ATLANTIS, THE PALM MARINE TEAM CELEBRATES SUCCESSFUL CORAL PROPAGATION FOR WORLD OCEANS DAY

ATLANTIS, THE PALM MARINE TEAM CELEBRATES SUCCESSFUL CORAL PROPAGATION FOR WORLD OCEANS DAY

Special Family Fun Day Planned to Raise Awareness for Ocean Preservation

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 6th June 2012 – Atlantis, The Palm celebrates World Oceans Day on Friday, 8th June between 10am and 8pm with a special ocean-themed Family Fun Day at the Lost Chambers. The event coincides with the great news that the marine team’s special coral propagation projects to preserve and renew the coral reefs of the Arabian Gulf have been a great success.

The team have been working with Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) – Trakhees and P&O Maritime to help restore the corals of the UAE by conducting coral growth research experiments with 6 local species of stone corals. Corals are propagated in the ideal growth conditions of The Lost Chambers marine exhibits and a growth comparison made between these and coral in the Arabian Gulf. As of February 2012, a total of 320 coral fragments have been propagated from the initial mother stock of sixty eight. Once they make significant growth they are transferred to the Pseudo Reefs that have been deployed in the Arabian Gulf.

Pseudo Reefs are created out of waste plastic and formed into structures that are ideal for coral growth. One year ago, after World Oceans Day, Atlantis, The Palm deployed two Pseudo Reefs. Now they are alive with marine life such as coralline-algae, barnacles and tube worms and are providing shelter for several fish and invertebrates. Due to the first year’s positive results the team has introduce propagated corals grown at Atlantis, The Palm onto the Pseudo Reefs. Together with EHS-Trakhees and P&O Maritime, the programme will continue with another 10 Pseudo Reefs in 2012.

“Many scientists believe that corals of the UAE are more resistant to higher salinity and high temperatures because of this they may be the answer to guarantee the future of the world’s reefs,” says Dennis Blom, Manager and international coral expert at The Lost Chambers. “Currently the world’s reefs are at risk from many threats including, soaring temperatures, cyanide fishing, sedimentation and marine pollution from commercial sea vessels, however the growth of the transrelocated corals has been quite significant, making our field efforts to protect and enrich the natural environment a real success.”
Dennis is running a special coral propagation seminar at Family Fun Day this week demonstrating how to use coral propagation technology to grow reefs at home and in the ocean. This seminar teaches visitors how to enhance personal aquariums through coral propagation. Seminars will be held at The Lost Chambers Family Fun Day at 11:00am and 2:30pm.

Other exciting family activities at the upcoming Family Fun Day include special educational sessions with marine animal specialists, interacting with scuba divers and even the opportunity to dress up as a scuba diver. There will also be face painting, games and many other special activities for all ages. There will also be games, face painting and other special activities for the little ones.

Special Offers for Family Fun Day – 10am-8pm, Friday, 8th June
Adult admission AED 100
Children receive free admission with each full paid adult admission.
Valet parking is complimentary for visitors to The Lost Chambers Aquarium.

The Lost Chambers has delighted guests with unusual salt and fresh water attractions and an amazing aquatic eco-system never before seen in the Middle East. The open-air marine habitat is the focal point of Atlantis, Dubai’s first truly integrated entertainment destination resort. Resort guests, visitors to Dubai and residents of the Emirates can enjoy and explore an extensive collection of exhibits, pools, lagoons and underwater ruins showcasing an impressive variety of marine life including sharks, eels, rays, piranhas, hundreds of exotic and tropical fish.

“Atlantis, The Palm has an unprecedented opportunity to contribute to our guests’ understanding of all marine life, the environment and at the same time, bring our expertise and recognized leadership in marine science to the United Arab Emirates. Following the huge impact of our marine habitat at Atlantis, Paradise Island in The Bahamas, we are excited to have this amazing opportunity to our guests, visitors and the residents of Dubai,” stated Alan Leibman, CEO, Kerzner International.

Throughout the expansive 46 hectare resort, 42 million litres of salt water are home to more than 65,000 fish and sea creatures representing over 250 species. Second only to Mother Nature, this harmony of marine life is managed by a team of more than 165 full-time Marine Animal Specialists. The veterinarians, biologists, aquarists, divers, laboratory mangers, food technicians, mechanics and directors who tend to this delicate eco-system on a 24-hour basis, have over 200 years experience from world-renowned marine institutes and facilities.

At The Ambassador Lagoon, guests look through a 10 square metre viewing panel directly into an 11 million litre marine habitat and underwater exhibit – home to the sunken streets and boulevards of the mythical lost world of Atlantis. Here, guests stand in awe as they watch the sea life live peacefully amidst lost relics. This habitat focuses on marine life found in the local waters of the Arabian Gulf, including Golden Trevallys, Cobias, Crescent Angelfish and a variety of sharks and rays.

The discovery continues as guests travel through the mazes of underground tunnels and passageways of The Lost Chambers, bringing them into close contact with the myth and the advanced inventions of the ancient Atlanteans. Along the way, touch tanks filled with starfish and pencil urchins, both found in local Arabian waters, and horse shoe crabs, armoured living fossils, allow guests to touch, feel and interact with sea life.

Special exhibits are dedicated to different sea creatures, such as the delicate Blue blubberJellyfish, busy lobster, colourful coral reef eco-systems, piranhas, and glittery silverbiddies – each fascinating to watch and with a story to tell. Guests at Atlantis, The Palm can explore The Lost Chambers on their own or choose to interact with a ‘Marine educator, who shares educational facts and details on the mythical elements of Atlantis (how man and marine life first connected) and the Atlantis family of marine inhabitants.

THE ATLANTIS MARINE HABITAT
Spearheading the development of the marine habitat at Atlantis, The Palm were several team members from the resort’s sister property Atlantis, Paradise Island in The Bahamas. These individuals have been party to some extraordinary births and developments within the marine habitats – in particular helping to cultivate a thriving, natural environment for sharks.

The sea water is drawn from the Arabian Gulf into an open-flow system through an almost four million litres reservoir, and then sand filtered and infused and cleaned with ozone before flowing into the marine habitats around the resort. The marine habitats at Atlantis, The Palm are forever changing and evolving much like Mother Nature herself and this makes each visit to the resort a new and inimitable experience for every guest, young or old.

THE VISION
Atlantis' Mission is to become the world's leader in marine animal experiences there-by inspiring passionate participation in protecting our oceans and creating life-long memories through entertainment, education, conservation and research. Atlantis, The Palm’s aim is to implement targeted scientific studies with local fishery and educational partners to provide an enhanced marine knowledge of the waters surrounding the United Arab Emirates. From these studies, a breed and release programme will be initiated for various species, similar to the successful program at Atlantis, Paradise Island with sea life found in the waters of The Bahamas.

Fun Fact #1 Coral is a colony of living organisms made up of both an animal and an algae. The algae uses natural sunlight to provide food for the animal, and the animal, in turn, offers protection for the algae. This symbiotic relationship leads to form a limestone foundation for massive new coral reef structures.

Fun Fact #2 Coral can reproduce itself in one of 3 ways. Asexually, sexually and by cloning itself.

Fun Fact #3 Atlantis, The Palm is growing various species of coral in The Lost Chambers and then transrelocating it to a new reef in the Arabian Gulf.
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About Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai
Atlantis, The Palm is a 1,539 room, ocean-themed destination resort located at the centre of the crescent The Palm in Dubai. This US$1.5 billion joint venture project was developed with Dubai Government owned, Istithmar. Opened in September 2008, the resort utilises the 46 hectares site with 17 hectares of water park amusement, further marine and entertainment attractions and a collection of some of the most renowned restaurants including Nobu, Ronda Locatelli, Ossiano and Rostang-The French Brasserie. Atlantis, The Palm offers an unprecedented entertainment centre, an impressive collection of luxury boutiques and shops and extensive meeting and convention facilities. It is home to one of the largest open-air marine habitats in the world, with some 65,000 marine animals in lagoons and displays including The Lost Chambers, a maze of underwater corridors and passageways providing a journey through ancient Atlantis.