The Florida Aquarium

About

The Florida Aquarium opened in 1995 in Tampa's Channelside District and has grown into one of the Gulf Coast's premier marine science and conservation institutions, welcoming more than 700,000 visitors annually. The aquarium is unique in its geographic focus: rather than presenting a global survey of ocean life, it tells the complete story of Florida's aquatic ecosystems—from the freshwater springs of the interior to the brackish estuaries, mangrove coastlines, and coral reefs of the Keys. The Wetlands Trail exhibit is the aquarium's signature experience, taking visitors on a walk through a reconstructed cypress swamp, tidal estuary, and sandy bay, with native Florida species at every step: river otters, alligators, herons, horseshoe crabs, and the iconic Florida softshell turtle. The coral reef galleries feature a 500,000-gallon tank replicating the Flower Garden Banks reef system in the Gulf of Mexico, the northernmost living coral reef in the continental United States. The Florida Aquarium operates one of the most active sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation programs in the country, accepting injured sea turtles from across Florida's Gulf and Atlantic coasts. Visitors often see turtles in rehabilitation tanks before release, and the aquarium provides educational interpretation about the threats turtles face and the science of their recovery. The aquarium also operates a coral propagation facility that grows and transplants corals to support Florida reef restoration. Education programs include school field trips, homeschool days, field trips, summer camps, and the Junior Biologist program for young children. The aquarium participates in AZA Species Survival Plans for loggerhead sea turtles and other threatened species.

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