North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher

The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, located in Kure Beach, North Carolina, is one of three public aquariums in the state managed by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Since opening its doors in 1976, the aquarium has educated visitors about aquatic life from freshwater rivers and swamps to offshore waters, focusing on the diverse habitats of the Cape Fear region.

Visitors to the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher can explore a variety of exhibits that replicate natural habitats. The "Cape Fear Shoals" exhibit offers a 235,000-gallon tank filled with sharks, stingrays, and other species. Other exhibits feature habitats such as a freshwater stream, a salt marsh and tidal flats, a maritime forest, and a rare white sand beach. Interactive experiences include touch tanks with horseshoe crabs and starfish, daily dive shows, and animal encounters.

The aquarium is actively involved in conservation efforts and operates several programs dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of injured animals. This includes a sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation center, which helps injured, sick, and orphaned sea turtles. The aquarium also participates in Species Survival Plans for animals like the loggerhead sea turtle and hellbender salamanders, and it promotes conservation through educational programs and exhibits.