A world of ocean education at Haus des Meeres

From the roof terrace at Haus des Meeres, you have a stunning panoramic view of the whole of Vienna. But no matter how much you squint, or even use binoculars, you won’t even catch a glimpse of an ocean, because Austria is a landlocked country. Yet, beneath your feet, are almost two million litres of seawater in ten floors of aquariums, coral reef exhibits and over 10,000 animals from marine, freshwater and tropical habitats. And with it, everything you might ever want to learn about the ocean – right in the heart of the city.

Because, beyond its place as an Instagrammable must-visit, Haus des Meeres has been involved in marine research and education every day since it opened in 1958. And right now, its sixth floor is host to an exhibition from Canon Austria, showcasing how our technology is supporting the work of Coral Spawning International and Nature Seychelles, why it’s so important and, crucially, offering ways that visitors can help these conservation efforts – even from countries where there is no sea, like Austria. “Corals aren’t just something colourful and nice to look at when you’re on holiday,” says Birgit Stark, PR, Events & Campaigns Professional at Canon Austria. “They have a huge impact on everyone. Coral bleaching affects the weather we experience, for example.”

And in its work as a research facility, Haus des Meeres grows its own corals - much as you would take a cutting from a plant. These are also shared with other aquariums, so that none need to be taken from the ocean. Scientists across a number of labs use them to help understand what thriving corals look like, how they function and what keeps them healthy. Simulating the effects of climate change is also a big part of this research and behind the scenes they make subtle adjustments to the corals’ water conditions (such as temperature, lighting and even bacteria levels), testing their resilience.

So, the Canon exhibition sits perfectly alongside Haus des Meeres’s decades of work, educating locals and tourists alike on the importance of corals and the world’s oceans. There are over 8,000 square metres to explore, packed with habitats you simply couldn’t guess at from the outside – from tropical oceans and the Amazon rainforest to Mediterranean and freshwater ecosystems. All are designed to show the interconnectedness of life on earth. Because, even if you think your lack of proximity means you can’t make a difference, you couldn’t be more wrong. 

“We made a point of including information about what you can do to help,” explains Birgit. “Both when you’re on vacation, which is easy, but also when you’re back at home, which we know isn’t always as obvious.” These include simple changes, such as choosing personal care products which are microplastic-free or using washing machine filters to reduce microfibres. The exhibition also encourages visitors to support clean ups of local rivers and lakes and choose organic products over chemical fertilisers in your garden.

“Austria is highly active in marine research and makes important contributions on an international level,” says Dr. Daniel Abed-Navandi, marine biologist and Deputy Director of Haus des Meeres. Awareness raising is critical to this work and so the institution uses its uniqueness to the full, weaving issues of biodiversity loss, habitat destruction, marine pollution and climate change through the visitor experience, giving plenty of food for thought. And right now, coral is very much at the eye of the climate change storm.

“The loss of coral reefs means far more than the disappearance of a habitat. It results in the loss of a significant share of our planet’s genetic diversity,” he explains, adding, “From an evolutionary perspective, it would take tens of thousands of years for comparable ecosystems to develop again. It is encouraging to see companies such as Canon getting involved and supporting scientific work to help advance solutions for the protection of our oceans.”

Captivating over a million people every year is no mean feat, but for them to also leave with a better understanding of the challenges and vulnerabilities of the ocean, as well as ways to help, is nothing short of a remarkable achievement. By creating and maintaining a beautiful and entertaining environment, while also filling it with important information and advice – such as that in Canon Austria’s exhibition – Haus Des Meeres manages to transform enthusiastic visitors into the current and next generation of ocean advocates.

We’re supporting efforts to save the unseen world of coral. Follow the progress of our work here.