Ocean Park Aquarium

For the aquatic theme park in Hong Kong, see Ocean Park Hong Kong.
Ocean Park Aquarium
Map
25°58′49″S 113°33′34″E / 25.98028°S 113.55944°E / -25.98028; 113.55944
Date opened1999
Location1 Ocean Park Rd, Shark Bay, Western Australia, Australia.
Websiteoceanpark.com.au

Ocean Park Aquarium is a privately owned open-to-public oceanarium located approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) south of Denham in the Shark Bay area of Western Australia that is a major tourism drawcard in the area.[1] Visitors can experience marine creatures on display such as coralfish, butterflyfish, clownfish, lionfish, stonefish, moray eel, stingrays, sea snakes, octopus and crustaceans in the indoor aquarium centre.

The oceanarium's flagship display is the 3.5-megalitre (920,000 US gal) Shark Lagoon where kingfish, trevally and estuary cod cohabitate with sandbar shark, sicklefin lemon sharks and tiger shark which are publicly fed six times daily.[2] The lagoon is the largest such exhibit in Western Australia. Diving experiences, shark feedings and other tours are also available to visitors for additional costs. The oceanarium prides itself on being eco-friendly and has won several tourism and education awards.[3][4][5] The aquarium offers some degree of protection to key species particularly to loggerhead turtles that often undergo rehabilitation following injury or exhaustion after being carried too far south.[6][7]

References

  1. ^ Brittney Levinson (28 April 2020). "Government announces funding for some of Australia's major attractions". Spice - Hotel and Venue News. Intermedia. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  2. ^ "Monkey Mia - Things to do". RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort. RAC Insurance. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Ocean Park Aquarium". www.westernaustralia.com. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Ocean Park Aquarium". www.australiascoralcoast.com. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Congratulations To Ocean Park Aquarium". EcoTourism Australia. 31 August 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  6. ^ Malcolm Queckett (18 December 2009). "Shark Bay aquarium protects key species". The West Australian. Seven West Media. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  7. ^ Jackson, G. and Moran, M. (2012), "Recovery of inner Shark Bay snapper (Pagrus auratus) stocks: relevant research and adaptive recreational fisheries management in a World Heritage Property", Marine and Freshwater Research, 63 (11): 185, doi:10.1071/MF12091, A private fish hatchery/tourist aquarium (WA Ocean Park) near Denham opened in 1999 and subsequently obtained limited State Government funding to undertake a small-scale pilot study.{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)