Oregon Coast Aquarium

Marine life exhibitions and care - the Aquarium maintains and cares for over 500 species of animals in stunning indoor and outdoor exhibits at its 30-acre marine facility. Some of the current exhibits include passages of the deep, seals & sea lions, jellies, sea otters, giant pacific octopus, seabird aviary, and others. The primary function of the animal husbandry department is to provide care and a healthy environment for the marine animals. The department is responsible for all aspects of animal husbandry, life support, rehabilitation, animal collection, transport, and all dive programs associated with the Aquarium.

Education and outreach - the Aquarium offers onsite, online and outreach education programs, including virtual field trips and career explorations. The Aquarium partners with lincoln county school district (lcsd) on an ocean literacy initiative posting teacher resources with grade-specific lessons linked to national ocean literacy principles and Oregon state standards. The Aquarium has a youth volunteer program that trains summer interpreters and offers winter projects. The Aquarium, in collaboration with lcsd, modified the youth volunteer program to train bilingual natural history interpreters. On-site, the Aquarium facilitates behind-the-scenes tours and school field trips as well as a variety of added-value programs such as narrated pelican presentations. Continued on schedule o.funded by imls, the Aquarium's educators use animal "ambassadors" to teach visitors about coastal wildlife, and instill empathy toward misunderstood species.

Visitor services and marketing - the Aquarium provides information and related services to visitors, students, researchers, scholars, and others interested in the Aquarium's exhibits, programs, and other activities. In addition, the Aquarium conducts broader efforts to communicate with the general public about marine life and Oregon's coastal ecosystems, and promote the Aquarium's educational programs and services.