Starting out small 60 years ago, the Piran Aquarium has developed into an important educational and research institution in an effort to preserve marine biodiversity.

Located in a historic building by the Piran fishing harbour, next to what used to be a fish market, the aquarium keeps 140 different species of organisms representative of the North Adriatic, including some 60 species of fish.

Some 60,000 visitors that come to see it every year can observe the diversity of the Northern Adriatic's flora and fauna in 27 exhibition tanks, the largest of which is a 11,000-litre open-top floor pool with sharks, spiny dogfish, grey mullet, bass, roach and other fish.

Schools of sea bass, mullet, bream and other open sea fish can be seen swimming around in the tanks, as well as coastal water fish, like damselfish, dreamfish, brown meagres, seabreams, and many others.

A 6,500-litre tank showcases a rocky reef that is a perfect hiding place for congers, moray eels and the curious dusky grouper.

There are various species of algae, jellyfish, octopus, lobsters, crabs, eels, tiny sea-urchins and various kinds of sponges.

Focus on research and education

However, the Piran Aquarium is much more than an exhibition space. Part of the Science Centre of the University of Primorska since 2022, it is dedicated to research, education and cooperation with other research institutions.

Addressing a panel debate marking the aquarium's 60th anniversary on 5 December, Lovrenc Lipej, a biologist from the Piran Marine Biology Station, noted the increasing importance of cooperation between institutions of different types of expertise and disciplines.

Species that can be observed in aquariums are disappearing from the wild, where institutions such as the Piran Aquarium are essential. "Not only for exhibiting, but also for education," he said.

This was echoed by Milena Mičić, director of the Pula Aquarium, Croatia, who noted the excellent cooperation between akin institutions in the regions, through exchange of both expertise and the species they exhibit.

The Piran Aquarium started out with 13 small tanks, initially focusing on showcasing foreign species, and even the olm, the famous resident of the Postojna Cave.

Its current appearance is the result of an extensive renovation between 2007 and 2009.

Helping animals in distress

Its head Manja Rogelja says the aquarium works closely with the local community, fishermen and other players at sea, and is part of an international network of public aquariums.

The aquarium as a rule welcomes any protected species in need of help. Most often they help injured sea turtles - the loggerhead sea turtles, which get caught in fishing nets. On average, they rescue around three sea turtles per year.

"We mainly take animals from our seas into care - and if they don't adapt to life in the aquarium, we return them to their original environments, of which we have detailed records," Rogelja said as quoted by the newspaper Delo.

On future plans, she says an expansion at the current location is not an option, so they plan to deepen their research work and strengthen their collaboration with schools and universities.

Stamp warning of risk to biodiversity

To mark its 60th anniversary, the aquarium has released a postcard and a post stamp bearing the image of the blue crab, an alien species that has invaded the North Adriatic.

"The blue crab is spreading fast and we are sending it out to the world on a stamp to underscore the need to take care of nature and preserve it and raise awareness about the main problems," Rogelja explained.