Conservation Efforts

at the Aquarium and Beyond

Our vision is to serve as a trusted resource for ocean education and conservation in the Pacific Northwest, and we strongly believe in leading by example—not just saying, but doing. We continuously work to educate the public on best wildlife and ocean conservation practices, to engage in conservation research and outreach efforts, and to reduce our own environmental impact.

At Oregon Coast Aquarium, we believe that protecting our Blue Planet starts with Going Green. Our oceans are heavily impacted by our actions on land. The invasion of millions of tons of plastics into the sea, a changing climate, and habitat loss have all taken a serious toll on marine life.

Learn more about our efforts:

The Aquarium is fortunate to be located in close proximity to, and partner with, scientific, educational, and environmental organizations, including: OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon Coast STEM Hub, Oregon Sea Grant, Oregon Coast Community College, Lincoln County School District, NOAA National Marine Fisheries, International Veterinary Association, Surfrider Foundation, SOLVE and Oregon and Washington Departments of Fish and Wildlife.

As a collective, we contribute to and lead valuable formal and informal marine science education, research, and conservation efforts. We have hosted beach cleanups, worked with Surfrider in their advocation for a plastic bag ban in Newport (which passed on a state level) and assisted OSU in retrieving technical scientific equipment from the bottom of the ocean with our expert dive team.

Join A Beach Cleanup!

Make a difference this summer! Join a local SOLVE beach cleanup in your area, or head over to the coast for one happening here!

You can also join the Rotary Club of Newport during summer 2026 as they host daily clean up efforts here in Newport.

Our conservation reach extends far beyond our home on Yaquina Bay:

We provide the official dive team for the Oregon Marine Reserve Program and are dedicated to regularly conducting dive surveys to understand the long-term changes and conservation outcomes of the reserves over time.
Our dive staff are a trusted resource for identifying marine life found in Oregon’s waters, and developed the most comprehensive, state-of-the-art training program for divers in Oregon.
The Oregon Coast Aquarium embarked on a collaborative study with other AZA-accredited partner institutions to survey seven-gill shark populations all along the west coast. Read full article »
Our animal care team discovered a way to effectively treat animals in our care for Sea Star Wasting Disease. They are also monitoring a newly discovered population of young sunflower stars in Yaquina Bay. Read full article »
The Aquarium recruits and trains over 200 volunteer interpreters, divers, educators and animal care providers from throughout Oregon who serve thousands of hours to keep the Aquarium open 364 days a year.
We are one of only three facilities in the Pacific Northwest, and the only facility in Oregon, authorized to provide rehabilitation care for endangered marine species.
As a member of the Aquarium Conservation Partnership (ACP), the Aquarium has committed to documenting its carbon emissions and developing a strategy for reduction. In reducing our carbon emissions, we’re joining the collective effort to mitigate climate impacts, with the goal of supporting a healthier ocean. The Aquarium is working with the Verdis Group, an ACP partner who specializes in this vital work.
Understanding our own impacts on the ocean, we are actively working to reduce our single use plastics, reduce our carbon emissions, and sustainably source our seafood products.

Around the world, marine life and ocean health face a variety of threats. AZA accredited zoos and aquariums have an important role to play in conserving the ocean for generations to come. Although the aim of conservation is to protect and restore habitats in the wild, thereby saving species and ecosystems, Aquariums serve as a resource to connect people with marine life and inspire a desire to protect the ocean. Conservation activities enhance this objective— zoos and aquariums play a major part in education, the provision of holding facilities for fish, wildlife rehabilitation, and the breeding of some threatened species under human care.

The Oregon Coast Aquarium is the only aquarium in Oregon accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), which has been maintained since 2001. The Aquarium is among 240 institutions that meets the AZA professional standards in animal care, education, scientific research and conservation. Partnering with institutions of higher learning, wildlife organizations and local veterinarians, the Oregon Coast Aquarium provides practical research opportunities and in-field learning experiences for graduate students and interns interested in environmental impact, animal care and wildlife rehabilitation.