NEW HANOVER COUNTY — The North Carolina Aquarium Society received a $25,000 grant from New Hanover County which will help fund the expansion and renovation of the Aquarium at Fort Fisher.
The board of commissioners presented the award at Discovery Bay, the satellite location of the Fort Fisher Aquarium at Independence Mall, which closed in May for renovations. The contribution will go towards new habitats, visitor experiences and the like and will support “Beneath the Surface: The Campaign for the NC Aquariums,” which raises funds to fuel enhancements across the state’s aquariums.
“The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher has long been a pillar of the New Hanover County community,” Chair LeAnn Pierce said. “We’re proud to support its next chapter and the role this expansion will play in educating future generations about our sea life and protecting the environment it depends on.”
Once completed, the Fort Fisher Aquarium will be the largest in the state, with a 400,000-gallon shark habitat, a new coral habitat, an interactive touch pool and a new education center.
“Support from New Hanover County is helping us build an exciting future at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher,” Fort Fisher Aquarium Director Joanna Zazzalli said. “We’re grateful for our fundraising partners at the NC Aquarium Society and for the county’s investment in new opportunities to spark curiosity, advance conservation, and connect people with the aquatic world.”
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