200-Gallon Aquarium to House A Variety of Maine Sea Life at Environmental Education Center in Downtown Blue Hill
March 21, 2025 – Blue Hill, Maine – The Shaw Institute, a nonprofit scientific research and education organization, will officially launch its all-new touch tank on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, from 2pm to 6pm, making it the lead attraction of its Environmental Education Center in Blue Hill, Maine.
The event is free and open to the public, with all attendees having the opportunity to experience the touch tank first hand. They can also peruse the Shaw Institute Gift Shop and participate in hands-on fun activities for families, with it all taking place at the Institute’s location at 55 Main Street in historic downtown Blue Hill.
“This has been in the making for over a year, so we are extremely excited to finally see it coming to fruition,” said Dr. Charlie Rolsky, Executive Director of the Shaw Institute. “After numerous discussions with our local community members, it was clear that bringing a touch tank back to the Blue Hill region was very important. It not only means the return of an invaluable educational resource, but also a fun way for residents and visitors alike to experience Maine’s natural world and the other programs and research that we offer at the Shaw Institute.”
The 200-gallon tank will feature a variety of Maine sea life, with inaugural residents including lobsters, crabs, barnacles, periwinkles, American oysters, whelks, clams, and sea stars.
“It’s a fantastic mix of critters,” says Michael Vittum, Lead Aquarist at the Shaw Institute and the primary person responsible for maintaining the tank and keeping its inhabitants healthy and happy. “Visitors can expect an ever-changing rotation of sea life in the touch tank, based on a variety of factors, including migrations, seasons and unexpected finds.”
Vittum emphasized that all activity with the touch tank will be closely monitored to ensure that no creature is mishandled or put under undue distress.
After the launch event on April 16, access to the tank will remain open to the public and offered free of charge through Labor Day, thanks to a successful fundraising campaign that included $10,000 in matching funds from Jeff and Tina Allen, owners of Downeast Properties. However, modest donations are always suggested, needed and appreciated.
“We’re always grateful for any level of support that our visitors can provide, but it’s not a requirement,” said Rolsky. “There are ongoing expenses that include keeping an aquarist on staff, maintaining the touch tank and other aquariums, and developing educational programs and materials. Our hope is to not only expand our environmental education center, but also continue to make its programs as accessible as possible.”
Beginning on April 17, hours of operation will be as follows:
- October-May: Wednesday-Friday 10am-noon and 2pm – 4pm
- June-September: Tuesday-Friday 10am-4:30 pm, Saturday 10am-2 pm
For more information about the Shaw Institute, please visit ShawInstitute.org.
About Shaw Institute
Shaw Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit scientific research organization based in Blue Hill, Maine. Established nearly 35 years ago, the Institute’s mission is to work to discover and expose environmental threats to the health and wellbeing of people, wildlife and the environments we share. Our research on plastics, ocean pollution, marine mammal health, toxic chemicals, and climate change has informed public opinion and influenced public policy, impacting millions of people in Maine, the U.S. and worldwide.
