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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Oman Aquarium celebrates World Oceans Day on June 8

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MUSCAT: The soon-to-open Oman Aquarium, set to be the largest of its kind in the Middle East and the Sultanate’s first-ever public aquarium, recently celebrated World Oceans Day on June 8 with its first collection of fish for the aquarium’s quarantine facility.


The landmark occasion took place offshore of Saham, in Al Batinah North Governorate coastline, where the Chairman of Al Jarwani Group, Shaikh Mahmood al Jarwani as the guest of honour accompanied the Oman Aquarium team during the collection.


The expedition team journeyed offshore from Saham’s harbour on three dedicated aquarium boats to where the Oman Aquarium team, working with local fishermen earlier in the week, had placed several fish collection cages.


The cages, now full with fish, were hauled onto the boats, and Shaikh Mahmood was assisted by the Oman Aquarium’s Head Curator, Nick Derbyshire, as well as General Manager, Adrian Tolliday, to choose the healthiest and most appropriate fish specimens to become the Oman Aquarium’s first fish.


With the collection accomplished, the expedition team returned to harbour, and the fish were carefully transported in oxygen enriched and temperature controlled water tanks back to Muscat, where they were placed in the Oman Aquarium’s quarantine facility for later release into its tanks.


Along with being a celebration of World Oceans Day, the landmark occasion also marked the Aquarium’s commitment to embracing marine conservation, education and research in the Sultanate; and cultivating an awareness and passion for the ocean and its precious marine ecosystems.


World Oceans Day has been promoted and coordinated globally since 2002 by The Ocean Project, the organisation that advances conservation in partnership with aquariums, zoos, museums, youth, and other participants worldwide.


Scheduled to be launched in Q4 2018, the Oman Aquarium is one of the Al Jarwani Group’s latest developments in the Sultanate of Oman, and will be located at the soon-to-be-open Mall of Muscat, in the suburb of Maabela.


Visitors can look forward to a world-class aquarium housing a fascinating and diverse array of marine exhibits and marine life — all spread out over two floors and a total area of 8,000 square-metres.


While marine conservation, education, and research are central to Oman Aquarium’s mission, the venue will also provide an enriching entertainment experience for visitors of all ages and backgrounds — including families and their children, school students, individuals, and groups of friends.


The Oman Aquarium is headed up by an expert team of marine biologists and curators, engineers, boat captains, and management staff.


The team is proud to be committed to Omanisation and to be able to capitalise on the local talent, energy and commitment that the Sultanate of Oman’s people possess. It is also fully committed to developing wholesome, curriculum-based education programmes for all levels of students, and to forming relationships with key groups like the Marine Biology department at Sultan Qaboos University.


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