Florida Aquarium announces $40M expansion with a new habitat

Brittany Caldwell
·1 min read

For the first time on the west coast of Florida, the Florida Aquarium will feature sea lions as part of its expansion.

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This $40 million project will redesign the space and add new exhibits, including a large outdoor sea lion exhibit.

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This will be the first major expansion with new exhibits since the Tampa aquarium opened in 1995.

The project will be completed in three phases and will start next year.

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Phase one will transform the Mosaic Center into a special exhibit hall. Phase two will feature a variety of fish and a two-level puffin habitat. The third phase will be the most lengthy expansion for the sea lion exhibit, where guests can have underwater viewing windows and an outdoor park environment.

“We are reinvigorating The Florida Aquarium by creating innovative and immersive habitats and exhibits, providing captivating guest experiences and expanding our dynamic animal collection,” said Roger Germann, president and CEO.

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Florida Aquarium said its mission is to connect people to the marine world and help global conservation.

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