“Fascination with what lies beneath is a universally human reaction”
FOR just about any angler, an aquarium holds a quite irresistible pull. From the biggest to the smallest, each has its own charms and a fascinating cast of ‘inmates’. And, unlike a windlashed local pier, other family members need little convincing to take the bait.
My favourite aquarium experience was Switzerland’s Basel Zoo as a kid. Boasting a natural lake setting behind a vast, glass panel, it was a place to stand in awe at giant roach, bream and carp. Nor was it too Walt Disney – with a couple of pike hiding in one corner and a wels catfish in the other, it was basically a living ecosystem with an extra-large window.
Closer to home, though, Plymouth’s National Marine Aquarium is also a class act, at least if you like sea fish. Last week, it was magical to watch my two-year-old daughter’s eyes widen at the sight of everything from tarpon to sharks. Indeed, fascination with what lies beneath is a universally human reaction.
If only a deeper knowledge and respect for our watery habitats was equally universal! It’s not hard to feel like the ultimate fish geek when sharing an aquarium with Joe Public. On our visit, while every visitor recognised ‘Nemo’, the rest of the species were hazy.
My toes curled as one teenager identified a cod as a piranha, while dad was too busy on his phone to notice.
This is also the deeper value of an aquarium, however. As hardcore anglers we pay an inordinate amount of time pondering the world’s waters, but for most of the population these aquatic worlds are all but invisible, aside from the occasional nature documentary.
What pleases me most about centres like Plymouth is the focus on sea life close to home. While tarpon and turtles are wonderful to see, it’s the local characters we have the greatest power and responsibility to protect. This starts with education, which is what any decent aquarium is all about.
I’m not sure how much you can ever learn as an angler by watching captive fish, but it’s magic to see much-loved species up close. Shore anglers’ favourites like wrasse, flounders and thornback rays are majestic to watch in motion.
Most anglers will also hope to see the fish of their dreams, in the form of a huge bass or pollack. Strangely, though, these fish are often the least impressive. Bloated, clumsy and more than a little crooked, they tend to come across more like retired wrestlers than glass case specimens. A loss of condition is perhaps inevitable when all you have to do to survive is pick up some bits of herring in between eyeballing tourists.
Not that most post-Christmas dads are in any position to talk about peak condition!
“For most of the population these aquatic worlds are all but invisible”