The Florida Aquarium Celebrates 30 Years of Conservation, Education, and Community Impact

TAMPA, FL (February 28, 2025) – The Florida Aquarium proudly celebrates its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of marine conservation leadership, engaging education initiatives, and immersive exhibits. Since opening the cultural attraction in downtown Tampa on March 31, 1995, the Aquarium has become a cornerstone of the community, fostering a guest experience that entertains and connects people to nature.

“In 1995, The Florida Aquarium opened its doors, ushering in a new era for Tampa Bay and established the region as a globally recognized destination with a world-class public aquarium,” said President and CEO Roger Germann. “Now 30 years later, the dream has been realized as we have welcomed more than 20 million guests, educated nearly 2 million schoolchildren, served as the catalyst for the multibillion-dollar revitalization of downtown Tampa, boosted our economy and improved our quality of life, and saved marine life in our backyard waterways and around the planet.”

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VIDEO AND PHOTOS OF THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM’S GROWTH
THROUGHOUT THE DECADES

Courtesy: The Florida Aquarium

Three Decades of Evolution and Impact

Over the past 30 years, the Aquarium has achieved remarkable milestones, including:

• The Beginning: The Florida Aquarium opened its doors in 1995 to visitors in the Tampa Bay area and brought a positive economic impact of $60 million to the community in its first year of operation.

• Abundant Animal Species: Expanding from 3,036 animals representing 249 species in 1995 to nearly 19,000 animals across 671 species today.
• Conservation Leadership: Pioneering groundbreaking research in coral reproduction leading to world-first scientific advancements at the Coral Conservation and Research Center, as well as rescuing, recovering, rehabilitating, and releasing more than 450 endangered sea turtles at the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center.
• Award-Winning Education Programs:Engaging nearly 2 million students and the community through field trips, summer camps, sleepovers, and outreach initiatives.

• 30-year Staff, Volunteers and Animals:Two employees, two volunteer divers, five box turtles, a Florida red-bellied turtle, and a green moray have been with the Aquarium from the beginning!

“While our achievements and contributions are many, our best days are still ahead of us as we open our newest exhibit featuring animals from the rugged coastline later this summer, expand our penguin colony, and bring Pacific puffins and California sea lions to the region for the first time as part of our $45 million Sea Change expansion,” said Germann. “Thank you, Tampa Bay, for 30 years of believing in us, for visiting us, and for supporting us. You have made The Florida Aquarium a success and one of the preeminent public aquariums in the world.”

Looking Ahead: The Future of The Florida Aquarium

As part of the multi-year SeaChange expansion, The Florida Aquarium is introducing transformative guest experiences, including:

• Phase 1: MORPH’D, presented by PAR in the Mosaic Exhibit Hall, an interactive exhibit showcasing unique animals that adapted over time to survive (opened in summer 2023).
• Phase 2: A redesigned second floor mezzanine featuring a larger touch experience and a tide pool water feature (coming summer 2025).
• Phase 3: Florida’s only Pacific puffin habitat, presented by the Vinik Family Foundation, featuring a kelp forest, variety of fish, and expansive viewing windows.
• Phase 4: A state-of-the-art sea lion exhibit, presented by The Mosaic Company, bringing California sea lions to the west coast of Florida for the first time, along with an expanded African penguin habitat.

Join Us at the Aquarium

The Florida Aquarium invites the Tampa Bay community to mark this special milestone by visiting, sharing memories, and participating in special anniversary programs throughout 2025. To celebrate this historic milestone, The Florida Aquarium is offering an exclusive promotion:

• $30 to Celebrate Thirty Years: Throughout March, residents of Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties can enjoy a $30 admission ticket, thanks to presenting sponsor Ferman Automotive Group.
  • This promotion is only available for reservations made at least 24 hours in advance. Please visit this link for tickets and follow the Aquarium on social media for exclusive content, historical highlights and behind-the-scenes stories.

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Contact The Florida Aquarium communications@flaquarium.org