We spoke to the Curator of the National Marine Aquarium, home of the Ocean Conservation Trust, about what a day in the life of a person overseeing the care, well-being and exhibition of marine species is like. Here, Marcus tells all…
What does a typical day in the life of a Curator look like?
The Curator’s role is predominantly admin based with a goal to lead and develop the exhibition space so that we move with the times and create an immersive environment that helps people fall in love with the Ocean. Although aquariums are focussed on the animals we keep, we need to think about all of the little things that impact someone’s visit and change the way they feel. So, a large part of my job is to look at concepts and technologies that aren’t regularly used in zoos and aquariums and think about what a 21st Century aquarium should be. This usually involves a lot of desk-based research but there’s nothing like getting out and seeing what other people are doing.
As well as developing the aquarium, I’m also responsible for ensuring we remain legally compliant from an animal welfare perspective plus with all the regulations that go with diving in tanks with sharks and turtles. Luckily, we have a great team here led by an amazing Assistant Curator, Emma, who keeps everything running smoothly day to day. We are the biggest aquarium in the UK so there are a LOT of balls in the air at any one time and the team do a great job every day.
Being the Curator also means being the face of the aquarium at times. Obviously, the TV series has amplified this but I’m always happy to be approached and have positive conversations about the aquarium. Even before the BBC programme I’ve had to do a fair bit of media over the years, so this is something a Curator needs to be comfortable with.
How did you get into running an Aquarium?
My background was initially fish farming, I started by doing an apprenticeship when I was 16 and ended up with a degree. However, fish farming is a very tough job that has to be done everyday irrespective of the weather and in some quite hairy locations. As I was completing my degree the NMA opened its doors for the first time, so I thought I’d give it a go and carried out some work experience. Needless to say, I was hooked on the variety of marine life I experienced plus the chance to work indoors was also very appealing!
This was in 1999 and I’ve stuck to it ever since. My goal was never to be Curator, but life can be funny sometimes and I’ve slowly worked my way up through the ranks and I’m very proud to have this position.
What are the challenges of looking after the exhibits in an Aquarium?
The two main challenges are keeping the water in the tanks and keeping the animals happy and healthy. Salt water is a very corrosive substance and wants to rot and rust anything close to it. Over time this can cause problems, so we need to be careful with how we look after our building. Over time you work out that there are very few substances that don’t degrade in a marine environment!
Unlike zoos, aquariums generally have mixed species exhibits which are great because they reflect the true nature of the environment that they come from but does mean that there are a lot of “personalities” that need to be balanced to ensure everyone cohabits peacefully.
We would never knowingly put two species together that weren’t compatible but just as with humans, sometimes animals have personalities that can cause conflict and when this happens, we have a duty of care to look after the animals and do our utmost to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
Do you have a favourite animal that you look after?
I think it has to be Denzel the boarfish. I had wanted to exhibit a boarfish for over 10 years, but it wasn’t until 2014 when the opportunity arose. Denzel was caught in a trawl net inside Plymouth breakwater but when he surfaced, he had an issue with his buoyancy and could only float. We treated him and ultimately, he got better and is still with us today. I do use the word “he” a lot, but the general consensus is that Denzel is in fact a girl!
What is the role of Aquariums in global Ocean conservation?
We have to ask ourselves, why do we have aquariums in the 21st Century? Is it to display pretty fish or is it to create an emotive response that leads to a positive relationship with the Ocean. Personally, I think it is the latter.
Tanks of pretty fish are all well and good, but we need to also engage the public to create the emotional link which is something the NMA does very well.
Although its great to be involved in physical marine conservation, I think the engagement element is the key to any conservation project. If you aren’t empowering the public to have a positive outlook on the Ocean then you could say, why bother doing anything else?
What excites you most about your job?
The opportunity to create something completely different at the NMA. I truly believe in the vision I have of a 21st Century aquarium and the opportunity to mould the aquarium around this vision is very exciting and humbling at the same time.
What’s the best thing you have done or the thing you are most proud of whilst working as Curator at the NMA?
For a long time now, I have realised that as an individual I am not going to make a huge impact. Therefore, I am most proud of the work I have done over the years to give others the opportunity to develop their careers in the marine environment. Whether this has been through our Intern programme, our Apprenticeship or simply giving our staff the opportunity to develop themselves and their roles, I know that I am having an impact by proxy.
What is your top tip to protect the Ocean?
Immerse the next generation in and around the Ocean as much as you can.
