Aquarium chips fish

Finding Nemo via RFID

Singapore's Underwater World aquarium has installed what it describes as the world's first RFID fish-tagging system - not to prevent piscine Nemo-style mass breakouts, but rather to help visitors effortlessly identify species.

According to Reuters, when any of the 20 chipped fish swims past a sensor, its name, species, and related info is displayed on a touch screen display. The aquarium's sales and marketing manager, Peter Chew, enthused: "Gone are the days when visitors are happy looking at animals and matching them with the information on the sign boards."

Underwater World stumped up S$30,000 ($19,600) for the system, which currently offers illumination on the Amazon's mighty arapaima, aka pirarucú - rated as the largest freshwater fish in the world - and the pacú, related to the piranha. The aquarium is considering tagging sharks too, Chew noted. ®