This is a small shark that lives on the seabed and inhabits the coral reefs and coasts of the western Indo-Pacific, from Australia to India and Japan. This shark is oviparous. It is quite popular in the aquarium scene due to its simple needs and tolerance to habitat changes, especially hypoxia (low oxygen levels in water).
It leads a nocturnal life, spending its days hidden in the nooks of coral reefs. Although sexual dimorphism is not especially apparent, the male can still be easily distinguished from the female by the presence of the clasper, composed of two elongated structures formed from pelvic fin parts.
Research conducted by the Steinhart Aquarium in California revealed that females can store the male’s sperm for a long period of time, making delayed fertilization possible. Juveniles have distinct black and white stripes on their bodies, which match the coral reef structures and serve as camouflage. These stripes are no longer visible in adults.
These sharks live up to approximately 25 years. Destructive fishing methods and habitat destruction threaten the population of this species.
The Orbicular batfish inhabits the brackish and marine waters of the Indo-Pacific coral reefs. It is a species with a wide range of occurrence, but may be rare locally. The batfish is characterized by strong lateral compression of the body, a small head and a fine mouth. Its eggs are pelagic, meaning they float in the water, thanks to a drop of fat making them lighter than water. Juveniles occur singly or in small groups in mangrove habitats or sheltered lagoons. During the day, they pretend to be floating leaves that both serve as a source of food and a hiding place. The ventral, dorsal and anal fins are triangular, while the caudal fin is rounded. The body of adult specimens is yellow-silvery with two dark stripes visible, while the body of juveniles is dull orange with fine light dots. Adult specimens appear more frequently in mangrove environments. The maximum body length of the batfish is about 50 cm. This species is characterized by allometric growth, which means an uneven rate of development of body parts. This development is important for the camouflage of individuals at different stages of life. It is valued in China and Polynesia for its delicate meat with an interesting taste. As this species is prone to overfishing, attempts are made to breed it in aquaculture, among others, in French Polynesia and Tahiti, however, these aquaculture suffer from significant mortality due to bacterial contamination.
The Ministry of Education and Science, as part of the “Social Responsibility of Science” program, granted the Sea Fisheries Institute – National Research Institute a grant for the implementation of the project entitled “Baltic Scientist – series of films popularizing science about the Baltic Sea for school children”. The task is coordinated by the NMFRI Gdynia Aquarium.
What will be created as part of the project?
The project will include the production of a series of 12 films, i.e. popular science video reportages for school children. The films will take the form of “meetings with scientists”. The next episodes of the Baltic Scientist will be a modern way for oceanographers to reach young recipients with knowledge in the field of “science“.
Who will appear in the movies and what will it be about?
Scientists and people related to oceanography will talk about the issues related to the Baltic Sea, their work, research and the devices to carry it out. The camera will also visit a research vessel sailing on the waters of the Baltic Sea.
Who will the films for?
The films will be recorded for children aged 8-12. Each film will last 3-5 minutes, which gives a total of nearly 60 minutes of film material! Each of the films will be enriched with subtitles in Polish and a Polish sign language interpreter PJM. There will also be versions with subtitles in English.
From when will you be able to watch movies?
The films will air with a frequency of 1 episode every month, starting in April 2022 and ending in March 2023.
Where will the films be seen?
The films will be published in free online access on YouTube and Facebook channels, as well as on the Gdynia Aquarium website. Follow our social media !!
What are the titles of the individual films?
“Fish of the Baltic Sea”, “Sustainable fisheries”, “Baltic seaweed”, “Baltic coast and climate change”, “Microplastic”, “Plankton – drugs from the blue pharmacy”, “Sea in Polish culture – a walk in search of the sea on land “,” The role of Baltic invertebrates “,” Research vessels-floating laboratories “,” Biofuels “,” Chemical weapons in the Baltic Sea “,” Sea-based food safety “.
Shape your future. Small waves create a big ocean!
Network of European Blue Schools
In the period from April to December 2021, the NMFRI Gdynia Aquarium in cooperation with the Environmental Department of the City of Gdynia implemented an education project called “European Blue School Network”. The NMFRI Gdynia Aquarium is an institution committed to providing reliable information about seas and oceans, supporting initiatives for water protection, arousing curiosity and sensitivity in the younger generation, and creating a space for participants of educational meetings to exchange thoughts, opinions, and experiences.
It has been a year since the Aquarium Education Center of Gdynia began building the network of European Blue Schools. In 2021, eleven educational institutions from Gdynia responded to the call of the European Commission’s “Find the Blue” initiative and obtained the certification of a European Blue School through project experience.
We invite you to watch a movie about the project!
On a journey where water was our element, we took 11 schools from Gdynia, which were:
Early Education Team No. 1 (Primary School No. 45)
General Secondary Schools No. 6 (Primary School No. 53 and Primary School No. 49 for the Hearing Impaired)
Primary School No. 8 named after the Defenders of Hel
Primary School No. 21
Primary School No. 34 with Integration Classes named after Leonid Teliga
Primary School No. 35 named after Captain Stanisław Kosko
Primary School No. 37
Primary School No. 40 named after Captain Navy Karol Olgierd Borchardt
Primary School No. 48 named after Professor Kazimierz Demel
Liber Private Primary School
Gdynia Community School
The Network of Blue Schools are educational institutions that include “marine awareness” education in their teaching programs. This is realised through school projects carried out by students under the supervision of teachers or by incorporating knowledge about the sea into various subjects such as biology, geography, art, music, and even foreign languages. Spreading Ocean Literacy is particularly important in the context of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), whose theme is “the science we need for the ocean we want.”
The NETWORK OF EUROPEAN BLUE SCHOOLS is an initiative of the European Commission, supported by the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, developed by partners of the EU4Ocean Coalition.
Discover the Blue
European Blue Schools bring the ocean into the classrooms. On their journey to become part of the network, teachers and students acquire knowledge and begin to better understand and appreciate the impact that the vast body of saltwater has on life on the blue planet. Building awareness and a sense of responsibility encourages students to become more engaged citizens of Europe and the world. The program challenges schools to “Discover the Blue” and investigate their relationship with the ocean while creating networks across Europe.
Why is it worth becoming a European Blue School?
Schools that would like to take on the “Discover the Blue” challenge must identify a marine environment-related topic that is important to their students, and then create a school project related to it. The goal is to make seas and oceans a central part of the curriculum through project-based learning. Student self-reliance, cooperation with people involved in research and protection of aquatic ecosystems, and building communities with similar interests are key values of these initiatives. After successfully completing the “Discover the Blue” challenge, schools receive the European Blue School certificate.
All certified educational institutions become initiators of change for sustainable ocean development, share experiences with teachers and students from other schools in the network, and connect with a wider community engaged in combating marine illiteracy.
We’ve done what we could so that you would feel safe and comfortable in our exhibition.
These are a few rules that we ask you to remember:
Here are some rules that we ask you to follow:
The obligation to cover the nose and mouth with mask applies to the entire exhibition area. It does not only apply to children under 5 years of age.
We also ask you to show concern for yourself and others, and to keep your social distance
Disinfect your hands after entering the Aquarium. The fluid is at the entrance gates.
Try not to touch the elements of the exhibition, including the tank windows. Do not put your hands into the open display tanks.
Tickets can be purchased both at the ticket office at the Gdynia Aquarium and online. The on-line store is available at: sklep.akwarium.gdynia.pl
On-line tickets can be purchased even on the day of visiting the Gdynia Aquarium. It does not require printing. We only ask you to make sure that the code from the attachment in the e-mail is displayed correctly on the phone.
If there are no more tickets available in the on-line sales system for the day you choose, don’t worry. A separate pool of tickets is available at the ticket office and tickets can be purchased on site.
On-line tickets can be purchased even on the day of visiting the Gdynia Aquarium. It does not require printing. We only ask you to make sure that the code from the attachment in the e-mail is displayed correctly on the phone.
If you buy tickets at the box office of the Aquarium, we recommend paying by card.
Please do not exceed the designated lines when making a purchase.
During the “Ocean of Changes” event, we invite participants to explore, experience and discover information about the marine environment. We have only one ocean that provides food, jobs and supports the economies of countries, is a source of inspiration, recreation and discovery, and an important element in the heritage of many cultures. So we invite you to play the municipal game prepared by science-related institutions from all over the Tri-City! The game is played online.
What is it about?
In the game “The Science Agency: In Defense of Truth”, you can visit 15 different Institutions, which will allow you to face a different set of tasks to be solved. It is worth visiting every point, because for each correct solution your position in the Science Agency will increase! As a reward for your progress, you will be given the chance to advance through the ranks of the Science Agency, finally putting your environmental knowledge to the test and earning the title of Doubter’s Fear! More information about the game can be found on the website of the Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
The ocean is a beautiful and rich world, so it must be protected!
On 1-11.06, the combined virtual, city and exhibition space of the Gdynia Aquarium will offer scientific issues as well as those that affect the human imagination. We will discover the stories of the Baltic Sea, show the species diversity of organisms with a typically marine origin and trace the impact of humans on aquatic ecosystems.
If you wander into the Gdynia Aquarium, find 12 animals marked with posters WANTED ALIVE. You will find information that will help to answer the questions of the Science Agency. You have a chance to personally meet the organisms, which are discussed in the marine adventure. However, if you would like to here about them only online, take part in the game or visit our education section.
