Birch Aquarium in La Jolla Announces New Permanent ‘Living Seas’ Exhibit
Birch Aquarium in La Jolla has announced that it will be reimagining its existing “Hall of Fishes” exhibit into an immersive experience called Living Seas.
The Birch Aquarium, which is part of UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography, announced Living Seas on Wednesday. Reportedly, the new exhibit will be the largest capital improvement since the aquarium was built in 1992.
Living Seas will replace the Hall of Fishes exhibit, which has welcomed more than 12 million guests over the past 30 years. In a statement, Birch Aquarium Executive Director Harry Helling said that he’s excited to “introduce future generations to Living Seas, which has been in the works for years.”
The new exhibit will focus on a journey across the West Coast to uncover the magic and wonder of the Pacific Ocean. It will include expanded viewing windows, new digital displays, and immersive projections that will let guests “dive into the dynamic ecosystems of our coast.”
For example, the experience will begin in the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest with a Giant Pacific Octopus Habitat before moving on to the Giant Kelp Forests of Coastal California. Additionally, guests will be able to get a behind-the-scenes look at the cutting-edge science happening at Scripps Pier and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
Of course, moving the nearly 4,000 animals in the Hall of Fishes exhibit while renovations are complete will be no small feat. Starting Sept. 3, experts with the aquarium’s Animal Care Team will begin relocating beloved animals to temporary homes.
The entire Birch Aquarium will be closed from Sept. 30 through Oct. 3 while it prepares for the Living Seas renovations. While the new exhibit is being completed, there will still be plenty to do at the aquarium — including a new Embodied Pacific: Ocean Unseen offering that will kick off on Oct. 4.
The Living Seas exhibit will be open by summer 2025. In the meantime, check out our top tips for a visit to Birch Aquarium.
Media credit: Images courtesy of aquarium.ucsd.edu
Mike Peterson is a writer, editor, and strategist based in San Diego. When he’s not writing and editing the La Jolla news, you can often find him practicing yoga, rock climbing, or exploring the outdoors with his wife and dog.
