MARINE conservation-conscious Ilfracombe Aquarium has released 1,000 newly hatched babies to a new life out in the big wide ocean — or at least, the Bristol Channel.

Since opening in 2001, the aquarium has provided a fascinating insight into the weird and wonderful watery world around North Devon.

Aquarium owner Lawrence Raybone said: "One of our many successes to date has been the hatching of snake pipefish.

"This intriguing fish, which can be spotted with a keen eye in local rock pools, can only be described as looking like a cross between a length of weed and a stretched out seahorse."

He said the odd-looking creatures were related to the seahorse and lived among the weeds around our coastlines.

And just like its watery relation, the male incubates several hundred eggs on its belly for up to one month before releasing tiny fry, measuring 10mm, into the water.

Lawrence said: "Conditions have been made ideal at the aquarium for frequent spawnings to occur through each summer, and the aquarists have selectively released these young back into the wild, confident that many will survive.

"It is wonderful to know that conditions here encourage fish to breed and that we are directly contributing to our local marine environment.

"The adult fish we care for would have come from the wild, so to release their offspring back to their natural environment is very rewarding. One of our main aims is to encourage more captive rearing of species that we look after."