Southern seas : discovering marine life at 46° south / Keith Probert, John Jillett, Sally Carson.

Includes bibliographical references (page 64).

2004 marks the centenary of New Zealand's first marine research institution on the Otago Peninsula, an area famous for its marine wildlife and coastal scenery. This book celebrates 'the Portobello Laboratory' and the marine environment it promotes through its research, aquarium and public education programme. Founded in 1904 as the country's first fish hatchery and marine investigation site, and transformed into a biological research station by Betty Batham, the laboratory was taken over by the University of Otago in 1951. Important contributions to understanding the southern marine environment, its habitats, plants and animals have been made by its staff, students and visiting researchers. The centre holds the country's first aquarium and the book looks at some of the unique creatures that have lived in it, such as the crayfish-stealing, tank-escaping octopus.