North Carolina Aquariums (North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores)

The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores will provide conservation and sustainability education about aquaculture, sustainable fisheries, and coral propagation through a new exhibition and related activities. The Future Waters exhibit will feature multimedia experiences to showcase the “behind-the-scenes” work of aquarists, a 750-gallon habitat featuring a sustainable fisheries project, and an interactive opportunity to engage with the coral rearing area of the aquarium. Paid interns will provide interpretation to the public, while working in the visible labs within the exhibit. The aquarium will also host a two-day symposium to share best practices in raising fish and corals and build a collaborative team to further aquaculture and coral rearing efforts throughout the industry. Project results will be shared through journal articles and conference presentations and visitors will have increased knowledge of conservation tools available to help preserve aquatic habitats.