New England Aquarium Debuts New Live Coral Exhibit, “Healthy Corals, Healthy Reefs”

The New England Aquarium has unveiled a new exhibit, "Healthy Corals, Healthy Reefs," featuring a 15-foot, nearly 5,000-gallon tank showcasing live corals native to the Indo-Pacific. The exhibit includes angelfish, butterfly fish, wrasses, surgeonfish, and reef invertebrates, many of which are new to the aquarium. Three smaller jewel tanks provide an up-close look at rotating coral reef elements. Interactive features offer multi-sensory experiences, catering to tactile and visually impaired visitors, with coral-inspired structures for engagement. The display is wheelchair-accessible and child-friendly, with a low-set viewing window. Aquarists cultivated the corals by replicating optimal natural conditions, carefully designing the rocky habitat and placing corals based on their needs for light and water flow.

The New England Aquarium’s new coral exhibit seeks to dispel the misconception that corals are plants, highlighting their importance as animals crucial to ocean and reef health. It educates visitors on the conditions corals need to thrive and emphasizes conservation efforts to protect them, aiming to inspire action to safeguard marine ecosystems. According to Vikki N. Spruill, the Aquarium’s President and CEO, corals are home to thousands of species and support a quarter of all marine life, making coral conservation essential. The exhibit will evolve over time as the living corals grow, offering visitors a dynamic and ever-changing experience that underscores their role as the foundation of marine ecosystems. To learn more, head to New England Aquarium’s article https://www.neaq.org/about-us/press-room/press-releases/aquarium-debuts-new-live-coral-exhibit-healthy-corals-healthy-reefs/