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Sherman's Lagoon Surfs Into National Aquarium

July 31, 2010
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By Sabri Ben-Achour

The National Aquarium in downtown DC has a new exhibit based on a cartoon shark, and the aquarium hopes it will put some teeth in it's conservation message.

Jim Toomey is the creator of Sherman the Shark, it's a syndicated cartoon.

"When I was nine or ten Jaws came out, I think I was the only one rooting for the shark," he says.

His character is now part of DC's National Aquarium, located in the Department of Commerce building downtown.

It's all about shark conservation.

Toomey spins the "wheel of doom" on the wall.

"Shark finning and bycatch take up I'd say two thirds of the entire wheel, so sharks have about an equal chance of meeting their demise by each," he says.

Bob Ramin is executive director of the aquarium.

"We in the aquarium business have been looking for a way to talk about conservation without being preachy," Ramin.

The new exhibit kicks off shark week at the aquarium.

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