Aquarium of the Bay is a  nonprofit marine nature center that creates experiences that inspire conservation of the San Francisco Bay and its watershed.  The Aquarium is an affiliate of The Bay Institute, a nonprofit organization that has successfully developed and led research, science, education and advocacy programs to revitalize San Francisco Bay’s imperiled ecosystems for nearly 30 years. Together, these two 501(c)(3) nonprofits protect, restore and inspire conservation of San Francisco Bay, from the Sierra to the sea.

Strongly emphasizing conservation, research and education as its key priorities, the Aquarium's exhibits focus on the Bay's diverse aquatic animals and distinctive ecosystems.  The Aquarium hosts nearly 600,000 visitors each year, and provides free classes and tours to more than 15,000 Bay Area school children annually.

The 65,000 square foot facility features 300 feet of crystal clear acrylic tunnels holding over 700,000 gallons of filtered Bay water that is home to over 20,000 aquatic animals, including sharks, bat rays and skates.  New exhibits installed in April 2009 include an octopus exhibit, a jellies exhibit and PG&E Bay Lab, an interactive climate change exhibit.

Reflecting our emphasis on conservation, the Aquarium is a Certified Green Business.  The San Francisco Green Business Program seeks to achieve a healthier and cleaner environment by helping businesses integrate environmental responsibility into their operations in a manner that is sustainable as well as profitable.

The Aquarium is also accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
(AZA), a difficult-to-achieve indicator that it has met AZA's exacting standards
for animal management and care, including living environments, social groupings, health and nutrition.

Our research efforts include shark tagging and captive breeding programs.  Our Sevengill Shark research program is aimed at helping scientists better understand how these regal animals  fit into the Bay's ecosystem and what actions need to be taken to ensure they thrive.