Report acknowledges Bolton Aquarium's important work

Proof of Bolton aquarium’s continued important education and conservation role has been confirmed with the publishing of the latest inspection report by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

As the aquarium, one of the oldest in the UK and part of Bolton Museum and Archive Service, is officially classed as a zoo, each year it is inspected by DEFRA officials under the Zoo Licensing Act.

These annual inspections look at all aspects of the aquarium’s operations, from health and safety and staff training to animal care and ethical considerations.

The report, which has just been published, indicated that the aquarium met all relevant criteria and also included several very positive remarks about specific aspects of the work undertaken.

It noted that

the collection is…well presented and the variety of the display is recreationally stimulating and had educational potential as well as opportunities for limited research and conservation.

It also went on to acknowledge that staff are

keen to improve the participation of the collection in the wider scale aspects of conservation.

The aquarium’s important contribution to scientific research and conservation work was also acknowledged when the report stated that it

attempts to make a positive contribution to education locally and to conservation in the wider environment….The research and publications with regard to Malagasy cichilids is a positive contribution of a significant nature for a collection of this size and is to be commended.

The report made a series of recommendations to continue to improve the aquarium and prepare for future development. All of these have been noted and an action plan has been drawn up to ensure these measures are undertaken as soon as possible.