Aquarium of the Bay
Aquarium of the Bay is San Francisco Bay's Aquarium. We are passionate about providing fun and unforgettable encounters with our natural world in ways that ignite both wonder and conservation. We do this from our 50,000 square foot building at the heart of San Francisco's history and culture. We are nestled in the shadow of Coit Tower and Telegraph Hill on Fisherman's Wharf at PIER 39, along the City's "Walkable Waterfront."
We also own a research vessel and partner with several boat fleets to take our conservation, education and research out on the Bay. Aquarium of the Bay is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), and certified as a Green Business by the city of San Francisco.
Our Mission
Aquarium of the Bay partners with The Bay Institute to protect, restore and inspire the conservation of San Francisco Bay and its watershed, from the Sierra to the sea. Our passion and our work are locally-focused, but have a broad impact that touches upon every major challenge facing our global environment.
How do we achieve the mission?
We focus on water, beginning at the heart-the very depths-of San Francisco Bay. Our facility boasts 300 feet of crystal clear acrylic tunnels holding 700,000 gallons of carefully maintained bay water that sustains approximately 20,000 animals, from octopuses to eight-foot native, sevengill sharks. Visitors are also treated to mesmerizing walls of jellies and a chance to touch bat rays, skates and "splash zone" animals.
In our fifteen year history, over seven million guests, including more than 100,000 school children, have visited the Aquarium.
Why We're Effective
Because we concentrate on showcasing native animals from San Francisco Bay in such a beautiful, fun and personal way, we nurture emotional connections that transform into powerful personal and political action.
Because we reach over 600,000 people a year, these connections have high impact. We extend our reach through our "Conservation Impact Programs," scientifically designed efforts where we work with partners to:
- provide research on local shark populations
- bring back native salmon
- assist chefs, restaurants and consumers in selecting "Sustainable Seafood"
- remove invasive species from marine and estuary environments
- support endangered species
- combat climate-induced sea level rise
- enact policy that will create healthy fresh water flows back to San Francisco Bay
- create a series of original and ready-made temporary exhibitions that explore local and global environmental challenges: climate change, habitat loss, and unsustainable harvest.
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