A stock-take with a difference is taking place from Monday, September 15th to Sunday, September 21st at Hastings Blue Reef Aquarium with their own version of a ‘fishy census’.
At the end of the summer season, staff undertake a comprehensive count of all their residents and this time they’re inviting visitors to volunteer to help spot and record the number of certain species including tropical fish, sharks, turtles and rays.
The experts at Blue Reef will then carry out their own official count and the child who most accurately reports the population of the animals will win a free full year’s child membership to the aquarium.
Blue Reef’s Leanna Lawson said: “We tend to do two make stock counts each year; one in January and a second one at the end of the summer, which is traditionally a time when we experience a number of births and new arrivals.
“We thought it would be a good idea to involve the visitors in the whole process and turn it into a fun activity that everyone can take part in.
“We’ve been fortunate to have experienced a large number of new births in 2014 including baby sharks and rays so there’s plenty to keep us all busy.
“The shark and rays are usually fairly easy to count, although there are a number of species that like to spend much of their time either hidden among the rocks or under the sand.
“The seahorses and pipefish can be a little tricky and some of the flatfish are so well camouflaged you have to have a very keen eye,” she added.