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New aquarium officially opens
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| The Rockport-Fulton Area Chamber of Commerce hosts a ribbon cutting ceremony, mark the official opening of the Aquarium at Rockport Harbor. Photo by MIKE PROBST |
The Aquarium at Rockport Harbor is officially open. The Rockport-Fulton Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting Friday which was attended by elected officials, local residents, and even a few visitors.
The new aquarium replaces the one closed 20 years ago, according to Ed Hegen, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), Regional Director, Coastal Fisheries Division.
“A lot of people (have been involved in bringing back the aquarium),” said Hegen.
He accepted a framed certificate for Joel Hearn, a TPWD employee, who worked very hard to make the aquarium a reality. Hearn was on vacation and unable to attend.
The TPWD Rockport Marine Lab housed an aquarium from the time it was built in 1947 until 1987. It was closed at that time due to building structure issues.
“For the past 20 years we have had visitors on a weekly basis looking for the aquarium which they visited as children. This sustained interest and the opportunity to provide an educational outlet for many residents and many tourists has inspired us to reopen the aquarium,” said Hegen.
The rebirth of the aquarium began with an initial cash contribution from Aransas County, and a generous gift of surplus exhibition tanks from the Texas State Aquarium.
“It is projects like this, where everyone works together, which makes our community the wonderful place it is,” said County Judge Burt Mills. “We appreciate the TPWD Coastal Fisheries for their work in this project.”
Hours of operation are 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. Fridays through Mondays. Admission is free.
A nonprofit Friends of the Aquarium at Rockport Harbor has been formed to support operations. Guests will be greeted by docents.
“This has been a fun project and I would encourage others to get involved,” said the group's chairman De McLallen. He encourages those visiting the aquarium to provide feedback, noting, “We want this to be a work in progress, a community effort.”
The mission of the aquarium is to display for public viewing marine species and habitat indigenous to the local bay systems, educate via displays and associated exhibits about those indigenous species, their commercial and recreation importance, and the ecology of the coastal bay systems.
The new aquarium replaces the one closed 20 years ago, according to Ed Hegen, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), Regional Director, Coastal Fisheries Division.
“A lot of people (have been involved in bringing back the aquarium),” said Hegen.
He accepted a framed certificate for Joel Hearn, a TPWD employee, who worked very hard to make the aquarium a reality. Hearn was on vacation and unable to attend.
The TPWD Rockport Marine Lab housed an aquarium from the time it was built in 1947 until 1987. It was closed at that time due to building structure issues.
“For the past 20 years we have had visitors on a weekly basis looking for the aquarium which they visited as children. This sustained interest and the opportunity to provide an educational outlet for many residents and many tourists has inspired us to reopen the aquarium,” said Hegen.
The rebirth of the aquarium began with an initial cash contribution from Aransas County, and a generous gift of surplus exhibition tanks from the Texas State Aquarium.
“It is projects like this, where everyone works together, which makes our community the wonderful place it is,” said County Judge Burt Mills. “We appreciate the TPWD Coastal Fisheries for their work in this project.”
Hours of operation are 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. Fridays through Mondays. Admission is free.
A nonprofit Friends of the Aquarium at Rockport Harbor has been formed to support operations. Guests will be greeted by docents.
“This has been a fun project and I would encourage others to get involved,” said the group's chairman De McLallen. He encourages those visiting the aquarium to provide feedback, noting, “We want this to be a work in progress, a community effort.”
The mission of the aquarium is to display for public viewing marine species and habitat indigenous to the local bay systems, educate via displays and associated exhibits about those indigenous species, their commercial and recreation importance, and the ecology of the coastal bay systems.
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