Canadian Hydrographic Service (Atlantic) Natural Resources Canada (Atlantic Region) Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic) Environment Canada National Defence Working with CHS Atlantic. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Canadian Food Inspection Agency Facilities In addition to office and research space, BIO has extensive laboratories, particularly for performing research into aquatic species. Tours of BIO are offered for visitors during the summer months and a popular tour destination are some of the large aquariums and tanks used for research. There are also "touch tanks" in a facility called the Sea Pavilion where visitors are permitted to handle North Atlantic lobster, snow crabs, rock crabs, clams (also known as pea clams), sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and other species. Some tanks are transparent and allow visitors to view giant mackerel and sturgeon as well as other rare and interesting specimens such as a lobster that is half male and half female. The Sea Pavilion contains information concerning leatherback sea turtles, Atlantic whitefish, northern right whales, sharks, lake whitefish, largemouth bass, brook trout, Atlantic wolffish, and Atlantic pickerel. There are also displays featuring protected areas such as Sable Island and The Gully and special interest areas such as Halifax Harbour and the Bay of Fundy. Transportation The Bedford Institute of Oceanography is served by a public bus route, Halifax Transit route 51. It links BIO to the Bridge Terminal and Burnside, via Windmill Road, at peak hours only. References Further reading External links Van Steenburgh and Polaris Buildings – Federal Heritage Buildings Canadian federal government buildings Buildings and structures in Halifax, Nova Scotia Research institutes in Canada Oceanographic organizations Biological research institutes Fisheries and aquaculture research institutes 1962 establishments in Nova Scotia Fisheries and Oceans Canada Organizations established in 1962 Science and technology in Canada