Bringing the ocean closer to human: the 10th anniversary of the Primorsky Aquarium
Shevchenko O.G. 1 , Pitruk D.L. 1
Year: 2026, Number: 2, Pages: 5-11
The idea of creating the Primorsky Aquarium first arose in 2002 during President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Primorsky Krai and began to be implemented in 2004. Initially, the aquarium was planned to be constructed in Patrokl Bay, but in 2007, after the decision to build the Far Eastern Federal University on Russky Island, it was also decided to situate the Aquarium there. To study the best international practices in aquarium design and aquatic animal management, staff members were sent to the countries of Northeast Asia and other regions. Currently, the Primorsky Aquarium Scientific and Educational Center, a branch of the A. V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center for Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, is one of the largest aquariums in the world. By the beginning of 2026, it was home to more than 14 thousand specimens belonging to 498 species of marine and freshwater animals, from jellyfish and mollusks to mammals and penguins. Extensive scientific and educational activities are carried out here, with the complex of programs including 13 major sections. Over the past ten years, the Primorsky Aquarium has become a leader in environmental education and research conducted by aquariums and zoos all over the Russian Federation.
DOI: 10.25221/2782-1978_2026_2_1
Keywords: Primorsky Aquarium, history of creation, Russian Island, science, environmental education programs,
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