The Ilfracombe Aquarium 

At the Ifracombe Aquarium you can learn about the river and sea ecology of the local area from the source of the river to the coast and on the island of Lundy.

At the Exmoor stream source heavy rainfall results in water seeping out of spongy upland soil. It cascades over rocks, down into pools, where ‘torpedo like’ trout lurk. In the Exmoor river more streams join making a river to head towards the sea. It is less steep now and slower. Here perch hide and wait in the reeds ready to pounce. Once a the estuary the river has found the sea, animals tolerate river floods and sea tides daily. Shrimps feed on plant debris while predator bass shoal above. Here in rock pools the tide retreats. Sea scorpions seek rock ledges, whilst hermit crabs scurry carrying their homes with them.

In the harbour moored fishing boats gently rock while being protected by stone walls, below rays glide as dogfish snooze. A lobster peers out from a cave, waving its antennae. At the coast Atlantic storms result in huge waves pounding rocks. Underwater is another world, pipefish curl around weed while tompot blennies dart around rock crevices. Finally in Lundy Marine Reserve where the warm Atlantic currents mean its seas harbour the weird and wonderful where exotic looking cuckoo wrasse dart amongst the kelp.