The Seattle Aquarium is a nonprofit conservation organization working to regenerate the health of Earth’s one ocean.
We advance animal wellbeing, marine and ecosystem science, policy, field conservation, education and species recovery that benefits the ocean and its inhabitants. We thoughtfully bring the ocean to life for all visitors with experiences that inspire awe, empathy and conservation action. Our work supports a healthy future for marine life, people and the planet.
Who we are
Steward of marine life
Providing excellent care to the animals at the Aquarium creates opportunities for people to learn about, connect with and act for their wild counterparts.
Champion for local waters and communities
We link arms with others across the region on marine science education and collaborations to protect the health of local marine ecosystems.
Anchor for our city and waterfront
Our Ocean Pavilion is a central feature of the transformed waterfront, and our expanded campus supports a strong, engaged downtown and waterfront community.
Global conservation leader
The Seattle Aquarium is a conservation organization. Our work—inside and outside our walls—directly advances a healthy ocean and planet.
Community impact
We strive to bring families and the community together in awe and understanding of the ocean and its importance to life on Earth.
Conservation action
Our goal is for every Aquarium visitor to come away with new knowledge about ocean life and what can be done to help restore the ocean’s health.
Sustainable to regenerative operations
Over the past two decades, the Aquarium has taken action to create a positive impact on our planet and be a leader in sustainable practices. We have a bold vision—to produce more environmental benefits than harm to help ensure a climate-resilient, sustainable future for all—in other words, to become a regenerative aquarium.
Our history
The Seattle Aquarium opened in 1977. The Aquarium was owned and operated by the City of Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation until 2010, when the nonprofit Seattle Aquarium Society assumed its management under a long-term operating agreement with the City.
Today, the Seattle Aquarium is the ninth largest aquarium in the U.S. by attendance. Since our opening, we’ve hosted over 28 million visitors and provided marine conservation education to over two million school children. We’re proud to be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). We were last accredited by the AZA in March 2024 for another five years. We are also a proud member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Our future
With our newly expanded campus, the Aquarium will continue to inspire connection to Earth's one ocean.
The Ocean Pavilion, which opened on August 29, 2024, is a living classroom that reflects the exquisite biodiversity of reef ecosystems. This new building allows us to expand our reach and help our growing number of visitors understand the connection between all waters, from the Salish Sea to the Coral Triangle and beyond.
As we approach our 50th anniversary in 2027, we strive toward becoming a regenerative aquarium, one that helps restore what has been lost or damaged so that all living beings can thrive. We will move forward in our species recovery initiatives, working to protect animals like Indo-Pacific leopard sharks and xʷč’iłqs (pinto abalone) from extinction.
Above all, we will continue our work as an institution that connects others to the ways we can help protect this beautiful blue planet which we all rely on.
