AQUARIUM NOW OPEN AT ROCKPORT HARBOR

The Aquarium at Rockport Harbor, Inc. is located at 702 Navigation Circle, Rockport, Texas 78382.  The Aquarium is a large metal building on the eastern side of Rockport Harbor.  Current visiting hours are Thursday through Monday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.  Special tours are available upon request for schools, churches, scouts, social and civic groups and other special needs.  Admission is free to all. (Dog friendly as well.)  Additional information can be obtained by contacting TPWD office at 361 729-2328. 

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Rockport Marine Lab, located on the Rockport Harbor, has housed an aquarium since it was built in 1947. The aquarium hosted over 2000 visitors a month before it was required to close in 1987, due to building structure issues. “For the past 20 years we have had visitors on a weekly basis looking for the aquarium which they visited as a child. This sustained interest and the opportunity to provide an educational outlet to many local tourists has inspired us to reopen the aquarium, “ explained Ed Hegen, Regional Director, Coastal Fisheries Division.

The Aquarium project benefited significantly from an initial cash contribution from the Aransas County Commissioners’ Court and a generous gift of surplus exhibition tanks from the Texas State Aquarium. “It is projects like this, where everyone works together, that make our community the wonderful place that it is,” states County Judge Burt Mills. “We appreciate TPWD Coastal Fisheries for their work in this project.”

Attendance has been phenomenal averaging over 1000 visitors per month.  In addition to strong local attendance and support, visitors have signed in from all 50 states and 17 foreign countries.  
The Aquarium at Rockport Harbor, Inc is officially organized as an educational non-profit, 501(c)3 tax exempt charity.  It is run totally by volunteers.  Oversight is by a board of directors and numerous committees such as volunteers, operations and exhibits/displays.  Docents are trained to provide Aquarium information during regular hours and special tours.  Training is readily available by the Volunteer Coordinator, Annette Hegen at 729-0182.  Many other opportunities exist in operating and maintaining the facility for volunteers with such interests and talents.  
The mission of the Aquarium is to provide an educational and entertaining visitor experience, for both adults and children, and promoted the understanding, conservation, and stewardship of the marine resources and environments along the Texas Gulf Coast.  Theme-based aquariums provide visitors with views of jetties, oyster reefs, offshore rigs, and seagrass meadows.  Additional smaller tanks offer special environments for local species as required.  Display cases display shell collections, numerous hands-on activities are available for children, and ample free literature covers the gamut from hurricanes to safe boating and from fish IDs to fish recipes. 
 

 Reconstruction was completed at the Aquarium in May, 2009 that included new frontage and entrance, new structural steel, new east and south sides and doors and windows, and a new roof. Several new aquarium tanks have been added and new marine species are being introduced weekly.

An Aquarium store is now open and provides an increasing variety of tourist and gift items at reasonable prices.  Yearly Aquarium memberships are now available and provide store discounts, newsletters, and an invitation to Aquarium annual meeting.  In addition to the need for volunteer and docents, all donations, tax-deductible, are greatly appreciated. 

Now You can Become a Member of the Aquarium of Rockport Harbor, Inc.!
Click Here for Details and a printable Membership Form.

For additional information, please contact virginia.pape@tpwd.state.tx.us.