Taraporewala Aquarium
Taraporewala Aquarium is India's oldest aquarium and one of the city's main attractions.[3] it hosts marine and freshwater fishes. The aquarium is located on Marine Drive in Mumbai..
It was re-opened after renovation on March 3, 2015.[4] The renovated aquarium has a 12-feet long and 180 degree acrylic glass tunnel.[5] Another attraction is the special pools, where children can touch fish which are harmless.[6] The fish will be kept in large glass tanks, which will be lit with LED lights.[3]
2,000 fishes of over 400 species and has been renovated at a cost of Rs.22 crore (approx Rs 7.5 crore for aquariums and Rs. 16.5 crore for construction work done by Public Works department) .[7] The exotic fish from overseas has been introduced at the new aquarium the number of new varieties of marine fish at 70. Helicopter,Arowana,Gruppen,yellow-striped tang, blue-spotted stingray, star, clown, hark, trigger, Grouper, Moorish idol,[3] Azure Damsel, Blueline Demoiselle, Purple Firefish, Cloudy Damsel, Copperband Butterflyfish, Schooling Bannerfish, Raccoon Butterflyfish, White Tail Trigger, Clown Triggerfish and Blue Ribbon Eel. The 40 new varieties of freshwater fish would include Red Devil, Jaguar, Electric Blue Jack Dempsey,Frontosa and Catfish. These fishes will be housed in larger tanks than before with imported flexi glass for better visibility.[8] It also has sharks, turtles, rays, moray eels, sea turtles, small starfish and stingrays.
The Aquarium is maintained by Department of Fisheries itself. In the aquarium's 16 sea water tanks and nine sweet water tanks, there are 31 types of fish, while 32 tropical tanks contains 54 kind of fishes.[1] The tropical section of the aquarium already feature different ecosystems such as the “moss aquarium” for pregnant fishes, “plantation aquarium” that features imported varieties of water lilies and other aquatic plants and “island aquarium”.[9]
New attractions Oceanarium in the foyer with 22,000 l (5,800 US gal) water. Amphitheatre with 50 seats, screening documentaries on fish, marine ecosystems and environment conservation. Touch pool, where curious visitors can touch star fish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and turtles. Fish spa. You can dip your feet in one of ten tanks of Doctor fish (Garra rufa). The fish nibble and remove dead skin from your feet and legs.[8] Coral and rocky ecosystems with aquascaping and LED lighting. Semi-circular tank housing jelly fish.
Aquarium fishes are generally known as ‘living jewels' due to their colour, shape, behaviour and origin. They are available in attractive colours and capable of living in confined waters. With the growing interest in fanciful varieties of brightly coloured specimen, aquarium fish culture has turned into a tremendous business. In recent years this hobby has spread all over the world. As a result, many countries in Asia and Europe have started capturing and culturing the colourful and fanciful breeds of the fishes. During the last four decades, there has been considerable growth and diversification in international trade for aquarium fishes which is valued at about US $ 5 billion and demand is growing up steadily.
MARINE BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH STATION, RATNAGIRI Ratnagiri is situated in between Goa on the south and Mumbai on north along the Konkan coast endowed with floral and faunal biodiversity. There are plentiful varieties of coloured marine ornamental fishes, and other aquatic animals are also found. The behaviour, colour patterns, appearance and biology of some of the marine ornamental fishes are fascinating to observe. The streams, rivers, ponds of Konkan are also rich in variety of aquatic animals. It is well known fact that ‘Aquarium and Museum’ is working as an important tool for academic students as well as farmers to learn about fragile marine as well as freshwater aquatic ecosystem. It not only creates awareness among the general public about this field but also helps in creating awareness about the conservation of some endangered aquatic flora and fauna of the region. Keeping this in view, Marine Biological Research Station, Ratnagiri established ‘Marine Aquarium and Museum’ in 1958. ABOUT MARINE BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH STATION, RATNAGIRI
The Government of Maharashtra under the Department of Fisheries established Marine Biological Research Station (MBRS) in 1958 at Ratnagiri for scientific and planned development of fisheries on the south Konkan coast. This station is one of the premier institutes, especially in the south Konkan Coastal Fisheries Zone attached to Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Dist.: Ratnagiri., having a mandate for catering development of fish production technologies, transferring the technologies to fish culturists, entrepreneurs and the industry, and to generate professionally trained manpower.
AQUARIUM
The station is maintaining a marine aquarium having some rare and beautiful specimens like Sea horse fish, Lion fish, Trigger fish, Sea-turtles, Eels, Sea – cucumbers, Star fish, Lobsters, sea snakes and many more which is well supported by sea – water filtration and re-circulation system. Taking into consideration the growing demand of general public about aquarium, a beautifully arranged and well decorated separate freshwater aquarium section has been recently developed. In this section, along with beautiful and fancy colour fishes, one can also observe locally available freshwater aquatic species like prawns, crabs, turtles, barbs and aquatic plants.
Sea horse fish Lobster Lion fish Well mounted Whale skeleton
MUSEUM The station has developed a unique fisheries museum comprising of about 1300 nos. having important specimens comprising fishes, crustaceans, molluscans, specimens, which includes of freshwater, brakishwater and marine water habitat of Konkan coast. All these specimens are identified and classified upto species level. This museum also possess well mounted precious and age-old skeleton of Whale. The original length of the whale being 55 feet long and 5000 Kg in weight is strongly appreciated by everyone who visits this station. LOCATION The Aquarium and Museum is located in Ratnagiri Municipal (in) area on west side of Ratnagiri city on Ratnagiri – Bhagwati Mandir Road and adjacent to Mandavi Beach (also called Gateway of Ratnagiri) at Pethkilla. It is nerely, 8 Km away from Ratnagiri Railway Station and 2 Km away from Ratnagiri Bus station.
