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New displays unveiled as Macduff Aquarium looks ahead to its reopening


By David Porter

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As Macduff Marine Aquarium prepares to reopen to the public on April 26, staff are putting finishing touches to new exciting and interactive display panels, highlighting the marine habitats of the Moray Firth and some of the challenges facing our oceans.

Saving our oceans
Saving our oceans

At the end of 2020, the aquarium was awarded a grant from Aberdeenshire Council and the NESFLAG Coastal Communities Challenge Fund (CCCF) to improve the visual interpretation that supports the habitat-themed exhibits throughout the facility.

This funding along with support from integrated utilities company TAQA was used to develop a new display on the issue of plastics in our seas.

Additional support was provided by the Friends of Macduff Marine Aquarium and Scottish Water.

The aquarium’s diverse displays of native marine life form the backbone of the visitor experience, but as visitors move through the exhibit spaces, they can gain information about the Moray Firth’s marine habitats from interpretation panels on the aquarium walls.

Much of the original interpretation had been in place for over 20 years and it needed an upgrade to make the information more accessible and relevant.

Over the past three months of closure, the aquarium staff have been working with exhibit design specialists to produce bright, eye-catching display panels that bring the information to life for visitors making their way from exhibits featuring the coastal habitats, out to the kelp reef and beyond to the sandy seabed. Interactive elements that are incorporated into the new displays encourage hands on learning and discovery.

Aquarium manager, Claire Matthews, said, “We’re delighted to be opening the doors again after this difficult lockdown with an exciting new look and feel like we’re kicking off the aquarium’s 25th year with a new lease of life.

"Our new wall displays are vibrant and contemporary and include interactive and tactile features that will appeal especially to our younger visitors.

"We are hugely grateful for the NESFLAG CCCF fund and sponsors TAQA to allow this upgrade and for the support of our Friends and Scottish Water.

"It all adds to the unique experience the aquarium offers the people of and visitors to Aberdeenshire.”

Plastics in the ocean have become a huge global issue and one that TAQA is keen to help tackle by raising public awareness of how we can all make a difference.

Senior environmental advisor at TAQA, Robbie Jones, said, “Having previously supported educational workshops on plastic pollution at the aquarium we are pleased to be able to extend this support to a new permanent feature, helping us think about how we can all be more responsible about our use of and disposal of plastics.

"It is important that as a company and as individuals, we respect, protect and understand the natural environment and this bright and engaging new display helps promote this to a wide audience.


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