January 13, 2022
ALABAMA AQUARIUM at the DAUPHIN ISLAND SEA LAB
102 Bienville Blvd, Dauphin Island, AL 36528
“The Alabama Aquarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab formerly named the Estuarium, is an exciting educational venue highlighting the four key habitats of coastal Alabama: the Mobile Tensaw River Delta, Mobile Bay, the Barrier Islands, and the Northern Gulf of Mexico. It includes the 10,000 square foot Exhibit Hall, a 7,000-gallon stingray touch pool, and the Living Marsh Boardwalk. This facility has 31 aquariums totaling over 30,000 gallons with more than 100 species on display. The Alabama Aquarium showcases the plants, animals, and other natural resources found in the estuary and its surrounding marine habitats.” Alabama Aquarium website
This is a nice, small, aquarium sitting right on the Gulf of Mexico on Dauphin Island. It doesn’t have the huge showcase tanks the other aquariums I’ve visited have had, but it does just what it advertises showing the fish, plants, and animals of the coastal area of Alabama. It is also set up as an educational venue rather than just a place to see fish. If one wants to learn about the eco-systems of the area and how to protect them, this is the place to come.
I liked this sculpture near the entrance to the Estuarium.
A baby alligator
The tank where one can touch a ray if you'd like.
Coral reef with a Clown Fish trying to hide.
This is what most of the aquarium looked like. Tanks with much educational signage around.
Can you see the frog?
A Blue Crab
A Longnose Batfish
Lionfish. These venomous fish native to the Indo-Pacific, are an invasive species of fish who have found their way to the Atlantic and Gulf coastal areas. They threaten native fish and the environment so some states have incentives to fishermen to catch and eliminate as many Lionfish as possible.
One of the pieces of artwork made from bottlecaps. I didn't see a sign, but I assume these are made from things found in the Gulf of Mexico.