Birch Aquarium Announces Living Seas Transformation

La Jolla, CA (August 21, 2024)—Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego today announced Living Seas, a reimagined exhibition that will replace the aquarium’s famed Hall of Fishes next summer. The exhibition, the largest capital improvement since the aquarium was built in 1992, invites guests to journey through the Pacific Ocean in order to inspire a love of nature, a sense of place and ocean optimism. 

“Generations of San Diegans have been inspired by our Hall of Fishes and I can’t wait to introduce future generations to Living Seas, which has been in the works for years,” said Executive Director Harry Helling. 

Over the last 30 years, the Hall of Fishes has welcomed more than 12 million guests from around the world and now the aquarium is inviting the community to visit the Hall of Fishes one more time before the transformation begins. During select dates, guests will have the opportunity to contribute to a memory collection, sharing their favorite stories of the Hall of Fishes before renovations begin Sept. 29. 

“We have assembled an amazing group of scientists, experience designers, animal care experts and contractors to reimagine this iconic space,” said Helling.

Living Seas will invite guests on an unforgettable journey along the West Coast to uncover the wonders of the Pacific. With expanded viewing windows, next-gen digital displays, and immersive projections, guests will dive into the dynamic ecosystems of our coast. The experience  begins in the Pacific Northwest's cooler waters, featuring an immersive Giant Pacific Octopus habitat and captivating jellies. Next, guests will discover Coastal California in the aquarium’s signature Giant Kelp Forest and a reimagined Scripps Pier experience that provides an engaging look at cutting-edge research from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The adventure ends in the Tropical Pacific, where stunning corals, vibrant reefs and a lush mangrove habitat await. Living Seas is sure to leave guests engaged and inspired.

"Preparing for a move with nearly 4,000 animals in the Hall of Fishes is a major undertaking," said Jenn Nero, Senior Director of Animal Care and Conservation. "We strategically plan every aspect, from life support systems and animal transfers to preventative medicine, ensuring each animal's unique needs—such as temperature, social and physiological behaviors, lighting and medical requirements—are addressed."

Beginning Sept. 3, Birch Aquarium’s Animal Care Team will begin relocating beloved animals including the Giant Pacific Octopus and rescued Loggerhead Sea Turtle to temporary homes behind-the-scenes. The entire aquarium will then close for four days from Sept. 30 to Oct. 3, 2024 while the Hall of Fishes is prepared for renovation. The rest of the aquarium will reopen on Oct. 4 with Embodied Pacific: Ocean Unseen and several additional offerings that will be announced this fall. 

“While Living Seas is being renovated, there will still be plenty to see and do at Birch Aquarium,” said Helling. “In addition to our beloved Little Blue Penguins, Weedy Seadragons and Leopard Sharks, we will be opening Embodied Pacific, continuing our popular events like Oceans at Night, and launching a series of exciting new guest experiences.”

Embodied Pacific: Oceans Unseen explores ocean science through immersive art installations created through partnerships between Scripps Institution of Oceanography researchers and artists. The exhibition asks us to consider how ocean science technology is not just about “high-tech” but also very much about the everyday tools that we use to shape our understanding of the ocean’s unseen mysteries. Embodied Pacific is part of the Getty initiative PST ART: Art and Science Collide and spans six locations. 

Living Seas is slated to open in summer 2025. In the meantime, Birch Aquarium is open daily. Visit aquarium.ucsd.edu for more information including the Daily Schedule.