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The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is located on the island of Bogue Banks

The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.

in the town of Pine Knoll Shores, just west of Atlantic Beach.

The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is one of three state Aquariums and operated by the Aquariums Division of the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The other two state Aquariums are the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher and the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. All three facilities are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

History

The North Carolina Aquariums opened in 1976 as the North Carolina Marine Resources Centers. The name changed in 1986 and the facilities broadened their focus to include more public education. Visitation increased dramatically in the next few years with the rise in tourism. The General Assembly in the late 1990s appropriated $15 million for each aquarium for major expansions at each facility. The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island unveiled the results of its two-year renovation in 2000, under the theme, “The Waters of the Outer Banks.” The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher followed in 2002, with “The Waters of the Cape Fear.”

In 1999, the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores was only a few weeks behind the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher in the construction bidding process when Hurricane Floyd flooded Eastern North Carolina. The state diverted the $15 million in expansion funds for the massive recovery effort. Then the economy slumped, and funding for the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores plans stalled. In response, the North Carolina Aquarium Division and the North Carolina Aquarium Society – a membership-based, non-profit support organization for all three North Carolina Aquariums – forged a public-private partnership to raise funds for a $25 million expansion. The aquarium staff and architects revised the original design, taking advantage of lessons learned from construction at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island and the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. Construction began in January 2004. The new North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores opened May 19, 2006 under the theme, “North Carolina’s aquatic life from the mountains to the sea.”

Exhibits and Programs

A "Live Dive!" program at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.

Since reopening, the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores has continued to feature aquatic animals of North Carolina. Notable among them are three sand tiger sharks – one that measures nearly nine feet long, a green moray eel measuring about six feet long, a goliath grouper approaching four feet, and a number of nurse sharks, sandbar sharks and various game fishes.

Most of the larger creatures inhabit the Aquarium’s centerpiece exhibit, the 306,000-gallon Living Shipwreck. Along with hundreds of schooling fishes and other animals, they create a swirl of constant motion around a replica of U-352, a German submarine that lost a World War II battle with a Coast Guard cutter off the North Carolina coast. The Aquarium’s three river otters also have lived up to expectations of stardom. With the help of the public, the three were named Neuse, Pungo and Eno after North Carolina rivers. Wide viewing windows bring their playful antics and underwater agility to child-eye-level, and the lively pair enchants people of all ages.

The North Carolina Aquarium also features two hands-on exhibits: the Tidal Touch Pool, featuring a large variety of aquatic invertebrates, and Skate and Ray Encounters.

A loggerhead sea turtle that was rehabilitated and released by the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. The turtle has a special satellite transmitter on its shell to show its location in the Atlantic Ocean.

Visitors can get a glimpse of the North Carolina Aquarium’s successful sea turtle rehabilitation program in the Sea Turtle Odyssey exhibit. Each year, weak sea turtle hatchlings from nearby beaches are brought by the state Wildlife Resources Commission to the North Carolina Aquarium. Once there, they are rehabilitated and often put on exhibit until they can be released back into the wild. Some of the turtles' travels are recorded daily via satellite tag and viewable to the public at seaturtle.org

Throughout the year the North Carolina Aquarium offers free daily programs, including: live animal programs, animal feeding presentations, a “Live Dive!” show, puppet shows, quiz games and hands-on activities. A number of special activities are available for a small fee. In the summer, beginning June 1, the North Carolina Aquarium offers snorkeling, surfing classes, night treks to search for nesting sea turtles, on board collection and river cruises, kayaking and canoeing excursions, and fishing courses. Kayaking, canoing and fishing programs continue into the fall, when seafood cooking classes are also offered. Behind-the-scenes tours, Dinner with the Critters, and Breakfast with the Rays are offered year-round..