A new direction - A Fascination for Fish: Adventures of an Underwater Pioneer - page 318

often somewhat derogatorily called “tank men,” but now most aquar-
ists, men and women, are knowledgeable biologists and scientists in
their own right. Those who manage aquarists need to understand that
they are working with professionals; when problems arise, they there-
fore should thoroughly investigate the ramifications of the situation
and then follow up with sound decisions.
Finally, I have what I call “Dave's Rule” for aquarium design. Basically,
this standard says that if an exhibit is easy to work on, it will be well
maintained and will look good. And if it looks good, it will tell its story
successfully. When little consideration has gone into how an aquarist does
his or her job, it shows. If an exhibit or behind-the-scenes space is di‹cult
to negotiate, the aquarist will have little motivation to take those extra
steps that make a display aesthetically pleasing or the animals happy.
The world of aquariums is constantly changing. The early days of
the fish-in-a-tank approach of the classic old aquariums gave way in
the 1970s to 1990s to the highly successful mega-aquariums that in-
corporated extensive educational programs combined with impressive
exhibits of natural environments. Their success has spawned a new type
of aquarium whose primary purpose is entertainment, represented by
the aquarium in the mall, the restaurant, or the gambling casino. These
convey little or no information about the animals and their environ-
ment; their sole intent is visual impact. Although these exhibits do reach
a new audience, I am concerned that they trivialize nature and do lit-
tle to encourage the viewer to respect wildlife.
The popularity and success of the large aquariums in the United States
and Japan has prompted a number of other countries to embark on
aquarium projects of their own. Some of these have been highly suc-
cessful, but regrettably, some have not. Far too often, having a world-
class aquarium is seen as a symbol of status and is undertaken for po-
litical reasons rather than a desire to foster an understanding and
appreciation for the natural world around us. Compounding the
problem, the promoters frequently do not understand the complexity
of maintaining a large aquarium, or the knowledge and skilled sta¤
that are required to make it work.
As increasing human pressures continue to impact the natural envi-
ronments of both the land and the world of water there will be a grow-