We are honored to be responsible guests on the traditional and contemporary territories of the Coast Salish people, who have stewarded these lands and waters since time immemorial. The Seattle Aquarium is committed to developing a strong foundation for long-lasting and mutually beneficial partnerships with Tribal Nations, urban Native peoples and, as our mission grows, the Indigenous peoples of the Indo-Pacific and their local diaspora. We strive for reciprocal, respectful relationships rooted in the sovereignty of our Indigenous hosts. We too give thanks to the ocean and all our ocean relatives we have the honor to care and advocate for, be in relationship with, and be educators with for the future wellbeing of our shared Earth.
Aquarium highlights
![A young child looking at two fish with wonder and a smile as their hands are pressed up against a viewing window.](https://www.seattleaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/AWE-homepage-featured.webp)
Turn your awe into action!
With your help, we can increase the Aquarium's impact and share the wonders of the ocean with even more people—now and for generations to come.
![Rendering of the front exterior of the future Ocean Pavilion viewed from the waterfront walkway.](https://www.seattleaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/seattle-aquarium-ocean-pavilion-featured.webp)
Seattle Aquarium Ocean Pavilion
As the first of several planned steps in transforming our campus, our Ocean Pavilion — scheduled to open in summer 2024 — will enable people of all abilities and backgrounds to discover new corners of our one world ocean.
![A Seattle Aquarium beach naturalist volunteer speaking to two individuals on a public beach near Seattle.](https://www.seattleaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/programs-beach-naturalist-1.jpg)
Beach Naturalist
Join us at the beach this summer! Our trained naturalists will be located across eleven beaches on select days to help you explore low tide.
![A Seattle Aquarium biologist standing outside the fur seal habitat at the Aquarium conducting a training session with an adult Nothern fur seal. The biologist is opening their hand as a cue for the fur seal to open its mouth.](https://www.seattleaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/animal-wellbeing-featured.webp)
Animal wellbeing
Caring for animals at the Aquarium is core to our marine conservation mission. Learn more about how we provide expert care for every animal.
![](https://www.seattleaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/featured-coral-bg.webp)
Our Mission
The region’s premier resource for hands-on marine experiences and conservation education, the Seattle Aquarium offers fun, exciting ways to discover more about the amazing Puget Sound and our world’s one big ocean. Join us in our mission: Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment.
![A photo of a fish swimming in front of a gradient illustration of kelp.](https://www.seattleaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/fish-seaweed-2.webp)
![Default Alt](https://www.seattleaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/sharks-and-rays-slider-updated-1.jpg)
Recovering endangered sharks and rays
We helped launch a first-of-its-kind global coalition—ReShark—to restore endangered shark and ray populations. ReShark includes 70+ nonprofit, academic and government partners. The coalition’s first project is to recover Indo-Pacific leopard sharks (Stegostoma tigrinum) in Indonesia.
![A kelp forest underwater being illuminated by sunlight from above the water's surface.](https://www.seattleaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/policy-kelp-slider.webp)
Ocean policy and advocacy
The Seattle Aquarium works to advance science-based policies to conserve and protect our marine environment. Our advocacy work at the local, state and federal levels contributes to securing climate resilience, sustainable seas and clean waters.
![Default Alt](https://www.seattleaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/pinto-abalone-slider-updated.jpg)
Recovering xʷč’iłqs (pinto abalone)
In 2020, the Seattle Aquarium joined Puget Sound Restoration Fund, WA Department of Fish and Wildlife and others to recover xʷč’iłqs, which is Lushootseed for pinto abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana).
![](https://www.seattleaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/seattle-aquarium-salish-sea.webp)
![](https://www.seattleaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/seattle-aquarium-salish-sea-2.webp)
The Salish Sea
![](https://www.seattleaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/featured-kelp-bg.webp)
At the Aquarium
10am, 11:45am, 12:15pm, 1:15pm, 3pm
10:45 AM
11:30 AM
2:15 PM
3:45 PM
4:45 PM
![A photo of a harbor seal laying down with its head stretched upwards over a simple gradient illustration of rocks on water.](https://www.seattleaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/seattle-aquarium-harbor-seal.webp)
Upcoming Events
![A multicolored gradient illustration of coral.](https://www.seattleaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/featured-coral-2-bg.webp)
![Beach Naturalist event image](https://www.seattleaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/programs-beach-naturalist-1.jpg)
Beach Naturalist
Join us at the beach this summer! Our trained naturalists will be located across eleven beaches on select days in May, June and July to help you explore low tide.
![Cedar River Salmon Journey event image](https://www.seattleaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/giving-tuesday-salmon-featured.jpg)
Cedar River Salmon Journey
Join us on select Saturdays and Sundays to learn more about salmon! Trained naturalists will be stationed at the Ballard Locks to help you spot spawning salmon and learn how to help them.
![Lightning Talks: Rays event image](https://www.seattleaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/LT-JULY2024-WEB-1200x630-RAYS.jpg)
Lightning Talks: Rays
Join us to learn all about rays in this free digital event, where five speakers will dazzle the audience with their knowledge of these incredible fish!
![](https://www.seattleaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/featured-kelp-bg.webp)
Explore the Aquarium
Discover amazing animal species, learn about educational opportunities at the Aquarium, and more!
Aquarium Stories
![Exterior of the Seattle Aquarium's new Ocean Pavilion, viewed from the side to showcase new cedar wood planks which cover the west side of the building.](https://www.seattleaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1200x675_0004_Cedar-1024x576.webp)
How will the Ocean Pavilion model sustainable design?
![Crush the western snowy plover eating a small, translucent shrimp.](https://www.seattleaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Bird-Health-Care-Crush-1024x682.jpg)
Health care for feathered friends at the Aquarium: A birds-eye view
![Illustration of two sea otters swimming underwater amongst kelp, fish, sea urchins and other under sea life.](https://www.seattleaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/why-biodiversity-matters-social-1024x538.jpg)
What is biodiversity and why is it important to us?
If you took a time machine back to four billion years ago, life would look very different. Because all life[...]
![](https://www.seattleaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/connections-program-1-1.jpg)
![](https://www.seattleaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/caring-cove-5.jpg)
![](https://www.seattleaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/sea-otter-interview-sekiu.jpg)
Become a Member
By purchasing a membership to the Seattle Aquarium, you can enjoy access to the Aquarium for an entire year!
![A gradient illustration of coral.](https://www.seattleaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/featured-coral-3-bg.webp)