A giant statue of a grouper fish, cast in copper recycled from the roof of the Hamilton?s Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, has been placed in front of the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo at Flatts Village.

It is intended the huge piece of public art will eventually be incorporated into a foundation display.

The idea for the sculpture stemmed from the BAMZ and Bermuda Zoological Society?s 2001 Bermuda Day Parade entry of a giant floral grouper made from paper mach?, chicken wire and local plants. Although the parade was rained out, the float was put on display at the front of the Aquarium building and proved popular with the public ? so much so that when the Cathedral started to install new copper roofing the old copper was donated to turn the paper mach? grouper into a permanent work of art entitled ?The Grouper.?

Additional funding was provided by Belco for the piece, which was designed by artist Will Collieson and took 400-man hours to complete.

BAMZ curator Dr. Ian Walker said: ?The Grouper stands at our entrance as a symbol of Bermuda?s biodiversity as well as a symbol of the community spirit that makes Bermuda such a special place.?

Garry Madeiros, president of Belco, said: ?We are very proud to have participated in this unique project which truly symbolises the power of partnership in the Bermuda community.?