Director’s Update

March 2006

After two years of renovation, the NEW Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is almost complete. As of this writing, exhibit tanks are being filled, parking lots are being paved, carpet is being installed and invitations are being printed for the grand re-opening. Friday, May 19 will be the big day, when the Aquarium will open its doors after a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:30 a.m. The public will then get a chance to come inside and experience almost 40 exhibits in five galleries that depict North Carolina’s aquatic environments “from the mountains to the sea.”

Much has been accomplished in the past few months, as Clancy & Theys Construction Company has stayed on task to complete its work. Complex plumbing and life-support systems for saltwater and freshwater systems have been installed and tested. The Aquarium’s saltwater intake pipeline and purification system has been put to work filling the two largest exhibits, the 306,000-gallon Living Shipwreck and the 50,000-gallon Queen Anne’s Revenge. Filtration systems have been started, and the water has cleared. Once the tank temperatures rise a few more degrees, Aquarium staff will begin loading fishes, eels, sharks and stingrays into the exhibits. Other aquariums throughout the facility are being prepped for startup, all set for completion in late April.

Aquarium staff members have been extremely busy these last few weeks, coordinating a sea of details so programs and exhibits will be ready for May 19. Animal collecting trips have ranged from trout expeditions in the mountains to bass tournaments in Kerr Lake to offshore shark fishing trips. New animals arrive at the Aquarium’s temporary office every week, where they are quarantined in preparation for the move into their new homes. Among the recent additions are an eight-pound spiny lobster caught off the Captain Stacy, a six-foot moray eel from the National Aquarium in Baltimore, and the Aquarium’s pair of young river otters, “Pungo” and “Neuse.”

New staff also has been arriving at the Aquarium in large numbers. Among the latest additions are Steve Broadhurst, Dive Coordinator; Chris Carlin, Volunteer Coordinator; Cindy Meyers, Visitor & Member Services Coordinator; Becky Kappel, Special Events Coordinator and Linda Morelli, Gift Shop Manager. Throughout the remainder of spring, the staff will continue to grow with the addition of security staff, cashiers, a Conservation Research Coordinator, summer interns, and a variety of part-time employees.

Ever since the Aquarium announced plans for registering volunteers, the phone has been ringing. Volunteer Coordinator Chris Carlin personally interviewed and signed up almost 200 volunteers. Most of them will work with Education programs or exhibits such as touch tanks and discovery carts. What a wonderful addition these volunteers will make to the new facility! In addition to those, Dive Coordinator Steve Broadhurst has signed on another 100 volunteers, who will be tested and trained for regular dive programs in the Living Shipwreck exhibit. Plans call for two dive shows each day, and we know from experience that these will be among the most popular programs offered in the Aquarium.

As the Aquarium prepares for reopening, a new marketing effort has been rolled out to attract the public’s attention. Publicity Coordinator Julie Powers has been working closely with local newspapers, magazines and other media to get the word out about the fabulous new displays and programs the Aquarium has to offer. Eye-catching billboards are going up on Highway 70, and new radio commercials are now starting to air in the Raleigh-Durham area. This summer, look for Aquarium ads in local visitor magazines, movie theaters, and even flying by on airplane banners. As with any major tourism attraction, promotion and advertising will help generate the kind of success the Aquarium is looking for throughout the year.

If you’re not already a member of the Aquarium, now is the time to purchase your family membership. For an annual fee of $50, you and your family can visit as many times as you like, and never have to worry about admission fees. Your membership also offers free admission to the Aquariums at Roanoke Island and Fort Fisher, free admission at the NC Zoo, and free entry at over 150 other zoos and aquariums around the country. Plus, show your membership card to receive discounts on Aquarium field trips, programs and gift shop purchases. To learn more or to join, call 800-832-FISH or see the Join the Aquarium page.

As you prepare for your visit to the new Aquarium, there are a few things you may want to consider. If you are a teacher, plan on scheduling your school class during fall 2006. School bookings during late May and early June 2006 are essentially full.

On grand opening day, May 19, expect a big crowd. Parking will be limited and we encourage carpooling. In an effort to accommodate the crowds, the Aquarium will remain open until 9 p.m. on Friday May 19 and Saturday May 20. Regular hours are 9 a.m. -- 5 p.m. The Aquarium has scheduled an ambitious variety of summer field trips, programs and camps. You can call to schedule these programs beginning on Friday, March 31, 2006. Book early, because many of our most popular programs will fill up. Be sure to check out the new “Behind-the-Scenes Tours” that offer participants the chance to help us feed the fish!

We look forward to seeing you on May 19!

Jay Barnes

Director