Schaumburg show celebrates the life aquatic

A pair of sea lions named Kim and Rose greeted guests with hugs Sunday before entertaining with their show "Sea Lion Splash" at the fourth annual Aquatic Experience at the Schaumburg Convention Center.

More than 6,000 marine animal lovers were expected to attend the three-day event presented by the World Pet Association.

In addition to the sea lions, visitors were able to see the first International Shrimp Competition, get up close with sharks and starfish at the Touch Tank, see fish from around the world, participate in the Kid's Aquarium Contest, and talk with vendors and experts about everything aquatic.

"It is everything fish, both freshwater and saltwater. It combines both sides of the equation. It has a lot of family fun stuff," said Doug Poindexter, president of the World Pet Association. "One of the biggest joys I get is watching these kids come in and there faces light up when they see some of these unusual tanks and unusual fish. They just go 'Wow!' and 'Isn't that cool?'"

Several children reached their hands into the Touch Tank as a cat shark swam by along with other varieties of fish, starfish, sea urchins, sand dollars, and marine animals and plants.

"Our daughter really likes it and that is why we are here," Barry McGuire of Schaumburg said as he looked at bight, glowing fish with his four-year-old daughter, Neve, and wife, Rebecca. "She enjoys looking at all the fish. It's pretty cool. The main attraction for our daughter is the sea lions."