The Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea is a not-for-profit aquarium and marine education centre that focuses on the ecosystem of the Salish Sea.

Exhibits

Aquarium

Aquarium

Gallery of Drifters

This exhibit shows many species of jelly fish, plankton, and algae (ocean drifters) to help visitors understand the foundations of the ocean food web in the Salish Sea. Species in this exhibit include Sea nettles and Moon Jellys.

Ocean’s Heartbeat

This wet lab and classroom is used by school groups, though ordinary visitors are welcome when it is not in use. It contains microscopes for visitors to view the mini-ecosystems habitats, and a teacher’s desk with a fish tank inside. The area is also used to house new-born fish and contain bones of whales.  Lastly, the exhibit contains a 60-cm female fetus of a hybrid Harbour and Dall’s Porpoise that was discovered from a dead female Dall’s Porpoise on Southern Vancouver Island in 1998.

Gallery of the Salish Sea

This exhibit is home to hundreds of species of fish, invertebrates, and marine plants from the Salish Sea, including Giant Pacific Octopus, Wolf Eel, Rock greenling, Painted greenling, Pacific Herring, Chinook Salmon, King Crab.

Touch Pools

Using only one finger, visitors can gently touch a sea urchin and be tickled by a sea star while they are being taught by volunteers known as the Oceaneers. At the same time visitors will be able to view the Gulf Islands, the Salish Sea and