Activities for the Public
The public is welcome to visit Tjärnö Marine Laboratory all year around. Some activities are meant for groups and are only booked in advance, while others are open activities for families or individuals. Most activities are offered during Swedish summer vacation period (early July to mid-August).
Tjärnö Aquarium
No booking in advance.
During summer vacation period we welcome the public to this most species-rich aquarium in Sweden.
Visitors can also study small living marine organisms in stereo microscope. Two marine biologists are at hand to answer questions, and give Live-presentations about, for instance, oyster, lobster, crabs or jellyfishes. Film is shown in the auditorium. We sell postcards, posters and books.
Opening hours
26 June – 11 August, Monday-Friday, 14.00–17.00
21 June, Wednesday, 14.00–17.00
16 August, Wednesday, 14.00–17.00
More information about Tjärnö Aquarium.
Excursion – Diversity of the Sea
Booking in advance.
From the research vessel Nereus we make measurements in the water and collect algae and animals from the Kosterhavet Marine National Park, and continue to look more into them in the laboratory in stereo microscope. Entrance to Tjärnö Aquarium is included.
Dates for Diversity of the Sea
Tuesday 4 July, 14.30–17.00
Tuesday 11 July, 14.30–17.00
Tuesday 18 July, 14.30–17.00
Tuesday 25 July, 14.30–17.00
Tuesday 1 August, 14.30–17.00
Tuesday 8 August, 14.30–17.00
may also be Wednesday 28 June, 14.30–17.00
Excursion – Filming in the Kosterhavet Deep
Booked in advance.
From the research vessel Nereus we deploy a Remotely Operated Vehicle equipped with a video camera. We film life at 100 metres depth and show it in real-time on a monitor on board. A guide explains what we see. ”Fika” (coffe/tea/juice and a cinnamon roll) is included.
Dates for Filming in the Kosterhavet Deep
30 June 09.00–12.00
14 July 09.00–12.00
28 July 09.00–12.00
11 August 09.00–12.00
Alla trips depart from Tjärnö Marine Laboratory.
West Coast Maritime Week – Activities on Tjärnö
Tjärnö Aquarium
Free admittance during West Coast Maritime Week.
For further information, visit Tjärnö Aquarium.
Diversity of the Sea
8 August 14.30–17.00. For more information: Diversity of the Sea.
Filming in the Kosterhavet Deep
11 August. For more information: Filming in the Kosterhavet Deep.
Theme activities remains to be decided.
Guided Tours – Group Activity
Booking in advance.
All year around companies, organisations, etc. can book a guided tour of the Tjärnö Laboratory. The tour take count of previous knowledge and interests of the visiting group.
The tour can consist of seeing ongoing university education, current research, research vessels, Tjärnö Aquarium, and film. We inform about the sea in general, university education, research and marine environmental issues.
Maximum group size is 20 persons. The tour lasts normally 1.5 hours. We offer the tours workdays daytime, but if agreed upon groups can also visit during evenings and weekends.
Beach Excursion – Group Activity
Booking in advance.
From May to mid-October Tjärnö Laboratory offer a beach excursion, where participants discover life on a shallow sandy bottom. This activity is equally engaging for adults as for children.
We bring field equipment (waders, aquascopes, spades, nets etc.) and a trained marine biologist. However, group participants are the most active, finding sand beach organisms such as lugworm, sand gaper, common shrimp, shore crab, netted dogwhelk, flatfishes, sand eels, eelgrass.
Learn more about sand beach organisms in the Aquascope.
Together with the group, the marine biologist go through the findings and inform about seasonal variation and the importance of shallow soft bottoms to the fishery, for instance.
Maximum group size is 20 persons. The beach excursion lasts 2 hours. We offer the beach excursion workdays daytime, but if agreed upon groups can also visit during evenings and weekends.
Research Vessel Excursion – Group Activity
Booking in advance.
Subject to availability, non-school groups can book a research vessel excursion with Nereus. Activity length is 1.5 hours or longer.