The Aquarium
The proposed aquarium will comprise a built up area of about 1 000 m2 to house 35 big and 60 small tanks (Fig. 15), with associated equipment like air compressor, service passages, food preparation room, store room etc. The pipe lines will be of synthetic material to prevent corrosion. The big aquarium tanks will have running water arrangements and the smaller tanks, meant for tropical fresh water fish, will have facilities for changing the water either bi-weekly or monthly. All the tanks will be provided with air ducts. Heating arrangement is not required at Aqaba, although some immersion heaters will be required for experimental purposes. Cooling arrangements will be required in the workrooms, but are not essential in the main halls.
The additional facilities shown in the plan are two outdoor tanks for keeping bigger aquatic animals and cement cisterns for acclimatisation and hospital purposes. A cafetaria may be provided in the space marked ~,
Suitable filtering system and pumping arrangements will have to be provided. However, since the sea water in the Gulf is crystal clear, the possibility of eliminating elaborate filtering arrangements should be looked into. If the results of such tests are favourable, small pressure filters charged with activated carbon flakes may serve the purpose. An over-head reservoir will also be necessary to store sea water. For fresh water supply, either the automatic pressure tank system or overhead tank system may be adopted.
The laboratory
A laboratory consisting of two workrooms (one of which may be converted eventually into a hatchery), one room for scientists, one office and one dark room may be constructed on the first floor of the aquarium building.
Experimental Ponds
Four experimental ponds, a low salinity reservoir and an open channel connecting the ponds and the sea, have been provided in the proposed complex. The depths of the ponds and reservoir will be adjusted according to the elevation of the site, but tentatively they may be taken to be 3 m deep. The channel alone will be 4 m deep. Ponds III and IV are to be made as springfed ones, so that the salinity of the water in the same may be reduced. The central channel will be open to the sea and always under the direct influence of tides. The sides of the ponds, reservoir and channel will have to be suitably lined with concrete or cement blocks in order to prevent seepage of water.
The salinity factor is very important and it is known that many species of fish grow betters in waters of salinity lower than that of sea water. The salinity of Gulf of Aqaba water is in the neighbourhood of 40 ppt and hence, if the spring water available in shallow levels of the coastal region in the northern sectors can be used to dilute the same in the experimental ponds, favourable conditions for the rapid growth of different organisms may be obtained.
These experimental ponds can be expected to help in establishing a stable environment in respect of salinity and temperature. Growth of food organisms can be augmented in the ponds by the addition of fertilizers. Suitable facilities for pumping of sea water into the ponds, as and when required, will be necessary.
Location for the Aquarium
Taking into consideration the nature of the coastal region, availability of spring water and anticipated public interest in the aquarium, it is suggested that this complex may be located on the beach between the Palm Beach Hotel on the north and the old hospital building on the south. It is understood that plans for the development of this beach into a public area are under formulation and hence it would not be out of place to state that by locating the aquarium here an excellent public enterprise, which will cater to the needs of experimental aquaculture also, will be available at Aqaba.
Some General Considerations Regarding the Aquarium
The consultant held discussions with the Dean of the Faculty of Science, University of Jordan, regarding the Marine Biological Centre proposed to be established by the University near Hurrah. This centre will be taking up academic studies on marine biological problems and there does not appear to be any duplication of effort with the recommendations made in this report. On the other hand it should be possible for the University to take up collaboration research programmes in the aquarium.
During the discussions the consultant held with the Director General of the Department of Veterinary and Animal Health, it was opined that for the sake of projecting the advantages of establishing an aquarium in Aqaba, background information on the number of tourists normally arriving in the city and the increased number that could be anticipated, may be collected.
The tourist traffic to Aqaba is expected to increase considerably with the implementation of the plan for development of the Aqaba South Coast, The first phase of the plan has provision for 1 278 beds and the second for 2 370 beds. With the completion of this project, the total annual tourist traffic can be expected to exceed 150 000.
Estimates for the Aquarium
It is understood that undeveloped land at Aqaba is allotted to Government Departments free of cost. If the area selected for the aquarium is considered as developed land, cost of the same may be waived or only a nominal lease value fixed, as the establishment will be a public utility enterprise.
| Capital expenditure | J. Dinars | US $ | ||
| A. | For aquarium buildings: | |||
| Ground floor, 1 000 m2 at J.D. 30 per m2 | 30 000 | 90 000 | ||
| First floor for laboratory, 200 m2at above rate | 6 000 | 18 000 | ||
| Annexes | 3 000 | 9 000 | ||
| Furnishing and fittings | 10 000 | 30 000 | ||
| Water supply fittings | 10 000 | 30 000 | ||
| Air compressor | 1 000 | 3 000 | ||
| Electrical fittings | 7 000 | 21 000 | ||
| Pumps | 1 000 | 3 000 | ||
| Laboratory equipment | 10 000 | 30 000 | ||
| Vehicle and boat | 2 000 | 6 000 | ||
| Miscellaneous | 5 000 | 15 000 | ||
| Total | 85 000 | 255 000 | ||
| B. | For experimental ponds: | |||
| Cost of earth work, 6 100 m3 at J.D. 0.7 per m3 | 4 270 | 12 810 | ||
| Cement lining at J.D. 8 per m3 | 3 330 | 9 990 | ||
| Cost of 7 sluices at J.D. 120 each | 840 | 2 520 | ||
| Miscellaneous | 1 500 | 4 500 | ||
| 9 940 | 29 820 | |||
| Recurring expenditure per annum | ||||
| Feed and cost of fish | 2 000 | 6 000 | ||
| Fuel and electricity charges | 500 | 1 500 | ||
| Chemicals and glassware | 500 | 1 500 | ||
| Staff wages | 5 500 | 16 500 | ||
| Contingencies | 500 | 1 500 | ||
| Total | 9 000 | 27 000 | ||
| Fellowship: | 1 | - | for three man months, for an officer to get trained in methods of aquarium maintenance and management. |
Staff required for Banning the Aquarium:
| Technical Officer | - 1 |
| Technical Assistant | - 1 |
| Administrative Officer | - 1 |
| Secretary | - 1 |
| Attendant | - 3 |
| Driver | - 1 |
| Boat driver | - 1 |
| Electrician-cum-mechanic | - 1 |
| Messenger | - 1 |
| Watchman | - 1 |
Anticipated income from the Aquarium
Considering the anticipated tourist attraction and interest to public and students from all over the country, an income of about J.D. 10 000 (US $ 30 000) per annum can be expected from gate collections and sale of souvenirs.
Major items of equipment
| Research microscope | - 1 | |
| Stereo microscope | - 1 | |
| Dissection microscope | - 1 | |
| Miscroscope lamp | - 1 | |
| Eye piece and occular micrometer | - 1 | each |
| Magnifying lens × 20, × 10 & × 5 | - 1 | each |
| Photographic camera | - 1 | |
| Microphoto outfit | - 1 | |
| Analytical balance | - 1 | |
| Spring balance | - 1 | set |
| Single pan balance | - 3 | |
| Plankton sampler | - 1 | |
| Water sampler | - 1 | |
| Current meter | - 1 | |
| Flow meter | - 1 | |
| Centrifuge | - 1 | |
| Oven | - 1 | |
| Generator | - 1 | |
| Refrigerator | - 2 | |
| Air conditioner | - 4 | |
| Heater with thermostat | - 8 | |
| Oxygen cylinder with fittings | - 2 | sets |
| Live fish carrying tank | - 2 | |
| Water analysis kit | - 1 | |
| pH comparator with discs | - 1 | set |
| Dissection kit | - 3 | sets |
| Temperature recorder | - 2 | |
| Hydrometer (for salinity) | - 1 |
