This holiday season the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island is collecting gifts for our four legged friends at the Outer Banks SPCA.

Starting Tuesday, December 1 through December 22, the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island will be accepting donations with free admission given to any individual bringing in 7 lbs. or more of dry food, puppy or kitten chow and dog or cat food.

So, help us spread the holiday cheer to our furry friends at the Outer Banks SPCA by making your generous donation today.

For more information call 252-473-3494 or visit www.ncaquariums.com.

Island Grille chefs dish up their culinary expertise with seafood in the next session of the Aquarium’s Succulent Seafood series on Monday, Nov. 9. Succulent Seafood takes participants to local restaurants for a first-hand look at how the professionals prepare their favorite recipes for local fish, shellfish and crustaceans. Participants also learn about conservation and the life cycles of various seafood species.

The two-hour sessions begin at 2 p.m. on selected Mondays, and culminate in a taste-test. Future sessions include the Crab’s Claw and Riverside Steakhouse . The cost is $15 per person, per class, and advance registration is required.

The N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher’s eighth annual Trick or Treat Under the Sea was a huge success thanks to the community, vendors and donors. Over 3,400 visitors enjoyed indoor trick-or-treating from local businesses and organizations that decorated booths set up among the exhibits and galleries.

For two nights, kids of all ages also enjoyed a magic show by No Sleeves Magic Camp, played games, saw alligators bobbing for apples, fishes munching on jack-o-lanterns and scary divers in the Aquarium’s 235,000 gallon Cape Fear Shoals tank.

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Hear how you can catch the heavyweights using light tackle techniques. An Aquarium fishing clinic on Saturday, Nov. 7, features local angling expert Bryan Goodwin. Goodwin shares his expertise on light tackle as well as tips on how to find the best inshore fishing spots in Carteret County.

“Anybody can catch fish,” said Goodwin. “The hardest part is finding the fish, and that’s my specialty.”

As an eighth generation fisherman in Carteret County, Goodwin has spent more than 25 years as a fishing professional. Goodwin owns and operates Native Guide Service and Liquid Video Productions. He produces two local fishing shows - “The Coastal Carolina Fishing Report” and “Down East Outdoors.”

The clinic is at the Aquarium from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m., and is free with admission or membership. Advance registration is not required. For more information on the clinic, contact Educator Todd Spangler at ext. 288. The Aquarium also offers weekly hands-on surf and pier fishing lessons for modest fees and a one-day comprehensive course in the spring - click here for more information.

The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores waives admission fees for all visitors on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11. No affiliation with the military, past or current, is required to enjoy the day among the animals and exhibits. The Aquarium is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. as usual.

Veterans Day is one of two days reserved each year for the public to visit any of the three state-operated Aquariums without charge. The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, which falls on Jan. 18 in 2010, also is designated for free admission.

The Aquariums allow free admission for all visitors on these two holidays to guarantee that everyone, regardless of financial ability, can enjoy the Aquariums.

In addition to the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, the state operates the Aquarium at Fort Fisher and the Aquarium on Roanoke Island.  The Aquariums Division is administered by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The Aquariums work together to inspire appreciation and conservation of North Carolina’s aquatic environments.

Click the photo to see how much solar energy these panels are capturing.

The Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is on the beam when it comes to energy conservation.

Solar panels near the Aquarium entrance silently harness the power of the sun. The residential-scale panels meet a small percentage of the facility’s power needs with an environmentally friendly energy source. The panels, placed at the front of the building so visitors can see them at close range, are also an educational exhibit.

“The system is a visible and functional representation of the Aquarium’s commitment to conservation and education,” said Pat McNeese, the Aquarium’s Conservation and Research Coordinator.

A live read-out on the amount of solar energy being collected can be viewed via the web-based Sunpower® monitor. The monitor also provides cumulative totals, and a scorecard of reduced emissions. (more…)

SORRY! DINNER WITH SANTA IS SOLD OUT.

Dine with the fishes and tell Santa your wishes during a holiday evening for families and children on Friday, Dec. 11. Tickets are now available for the Aquarium’s first “Dinner with Santa.”

The highlight of the night, of course: Every child gets a chance to whisper requests in Santa’s ear. Santa and his helpful elves set up a little piece of the North Pole by the Living Shipwreck to receive their young guests. A souvenir photo of each child’s encounter is provided. (more…)

Goliath grouper

The Pew Environment Group presents its views on sustainable fishing in a free program at the Aquarium on Wednesday, Nov. 18, starting at 3 p.m. “Was Mother Wrong? What’s happened to all the fish in the sea?” explores threats to fish populations, the economic and environmental value of healthy fisheries, governmental and scientific roles in fisheries management, and how the public can help ensure sustainable fish populations for future generations.

Leda Dunmire, Pew Environment Group outreach coordinator for its campaign against overfishing in the Southeast, presents a slideshow and leads an open discussion of fisheries issues. Light snacks and beverages will be served.  The Pew Environment Group is part of the Pew Charitable Trusts. Visitors coming to the Aquarium specifically for the presentation will not be charged the usual admission fees — check in at the admissions window for directions to Clearwater Classroom.

From jellyfish, sea turtles, alligators, seahorses, fishes to snakes, Aquababies Weekend on November 21 and 22 from 9 am - 5 pm each day is your chance to see NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher’s tiniest residents not yet on exhibit.

Did you know that the Aquarium facilitates its own propagation efforts? And, that many smaller fishes were collected throughout the summer? Also, see unique radiographs of pregnant animals.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of Education awarded the North Carolina Aquarium Society $580,000 for the Aquarium at Fort Fisher’s proposal “Using marine mammals to communicate solutions to ocean issues”. The Aquarium plans to increase public understanding and appreciation of the interconnectedness of people and the environment, with a focus on climate change impacts, through statewide outreach using a portable, inflatable GeoDome theater and an on-site exhibit upgrade.

The Aquarium will work in collaboration with the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, the Elumenati LLC, University of North Carolina Wilmington and Duke University Marine Laboratory to develop marine mammal and climate change programs for GeoDome presentations. Ultimately, teenagers aged 14-17 will become engaged in climate and ocean literacy through a better understanding of marine mammals.