Opened in 1998, the Alaska SeaLife Center operates as a 501(c)(3), non-profit research institution and public aquarium in Seward, Alaska. The Center generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems. The Center is Alaska's only permanent marine mammal rehabilitation facility and responds to animals in distress along 34,000 miles of coastline.
The coronavirus pandemic and its effects have been uniquely devastating for the Alaska SeaLife Center. While our non-profit mission includes marine research, education, and wildlife response, we earn the majority of our revenue over the summer. It’s obvious this summer tourism season is just not going to be the same. ASLC expects annual visitor revenues to be reduced by 70%.
In addition to being a top destination for Alaska’s visitors, the Center is a home for invaluable research about the ocean, arctic and subarctic marine wildlife, climate change, and more. It’s the state’s only permitted facility to respond to stranded marine mammals. It’s an important part of Alaska’s science education system, providing educational opportunities and research to students all around the state and around the world through distance programs.
