Falmouth Aquarium is the brainchild of local divers Barry Pope and Johanna Naradzay. The husband and wife have overseen the conversion of a four-storey house into the new home for marine life.
Tank displays are supplemented by a laboratory and space for lectures, workshops and other meetings.
Carrying charitable status, the aquarium was created with the help of private funding and a grant from the Government’s Marine Management Organisation.
The work took some eight months to complete and drew on the support of many volunteer workers from Falmouth and other parts of Cornwall.
The aquarium is to be run in partnership with Falmouth Marine School, which will provide the expertise required to install and maintain corals, fish and other marine organisms.
The aquarium was opened earlier this week by Deputy Mayor Marie Ryan, who told The Falmouth Packet: “This is what we need. Falmouth is a holiday resort and a marine town. We didn't have an aquarium, but now we do.”
Before the opening, the aquarium was visited by a BBC crew with David Dimbleby to film for Britain and the Sea.
It is situated at 23 Church Street, Falmouth TR11 3EG and is open daily from 10am to 5.00pm.
Entry costs £4.49 for adults and £3.49 for children. A discounted family ticket costs £13.
There is not yet a telephone number nor a website for the venue, but contact is possible via email, Facebook and Twitter.
Email - falmouthaquarium@gmail.com.
Facebook: http://facebook.com/falmouthaquarium
Twitter: @FalAquarium