Please note that this website is no longer being maintained.

A public aquarium is a window on an underwater world that, however fascinating, is remote and inaccessible for most people. By providing glimpses of the life that teems below the surface of the water, whether on a coral reef or in a local stream, an aquarium informs and educates. In particular, an aquarium can help its visitors understand the diversity and fragility of the living communities that lie, largely unseen, over two thirds of the planet.

The pollution of our oceans and rivers, as well as overfishing and fishing techniques that damage the environment, all pose an increasing threat to aquatic species and ecosystems everywhere. A wider public understanding of the links between a healthy natural environment and a sustainable future for humankind becomes increasingly urgent. Aquariums worldwide are responding to this challenge. This website aims to provide a directory of aquariums of the United Kingdom, highlighting the activities and special features of each one. It also includes news and information on some non-UK aquariums and on the conservation and management of aquatic habitats globally.

Site updated 9 March 2004