Aquarium of the Pacific

Aquarium of the Pacific
Name	Aquarium of the Pacific
Established	1998
Location	Long Beach, California
Type	Public aquarium
Visitors	1,500,000 (approximate annual)
Director	Dr. Jerry Schubel

Aquarium of the Pacific The Aquarium of the Pacific is a major public aquarium located in Long Beach, California on the Los Angeles Harbor waterfront. It serves as a regional hub for marine exhibitry and outreach connected to institutions such as the California State University, Long Beach, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and civic partners including the Port of Long Beach and the City of Long Beach. The institution engages with national and international organizations including the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the World Wildlife Fund.

Overview

The Aquarium emphasizes species and habitats of the Pacific Ocean, with interpretive themes spanning the California Current, the Gulf of Alaska, the Sea of Cortez, and the Coral Triangle. Its collections include pelagic, benthic, estuarine, and reef assemblages featuring taxa such as California sea lion, great white shark relatives (juvenile and educational programs), giant Pacific octopus, reef-building stony coral species, and schooling sardine analogs. The facility functions as both a tourist destination in the Los Angeles metropolitan area and a research-and-education node linked to universities like the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of Southern California, and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

History and Development

Planning and fundraising for the Aquarium began in the early 1990s with support from the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center stakeholders, the California State Coastal Conservancy, and philanthropic foundations including the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Designed by architects influenced by waterfront projects such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the New England Aquarium, construction culminated in an opening ceremony attended by officials from the City of Long Beach, representatives of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and delegations from sister institutions like the Shedd Aquarium and the Aquarium of the Americas. Over subsequent decades expansion projects and capital campaigns included collaborations with the Walt Disney Company for outreach events, grants from the National Science Foundation for exhibit-based research, and partnerships with the California Academy of Sciences for conservation initiatives.

Exhibits and Galleries

Permanent galleries include themed habitats such as the Ocean Gallery showcasing pelagic assemblages, the June Keyes Penguin Habitat with species like Magellanic penguin, and the Shore Gallery with estuarine species from the Los Angeles River and the San Gabriel River. Signature displays feature large-scale tanks modeled after ecosystems including a simulation of the Kelp Forests of California and a coral reef exhibit reminiscent of the Coral Triangle. Interactive touch pools permit supervised contact with invertebrates such as sea star, sea urchin, and sea cucumber species studied by labs at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Temporary and rotating exhibits have included collaborations honoring works by Jacques Cousteau, cultural programs related to Pacific Islander maritime traditions, and special exhibitions coordinated with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

Conservation, Research, and Education

The Aquarium operates research programs addressing issues like marine debris, ocean acidification, and fisheries assessment in cooperation with agencies including NOAA Fisheries, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and international networks such as the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network. Its conservation breeding efforts align with programs like the Association of Zoos and Aquariums species survival plans and reintroduction frameworks used by institutions such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. Education initiatives range from school field trips coordinated with the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Long Beach Unified School District to citizen science campaigns tied to projects led by the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Ocean Conservancy. Scholarly outputs and technical reports have involved co-authorship with researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Public Programs and Events

Public programming spans daily animal-feedings, behind-the-scenes tours, and seasonal festivals including Pacific-focused events drawing partners like the Long Beach Maritime Museum and cultural organizations such as the Japanese American National Museum and the Museum of Latin American Art. Nighttime and family-oriented events have involved collaborations with entertainment and media franchises including PBS and the Discovery Channel. The Aquarium hosts professional symposia and workshops with participants from institutions such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and university oceanography departments, and it has been a venue for award ceremonies associated with the California Coastal Commission.

Facilities and Visitor Information

Located adjacent to Shoreline Village and Rainbow Harbor, the Aquarium offers amenities including conference rooms for meetings with civic partners such as the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, accessible exhibits consistent with standards from the Americans with Disabilities Act, and on-site conservation labs that have hosted visiting scientists from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Visitor services include membership programs, volunteer opportunities coordinated with groups like the Surfrider Foundation and internship placements in collaboration with California State University, Long Beach's colleges. Accessibility is supported by transit connections via Los Angeles Metro and regional ferry services that link to San Pedro and downtown Long Beach.

Category:Aquaria in California Category:Buildings and structures in Long Beach, California Category:Tourist attractions in Los Angeles County, California