Kickstarter

The Biomes Marine Biology Center has been educating school children and families about animals that live in the bays and oceans of Southern New England since 1989. Our sole function is to promote environmental conservation awareness through education. The philosophy of this mission is that the oceans can only be preserved if the public has a personal relationship with its inhabitants. We provide that at Biomes by being the most hands-on aquarium in New England, and one of the most hands-on facilities in the country.

After sixteen years at our current 2000 sq/ft location, this fall we are moving to a new 12,000 sq/ft facility, and this provides us with the opportunity to greatly expand our exhibits. The task is daunting, and one of the most challenging types of live animal lessons is creating commercial fisheries exhibits.

Your contribution will allow us to design and build several displays that will actually show the commercial fishing process in progress, which will be seen by an estimated 25,000 visitors each year. From the aquaculture of oysters using a miniature version of a real oyster farm, to a tank with a functioning lobster pot, showing lobsters entering the trap seeking bait. Exhibits showing rare color morphs of lobsters and the power of open sport fish will be observed by students from only inches away will also be designed.

One of our most exciting displays will be our collaboration with the University of Rhode Island's archeology department. This exhibit will feature a scale model of an actual Rhode Island shipwreck and how these wrecks form artificial reefs, providing habitats for a huge variety of species, and resource opportunities for both recreational and commercial fishermen.

We also plan the expansion of our unique "Octopus Academy", where we train these remarkable and extremely intelligent invertebrates in all kinds of cognitive and problem solving exercises. Watch our famous graduate "Ruby", who was featured on the PBS series Nova here.

To learn more about the Biomes Center, visit our website.