Join us at the Alaska SeaLife Center for a LIVESTREAM event!  Join Author/Photographer Seth Kantner and UAA Ecologist Paddy Sullivan as they share their unique perspectives, stories and photographs of dramatic changes they have observed while living and working in northwest Alaska. Topics include living with caribou, decline of the Western Arctic Herd, sea ice retreat, changes in climate, thawing permafrost, proliferation of trees and shrubs, stream degradation, and other related issues. Tickets only $10, CLICK HERE to purchase. For more info CLICK HERE

Visiting School Groups 1. Schedule your trip well in advance. When scheduling your visit, have several alternate dates selected in case your intended date is already taken. 2. Have 1 chaperone for every 10 students. We ask that you bring 1 chaperone for every 10 students. Assign groups of students to chaperones before your visit. Chaperones should keep their students with them at all times in the Center. Chaperones will actively lead groups around the facility and participate in lessons. Please have each chaperone read our Chaperone Letter for some tips to help them guide the students' learning in a positive way. 3. Make visible nametags. We have found that calling students by name makes teaching much more effective. Please make large nametags to be worn by students. Have fun with it! For example, have students create their own sea animal name tags. 4. Arrive at scheduled time. We ask that you allow time in your traveling schedule to arrive a few minutes before your scheduled program time. This will ensure that your students get sufficient time for exploration and programs. Before unloading the bus, please check in with the front desk to let us know that your group has arrived. If you think there is a possibility of being late, please contact us at 907-224-6306 to let us know. 5. Have students ready to give attention to our Educators. Upon your arrival we will go over the rules of the Center and our expectations of your group. We will then give instructions for the overall itinerary of your group's visit. We look forward to seeing you !  

Seward, Alaska (March 18, 2015) - The Alaska SeaLife Center got a special delivery last week! Mara, an 11-year-old female, is the latest addition to ASLC's Steller sea lion family. Mara arrived on February 12 from the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut. She was originally part of a research study at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Aquarium. Here at the Center, Mara will join our Steller sea lion breeding program. The study focuses on the maternal care of females, as part of the Center’s research to better understand this endangered species. ASLC Marine Mammal Scientist Dr. Lori Polasek and her team are looking at the energetic cost of raising a pup from conception to weaning through hormone levels, pregnancy detection, and pup care. So far, Mara has been exploring her new home and loves to play with her enrichment toys. Our animal care team will slowly introduce her to other resident sea lions before putting her on habitat. Dr. Polasek and her team are hoping for a successful encounter this summer with male Steller sea lion Pilot.              

It’s Plastic Free July! Join the effort to reduce your single-use plastic and help keep plastic out of Resurrection Bay by joining fellow community members and the ASLC Staff for three beach cleanups in the month of July. ASLC staff will have educational resources so you can learn how to reduce your own plastic consumption, prizes, and more at the community beach cleanups!   Thursday, July 18, 2024; 5 - 7 p.m. Meet at the tent near Branson Pavilion Park No sign-up is required for participation. Guests under 18 must come with an adult or legal guardian. Gloves, trash bags, and hand sanitizing stations will be provided!   Other beach clean-ups this month: Saturday, July 27, 2024; 12 - 2 p.m. Meet at the tent near Lowell Point Beach Wednesday, July 31, 2024; 5 - 7 p.m. Meet at the tent near the Seward culvert (Scheffler Creek Bridge).

A limited number of tickets will be available at the door. Doors open at 6:15 pm, you must have photo ID for this 21+ event. Online ticket sales have closed.  Learn more about the event: click here On November 8, 2025, explore the Alaska SeaLife Center after hours at Beers by the Bay. Sample beer, wine, cider, mead, and kombucha from Alaskan brewers, enjoy a generous appetizer buffet, and take part in fundraising games woven throughout the evening – a relaxed fall night of sipping and strolling in support of our work! Proceeds help us continue our mission work supporting marine life throughout Alaska.

Join us for an evening of food, fine wine, and fundraising while deepening your connection to the Alaska SeaLife Center and its mission As you explore the Center after hours, you’ll hear firsthand success stories — each a testament to the groundbreaking research, rescue, and education efforts made possible through your support. Thoughtfully paired food and wine selections will accompany you, and a mystery wine auction will run throughout the night. Don’t miss this chance to engage directly with our dedicated animal care and research staff while raising essential funds for Alaska’s marine ecosystems! Tickets are limited for this 21+ event (ID will be required at the door). Dress code is casual Alaskan cocktail! CLICK TO PURCHASE TICKETS    

Pam received her Master ‘s of Science in Marine Science from Moss Landing Marine Laboratories in 2006 and her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from Iowa State University in 2000, including a year of course work in Marine Biology while on National Student Exchange at the University of Alaska Southeast.  She joined ASLC as a research intern in 1999 then continued as a Research Technician on projects with wild-caught captive animals that focused on behavioral responses, including common murre and halibut telemetry and crude oil dosing in Harlequin ducks.  In 2001, Pam’s interest in behavioral ecology led to her permanent position at ASLC on the Chiswell Island Remote Monitoring Project of Steller sea lions in Resurrection Bay, AK. Currently, Pam is a Research Associate that manages seasonal staff and is responsible for collecting daily behavioral observations focusing on maternal investment and population dynamics of sea lions in their natural environment.  Pam’s thesis investigated pupping site fidelity among individual female sea lions. Her current objectives include survival of branded animals, male reproductive success, and the effects of individual variation on maternal investment.   Behavior ecology, population dynamics, and marine conservation.

Brad Ryan joined the Alaska SeaLife Center in January 2025, bringing extensive expertise in environmental science, research, and community leadership. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Resources, with a focus on juvenile salmon vulnerability to avian predation, and spent a decade as a research scientist with NOAA, where he made impactful contributions to marine resource protection. After his tenure at NOAA, Brad moved to Haines, Alaska, collaborating with Native Tribes and watershed councils to advance watershed restoration and safeguard the state's unique ecosystems. His commitment to community development led him to serve as Director of Public Facilities and later as Borough Manager, where he applied his scientific knowledge to improve public infrastructure and services. At the Alaska SeaLife Center, Brad combines his passion for conservation, research, and community engagement to support the Center’s mission of fostering understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems.

2025 Teacher Workshop One Ocean: The Ocean Connects Us All We are partnering with the National Park Service to host a teacher workshop at the Alaska SeaLife Center on October 24-26 for 4th through 8th grade teachers. The theme this year is One Ocean: The Ocean Connects Us All. In this workshop, we will engage in nature journaling, learn local coastal ecology, and use ocean literacy to inspire students to care for their environment. We will also include conversations about cultural connections to the ocean and the value of marine environments to local people. Please submit the following application by September 26: https://forms.gle/s6m1KTxDDbeaBa1N8 If you have any questions, please reach out to the ASLC Education Department at education@alaskasealife.org. In case you didn't already know...  Alaska teachers always receive free general admission to the Alaska SeaLife Center - just present a teacher ID or pay stub at the ticket counter!

If you have wondered how Alaska SeaLife Center’s CO2 refrigerant seawater heat pump system works, watch this! Alaska’s Energy Desk has produced a video that walks the viewer through the process, explaining the journey nature and science travel together to make this groundbreaking system possible, thanks to leadership, skill, innovation and collaboration. Alaska’s Energy Desk is a team of six reporters collaborating between multiple news stations—including Alaska Public Media in Anchorage, KTOO in Juneau and KUCB in Unalaska—to cover energy and environment in the Last Frontier. Check out Heat From the Deep: How Cold Ocean Water Heats the Alaska SeaLife Center here: https://youtu.be/UgxwDPcsZeQ.    

John first came to Alaska with the U.S. Coast Guard in 1985 and learned to operate a variety of vessels while servicing aids to navigation along the Gulf of Alaska coast.  After leaving the Coast Guard he earned a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Alaska Southeast, then a Master of Science degree through the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) while studying seabird ecology in Prince William Sound.  John has been working as a Research Associate at the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) since the summer of 2000.  His research focus is on the behavior and population dynamics of Steller sea lions and nesting seabirds, primarily through the use of remote video monitoring techniques.  He earned a Ph.D. degree from UAF with a dissertation study related to his sea lion research at ASLC.  John also continues to work as a part-time captain and naturalist for the tourist industry based in Seward, Alaska.  Behavior and population dynamics of Alaskan pinnipeds and seabirds Google Scholar

Program Resources Virtual Visit:  Seabird Superpowers! Pre-visit materials: Puffin puppet - Print out this page and follow the instructions (link below) to create a puffin that you can use to follow along during the program! Puffin puppet instructions - Use these instructions to create your puffin puppet. Post-visit materials: Puffin adaptations coloring sheet - Print and label the puffin adaptations to review what you learned during the program, then color your puffin and add some superpowers of your own! Bird behavior observation science activity - Want to learn even more?  Join researcher Amy Bishop to experience how scientists observe seabirds in the field! 

This popular mission-based event returns in April 2023. Guests will enjoy a special tour through the Center, stopping at designated locations while sampling food and wine pairings. Interact with Alaska SeaLife Center staff and learn how the Center is achieving its mission. Tickets are limited for this 21+ event. Sponsors get the first chance at limited tickets.    Click to purchase limited tickets.

Seward Science Symposium Alaska SeaLife Center, Seward, AK The Seward Science Symposium highlights local science and research, including Indigenous-led work, and aims to build pride, stewardship, and stronger connections between our community and the environment. Join us for a day of local science: talks by researchers, educators, and community members, a midday poster session (bring lunch or grab-and-go at The Porthole), and an evening film screening with a light-appetizer reception.  This event is free and all are welcome! Click the link below for details and registration (recommended as seating is limited). Register and Learn More Presented by Stewards of the Bay, in partnership with Chugach Regional Resources Commission, University of Alaska Fairbanks, National Park Service, and the Alaska SeaLife Center.  

  A New Way to Share ASLC Stories!   The ASLC 60 North Science Blog has expanded to include even more stories highlighting the important work that happens at the ASLC!  See the new look of the blog and join our staff as they share stories fo research, education, wildlife response, and animal care. All the amazing archived science stories are still active on the blog, but the link has changed to https://stories.alaskasealife.org/                

Seward, Alaska (November 1, 2017)– The Alaska SeaLife Center invites Alaska residents to take advantage of FREEzing Winter Wednesdays when planning their winter excursions. Every Wednesday from November 1, 2017 through February 28, 2018, Alaska residents receive free general admission to the Alaska SeaLife Center upon presentation of a valid ID. Visitors 16 years of age and under must be accompanied by an adult. The Alaska SeaLife Center is open seven days a week from 12:00p.m. to 5:00 p.m, except November 23 and December 25 for the Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day holidays. About the Alaska SeaLife Center: Opened in 1998, the Alaska SeaLife Center operates as a private, non-profit research institution and public aquarium. It generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems. The ASLC is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. 

Join us for an evening of food, fine wine, and fundraising while deepening your connection to the Alaska SeaLife Center and its mission As you explore the Center after hours, you’ll hear firsthand success stories — each a testament to the groundbreaking research, rescue, and education efforts made possible through your support. Thoughtfully paired food and wine selections will accompany you, and the night will culminate in a wine pull. Don’t miss this chance to engage directly with our dedicated animal care and research staff while raising essential funds for Alaska’s marine ecosystems! Tickets are limited for this 21+ event (ID will be required at the door). Dress code is casual Alaskan cocktail!  

Mission Statement The Alaska SeaLife Center generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska's marine ecosystems.  About The Alaska SeaLife Center is the only facility in Alaska that combines a public aquarium with marine research, education, and wildlife response.  While primarily dedicated to marine research and education, the nonprofit Center is the only permanent marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation facility in the state.  The Alaska SeaLife Center lies at "Mile 0" of the scenic Seward Highway on the shores of Resurrection Bay. Visitors have close encounters with puffins, octopus, harbor seals, sea lions, and other Alaska marine life while learning about the work our researchers conduct both in the field and in our laboratories.

The Skates of Alaska exhibit is now open at the Alaska SeaLife Center. This new tank in Underwater Viewing currently features a beautiful Bering Skate, while a small Alaska skate can be found in the microhabitat tank around the corner. These skates arrive just in time to complement our 2015 Summer of Sharks -- especially when you consider that skates could be described as sharks' "flatter" cousins!  Come learn more about why researchers are studying skate nurseries in Alaska, and discover how researchers at the Alaska SeaLife Center contributed to a greater understanding of development time in skate embryos.                    

Education programs at the Alaska SeaLife Center foster ocean literacy and stewardship by connecting people of all ages to Alaska's marine ecosystems in meaningful ways. We invite you to gain a deeper understanding of marine science through the process of discovery!  If you’d like to learn more about the animals in our aquarium or go on a virtual field trip with researchers, visit the Discovery Zone! For teachers and scout groups, our programs are offered year-round. Whether your group is interested in spending the night with our sea lions or connecting to the aquarium from afar, we have something for everyone! To learn more about our education programs, as well as our annual teacher workshops, please visit the Teacher’s Room.  

Discovery Zone Here at the Alaska SeaLife Center, our staff is dedicated to learning more each day about Alaska’s marine ecosystems. We then share what we’ve learned with you, so that you can help us continue to understand and care for the ocean, its animals, and its resources. What does it take to become a scientist? In the Discovery Zone, everyone is a scientist. There are three steps in this important role:          (1) Observe the world around you, then…          (2) ask questions, then…          (3) find ways to answer your questions!   Rules of the Discovery Zone The rules of the zone are simple: Be Respectful, Be Curious, and Have Fun! 

We have a special announcement: Atty's pregnant! The Alaska SeaLife Center's 10-year-old harbor seal Atuun, "Atty," is expecting her third pup! In this ultrasound video, you can see the fetus moving around, with the spine and heart coming in and out of view. The sex of the pup remains undetermined. Veterinary staff expect the new harbor seal to arrive in June of this year. Click here for a link to the ultrasound video. Atty is the mother of Kordelia (born June 8, 2011) and Kobuk (born June 27, 2012).   

It’s Plastic Free July! Join the effort to reduce your single-use plastic and help keep plastic out of Resurrection Bay by joining fellow community members and the ASLC Staff for three beach cleanups in the month of July. ASLC staff will have educational resources so you can learn how to reduce your own plastic consumption, prizes, and more at the community beach cleanups!   Saturday, July 31, 2024; 12 - 2 p.m. Meet at the tent near the Seward culvert (Scheffler Creek Bridge) No sign-up is required for participation. Guests under 18 must come with an adult or legal guardian. Gloves, trash bags, and hand sanitizing stations will be provided!

Did you know that Alaska is a haven for over 40 species of waterfowl? The state’s vast and relatively undisturbed ecosystems — including wetlands, tundra, and coastal areas — make it one of the most critical areas in North America for waterfowl conservation.   Learn more at the ASLC on January 17 and 18, where admission includes free crafts, activities, and educational chats!   Activity Schedule   - 12:30 & 2:30 pm: What makes waterfowl so unique in the bird world? - 1:00 & 3:00 pm: Become a "Seaduck Scientist!" - 2:00 & 3:30 pm: Learn to birdwatch!