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New £20k Northumberland aquatics centre to train students

A new £20k aquatics centre at Northumberland College’s Kirkley Hall campus will help to train students in the region on fish-keeping.

The centre, which also doubles as a family attraction, houses fish from the coral reefs of Indonesia and the Amazon.

It is the biggest development at Kirkley Hall Zoological Gardens since its opening in 2011.

Interactive visitor information includes a TV screen and QR codes that enable visitors to access exhibit specifics including detailed educational information via mobile devices.

Steven Sykes, manager at the Zoological Gardens, said: “We are showcasing all four fish habitats to fully educate visitors on the differences. For instance brackish water is commonly found in river estuaries, while marine ecosystems are among the largest of the Earth’s aquatic ecosystems and include oceans, lagoons, coral reefs and deep sea.

“Establishing these different water habitats means students will get all rounded experience in all areas of fish keeping, and we have a great range of diversity in species. Our amphibians include axolotls, caecilians and a range of frogs, newts, salamanders and toads.

“The aquarium systems are to industry standard with full back access and sump filtration, enabling students to develop skills and experience in how to look after and maintain fish stocks.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .