grass. Another habitat will display newly- arrived baby wolf-eels. Videos and interpretive talks portray “Sex in the Salish Sea,” and, as always, the program is family friendly and knowledgeable Oceaneers are on hand to answer questions.
Media Contact
Lauren Obee
Public Relations Manager
Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre
pr@oceandiscovery.ca
250.665.7511 ext. 109
