Aquarium To Close To The Public For At Least Three Weeks Starting Sunday, December 6, 2020

December 5, 2020

Long Beach, California, December 5, 2020—In accordance with health orders for the region, the Aquarium of the Pacific will be closed to the public for at least three weeks starting Sunday, December 6, 2020. The Aquarium is asking the public to lend their support to help the institution survive and recover from the impacts of the closure. Donations and purchases are now needed to help the Aquarium continue its ocean conservation and education efforts and provide top-quality care for its 12,000 animals. Aquarium memberships, holiday gift purchases, and charitable donations are needed now more than ever.

During this time the Aquarium encourages people to explore its virtual offerings. The public can enjoy live and on-demand educational programming as well as activities for all ages through the Aquarium’s Online Academy. People can also tune in each weekday at 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. for live classes for kids with Aquarium educators. Everyone is invited to stay in touch with the Aquarium’s animals virtually by viewing the Aquarium’s live webcams and to take a virtual Aquarium tour with 360-degree views. The Aquarium’s YouTube channel features episodes of The Pacific Pals Show, the Guest Speaker Series, and many other on-demand videos. The Aquarium is also offering a new virtual live Behind-the-Scenes Tour of the Northern Pacific Gallery featuring the sea otters and a special Noon Year’s Eve program for families. To see the full schedule of live classes and all of the Aquarium’s other online programs, the public can visit the Online Academy page.

Essential animal care and operational staff will continue to come to the Aquarium to care for the animals and maintain the facility. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on the Aquarium’s finances throughout 2020. Due to temporary closures and reduced visitor capacity, the Aquarium has missed out on essential funds from ticket sales and other revenue related to visitation. Donations and purchases are now needed to help support the nonprofit Aquarium of the Pacific.

AQUARIUM: The nonprofit Aquarium of the Pacific is a community gathering place where diverse cultures and the arts are celebrated and where important challenges facing our planet are explored by scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders in search of sustainable solutions. The Aquarium is dedicated to conserving and building nature and nature’s services by building the interactions between and among peoples. Home to more than 12,000 animals, Aquarium exhibits include Shark Lagoon, Lorikeet Forest, June Keyes Penguin Habitat, the Molina Animal Care Center, moon jelly touch tank, and the Seals and Sea Lions Habitat. Beyond its animal exhibits, the Aquarium offers educational programs for people of all ages through its Online Academy, which is free to everyone. The Aquarium offers memberships with unlimited FREE admission for 12 months, VIP Entrance, and other special benefits. For reopening information, please visit the Aquarium’s website for the latest information at aquariumofpacific.org, follow us on social media, or call (562) 590-3100.