On February 25th, the aquarium announced they were awarded a $2 million grant from the SECU Foundation which will go towards a new education center and expanded interactive spaces.
NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher
NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher
North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
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Heard on local news today that the expansions and renovations will make Fort Fisher the largest aquarium in the state (overtaking Pine Knoll Shores), and that groundbreaking will begin later this year! Renovations are going to take place throughout the entire facility, from entrance to exit
Additional information: New expansions will make the Fort Fisher Aquarium the largest in North Carolina
On March 6th, it was announced that the aquarium (specifically the North Carolina Aquarium Society which runs the facility) received a $7.5M grant from The Endowment for the expansion. It was also announced that further, specific details about the expansion/renovations will be revealed sometime in Summer 2025.
NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher
https://theendowment.org/the-endowment-awards-7-5-million-grant-to-nc-aquarium-society/
On June 12th, the aquarium announced they released 25 Carolina gopher frogs back into the wild.
8.7K views · 203 reactions | We've been caring for them since they were egg masses, and now the NCAFF team released the first Carolina gopher frogs to the wild. This is what success looks like in the conservation of this State endangered species. | NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher
On September 15th, the aquarium announced they will be releasing 2 loggerhead sea turtles back into the wild in the upcoming weeks.
74K views · 1.2K reactions | It's time to say farewell to Maris & Atlas, yearling loggerhead sea turtles. They've been with us for a year and now the veterinary team has cleared them for release. Reserve tickets and wish them godspeed: https://www.ncaquariums.com/tickets-ff | NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher
8.7K views · 203 reactions | We've been caring for them since they were egg masses, and now the NCAFF team released the first Carolina gopher frogs to the wild. This is what success looks like in the conservation of this State endangered species. | NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher
On September 15th, the aquarium announced they will be releasing 2 loggerhead sea turtles back into the wild in the upcoming weeks.
74K views · 1.2K reactions | It's time to say farewell to Maris & Atlas, yearling loggerhead sea turtles. They've been with us for a year and now the veterinary team has cleared them for release. Reserve tickets and wish them godspeed: https://www.ncaquariums.com/tickets-ff | NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher
On May 8th, the aquarium announced that they will start Phase I of the $65 million expansion sometime in autumn 2025, which will include a new exhibit for sand tiger sharks (the largest shark tank in North Carolina), a new live coral tank, a new touch pool, a new education center, and a rooftop skydeck. When construction starts, the facility will be closed to the public for the foreseeable future.
NCAFF to Begin Transformative Project This Fall
Fort Fisher Aquarium to launch first phase of expansion this fall
On September 19th, the aquarium announced they acquired 2 loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings named Capri and Percy, which will go on display on September 24th.
NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher
I am so glad I got to the aquarium for the first time back in the spring after having lived in NC for over 20 years and not getting down to the coast until then. It's going to suck with NC being down a facility for what will likely be a multiyear ordeal (the Museum of History in Raleigh is also currently undergoing a simiarily-expansive overhaul), but I am very excited to see what becomes of this project.
The new Sand Tiger Shark (I assume they will be mixed with other fish?) tank sounds intriguing. I believe Pine Knoll Shores currently has the largest shark tank in North Carolina, but I actually found Fort Fisher's shark tank to be the best of the 3. Also really hoping this expansion also includes an overhaul of the Cape Fear Conservatory; I am not going to lie, I was slightly disappointed by it.
Local_Shark
Well-Known Member
I made it up to Fort Fisher on a brief detour from Myrtle Beach three years ago (the only time I’ve been able to go to NC) and I quite agree, I very much enjoyed their shark tank! This is a nice surprise, I am very interested to see the renderings that come about for it. I truly hope they consider some unique animals to mix in with the sand tigers if possible; for example, we now know that finetooth sharks can manage captivity, as it seems the Daytona Aquarium has had one a little while. They’re much more unique than sandbars and blacknoses, and commonly found off NC despite their rarity in captivity. I’d love to see someone else give them a try.
Hopefully, that “someone else” will be a more reputable facility when compared to Daytona.
Local_Shark
Well-Known Member
One can only wish…a facility that would actually study such a unique and rarely-observed animal in captivity would certainly be my preference. It kind of boggles my mind that so many large and reputable aquaria with suitable exhibits for sharks are in the species’ range (South Carolina, Florida, any of the three North Carolinas, Virginia, and even places like the New York and National Aquarium all come to mind), yet none exhibit them. I do hope that’ll change someday.
I have the ear of FL Aquarium....I will try and reach out to see if they have any thoughts.
Local_Shark
Well-Known Member
You have no idea how appreciative I’d be of that haha. They’d look amazing in the Coral Reef…
(They probably would have to grow them out a bit elsewhere so the sand tigers didn’t cause trouble, BUT I’m sure there are other sharks and large fish that are either in there or have been there before that sand tigers would interact with in the wild)
Perhaps they could put them in the Shorelines large tank, or even the large tank in the Waves of Wonder area? The Shorelines tank has previously had bonnethead sharks but now houses french grunt, Gulf toadfish, porkfish, butter hamlet, jackknife fish, and a few others.You have no idea how appreciative I’d be of that haha. They’d look amazing in the Coral Reef…
(They probably would have to grow them out a bit elsewhere so the sand tigers didn’t cause trouble, BUT I’m sure there are other sharks and large fish that are either in there or have been there before that sand tigers would interact with in the wild)
The Aquarium is to close in early 2026 for the renovation project.
https://www-wect-com.cdn.ampproject...tputType=amp&_js_v=0.1&_gsa=1#webview=1
https://www-wect-com.cdn.ampproject...tputType=amp&_js_v=0.1&_gsa=1#webview=1
From the article:
That's interesting.
