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Go, Fish! Aquarium Gets More Animated In New Exhibit

The Florida Aquarium.

Ocean Commotion guests will see presentations on flat-screen video displays and can download pictures and information on their cell phones and Wi-Fi devices.

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Published: October 16, 2008

TAMPA - People who think aquarium exhibits lack pizzazz have not met Raldo.

The animated shark journalist will be the visitors' guide through Ocean Commotion, The Florida Aquarium's newest exhibit.

The $1 million exhibit, set to open Saturday, will tell the story of conservation measures and the condition of the oceans.

Raldo will interact with animated sea characters in different exhibits, which are vying for the Golden Gill Award that goes to the character that best takes care of the environment. The 13 exhibit areas consist of live aquatic displays including a Mandarin fish and a spider crab.

A 20-foot-wide, laser-driven interactive display allows visitors to touch images of animals on the screen to see information about them and their environment. Visitors can coax whales and dolphins to swim onto the screen by waving or dancing, which activates the laser-driven displays.

Guests will see presentations on flat-screen video displays and can download pictures and information on their cell phones and Wi-Fi devices. The information goes home with them to be explored at their leisure.

"We have always been about getting people involved in what they are seeing," said Tom Wagner, a spokesman for the aquarium.

The exhibit replaces the Sea Hunt Gallery, an area in need of some new energy, Wagner said.

Ocean Commotion is the aquarium's first major indoor renovation in seven years and is expected to boost attendance flattened by the poor economy.

Aquarium officials predict a boost in attendance to 671,000, up from 652,971 for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.

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