August 1, 2016- The Rising Tide Conservation partners with public aquariums, research universities, pet-industry professionals and saltwater aquarium hobbyists
TAMPA, Fla. (August 1, 2016) –Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay has opened its Rising Tide Conservation exhibit, a 270-gallon aquarium housing aqua-cultured fishes, live coral and snails. This non-profit collaborative research effort was initiated by SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment in 2009 and focuses on how to successfully breed saltwater reef fishes to reduce the need of collecting them from the wild.
The Rising Tide Conservation partners with public aquariums, research universities, pet-industry professionals and saltwater aquarium hobbyists to protect coral reefs by using sustainable aquaculture methods and techniques for raising marine fish as an alternative to wild reef collection. Collection of marine tropical fish can cause damage to both the reef and the ecosystem it sustains.
Busch Gardens has been setting up and fully establishing the tank system for nearly two years. The aquarium will display several marine fishes that the Rising Tide Conservation has successfully bred, including the first successful aquaculture of Yellow Tangs, which was done in conjunction with the Oceanic Institute of Hawaii Pacific University.
Guests can visit the exhibit by the conservation windows located to the right of Jambo Junction in the Nairobi area of the park.
The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund has supported the Rising Tide Conservation for the past five years in the form of grants. Guests can help with the initiative by simply texting #HelpRisingTide #BGT to “21212” and Busch Gardens will donate $1 to the Fund.
Busch Gardens is owned and operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, a leading theme park and entertainment company that delivers personal, interactive and educational experiences that blend imagination with nature. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is one of the world’s foremost zoological organizations and a worldwide leader in animal welfare, training, husbandry and veterinary care. The company collectively cares for one of the largest animal collections on the North American continent and has helped lead advances in the care of species in zoological facilities and in the conservation of wild populations.
Media contact is Busch Gardens public relations at 813-987-5090 or BGTPublic.Relations@buschgardens.com.
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SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.
SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: SEAS) is a leading theme park and entertainment company providing experiences that matter, and inspiring guests to protect animals and the wild wonders of our world. The company is one of the world's foremost zoological organizations and a global leader in animal welfare, training, husbandry and veterinary care. The company collectively cares for what it believes is one of the largest zoological collections in the world and has helped lead advances in the care of animals. The company also rescues and rehabilitates marine and terrestrial animals that are ill, injured, orphaned or abandoned, with the goal of returning them to the wild. The SeaWorld® rescue team has helped more than 28,000 animals in need over the last 50 years.
SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. owns or licenses a portfolio of recognized brands including SeaWorld, Busch Gardens® and Sea Rescue®. Over its more than 50-year history, the company has built a diversified portfolio of 11 destination and regional theme parks that are grouped in key markets across the United States, many of which showcase its one-of-a-kind zoological collection of over 800 species of animals. The company's theme parks feature a diverse array of rides, shows and other attractions with broad demographic appeal which deliver memorable experiences and a strong value proposition for its guests.
