A NEW exhibition, titled Marine Creatures – Great and Small, has just opened at the Port Stephens Visitor Information Centre, where it will remain for the rest of June.
Created by Atlantis Port Stephens, it features interactive displays, sculptures and models of the local sea animals that inhabit the local waters; some well-known, like dolphins and sharks, but others more surprising.
“People are very surprised to learn that we have penguins living in Port Stephens,” said Matt Johnstone, of Atlantis Port Stephens.
“Cabbage Tree island has the largest northern colony of little penguins on the NSW coast.”
Showcased in the exhibits are large models of nudibranchs, which are tiny, colourful sea slugs that can be found in beaches and rock pools, and seahorses.
There’s also a prehistoric shark model, a to-scale display of a juvenile humpback whale’s head and tail, and a handmade model of a dolphin with its skeleton structure and internal organs visible to show how it evolved from a land creature to a marine one over time.
All displays are accompanied by informative descriptions that highlight curiosities and misconceptions about local sea life.
On Saturday 27 June, Matt Johnstone will repeat his kid friendly educational talk that highlights even more fun facts about the local marine life.
Guests will again hear stories about the lone wolf local dolphin, Rocky, the best way to find an orca, and tales of whaling from ages past.
“When I first started whale-watching here 30 years ago there were 500 humpback whales, because we hunted out whales until the 60s. Now there’s 40,000,” Mr Johnstone said.
Visitors can scan a QR code with their phone that makes giant whales appear on the camera, so they can take pictures with them without having to dive underwater.
By Nico LOMBARDO
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