Visitors can book to get up close and personal with the National Marine Aquarium’s much-loved resident green sea turtle, Friday, with their new Feed the Turtle Experience.
A Special Aquatic Experience: Feeding Friday the Green Sea Turtle
Ticket holders will join the NMAs expert animal husbandry team, helping to prepare Friday’s turtle-friendly veggie dishes. They will then get special VIP behind-the-scenes access and feed Friday from the top of his Ocean habitat. Waterproofs are recommended as it can get wet!
Friday and His Oceanic Home: A Peek into the Aquarium
Friday resides in the Atlantic Ocean habitat, the largest and deepest tank in the UK. Alongside him, his neighbours include Sand Tiger sharks, Lemon Sharks, Nurse sharks, Southern stingrays and many others.
Dedication to Marine Welfare: The Mission of the National Marine Aquarium
The National Marine Aquarium, run by the Ocean Conservation Trust, is dedicated to the health and welfare of the animals and aims to keep their aquatic life in line with their oceanic one.
Conservation and Seagrass: Addressing a Critical Loss
Green Sea Turtles eat lots of seagrass in the wild, however, more than 50% of this has been lost due to climate change. Seagrass is one of the most important ecosystems on our planet as it absorbs vast amounts of carbon, as well as being home to lots of marine life.
A Seagrass Conservation Initiative: Commitment to Habitat Restoration
As one of the key partners in a large-scale habitat conservation project by Natural England, the Ocean Conservation Trust houses a purpose-built seagrass laboratory in the National Marine Aquarium, where 25,000 plants are cultivated annually. Watch as seagrass is planted and cultivated at the lab, along with learning more about the importance of regrowing and rewilding.
An Exciting Opportunity: Meeting Friday the Green Sea Turtle
Marcus Williams, curator at the National Marine Aquarium, home of the Ocean Conservation Trust, said:
“We are really excited to be able to offer this unique opportunity to get up close and personal with our cheeky green turtle, Friday.”
“Friday has been with us at the National Marine Aquarium since 2017 and in that time he has proved to be a great character. He just loves meeting new people and is super inquisitive when people come to visit. This is surely a unique experience and one that will help inspire different generations to fall in love with the Ocean and its inhabitants.”
A Memorable Experience: Feed the Turtle at The Aquarium
The Feed the Turtle at The Aquarium Experience will be available from October. Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult, with the minimum age being eight years old. The cost of the experience is £140 for up to four people and includes a day visitors pass to the NMA.
