Acuario Nacional

What Acuario Nacional does

Acuario Nacional is the Dominican Republic's national aquarium and marine conservation center, established in 1990 by Decreto No. 245-90 and operated as a government institution under the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. Located in Santo Domingo Este, the facility delivers marine education, wildlife rescue and rehabilitation (notably for Antillean manatees and sea turtles, with 33 documented rescue cases between 2022 and 2025), technical advisory services, student social-service training, and volunteer programs. It serves approximately 8,000-10,000 students weekly alongside general public visitors and tourists.

The institution generates revenue through a two-channel model: state budget allocation from the Ministry of Environment supplemented by ticket admissions priced at RD$100-RD$150 for Dominican nationals and RD$250-RD$300 for foreign visitors. It maintains NORTIC A2 and A3 quality certifications, a Carta Compromiso al Ciudadano 2026-2028, and reports 94% visitor satisfaction and 96% compliance metrics. Staffing is approximately 40 employees.

Acuario Nacional pursues bilateral scientific cooperation with Centre Scientifique de Monaco (coral genetic reservoir), Aquarium Costa de Almería, Rescate Wildlife Rescue Centre (Costa Rica), FUNDEMAR, UASD, UCE, and Banreservas. The facility was renovated and reinaugurated by President Luis Abinader in December 2024, and the Parque Temático Infantil SPAW was reinaugurated in March 2026.

Name

Acuario Nacional

Legal name

Acuario Nacional de la República Dominicana

Website

https://acuarionacional.gob.do

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dominican Republic government aquarium in Santo Domingo Este delivering marine education, wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, and environmental research, serving 8,000-10,000 students weekly alongside general public and tourist visitors under the Ministry of Environment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Santo Domingo Este

HQ country

Dominican Republic

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Visitor Admission Fees: The institution generates revenue through admission ticket sales to visitors. Pricing varies by nationality (Dominican vs. foreign) and age (adults vs. children under 12). Tickets can be purchased online through an online ticketing portal or at the physical box office.
2. Facility Rental for Events: The aquarium offers rental areas including gazebos, picnic zones, and green areas for events, as indicated by the album sections showing rental areas such as 'Areas de Alquiler'.
3. Government Budget Allocation: As a government institution under the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the Acuario Nacional is funded through annual state budgetary allocations, supplemented by its own revenue from admissions and services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Acuario Nacional is a government-owned public aquarium and marine conservation centre offering physical access to live marine exhibits, guided and self-guided visits, environmental education and training programs, student social service, and volunteer opportunities. It also conducts marine wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and reintroduction (manatees, sea turtles, marine mammals) and provides online ticketing for visitors. Services are delivered at its single facility in Santo Domingo Este, Dominican Republic.

Product overview

Acuario Nacional is a government aquarium institution offering visitor services centered around marine conservation and education. Its core service portfolio includes five main offerings: Guided Tours (Servicio de Visitas Guiadas) with scheduled expert-led visits; Non-Guided Tours (Servicio de Visitas No Guiadas) for self-exploration; Technical Advisory and Training (Asesoría Técnica y Capacitación) for environmental education programs; Student Social Service (Labor Social Estudiantil) for secondary students; and Volunteer Service (Voluntariado) for public participation. The institution also operates live marine exhibits, the Marine Shells educational collection, and an online ticketing platform. Services are provided at the aquarium's physical location in Santo Domingo Este.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Servicio de Visitas Guiadas (Guided Visits)
• Servicio de Visitas No Guiadas (Self-Guided Visits)
• Servicio de Asesoría Técnica y Capacitación (Technical Advisory and Training)
• Servicio Labor Social Estudiantil (Student Social Service)
• Servicio de Voluntariado (Volunteer Service)
• Áreas de Exhibición y Exhibiciones Marinas (Marine Exhibits)
• Conchas Marinas (Marine Shells Collection)
• Boletería en Línea (Online Ticketing)

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% public satisfaction rating in annual government services survey
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rescate Wildlife Rescue Centre (Costa Rica)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2025Technical training exchange conducted June 22–26, 2025 at Rescate Wildlife Rescue Centre in Costa Rica. Specialists from Acuario Nacional (Dra. Jazmín León and Sr. Francisco Argenis Solano) shared protocols, methodologies, and experiences in Caribbean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation with Costa Rican veterinary and wildlife professionals. This was the first manatee under care at the Costa Rican center, which looked to Acuario Nacional's decades of experience as a reference model.
• Aquarium Costa de AlmeríacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2025International cooperation agreement signed in Roquetas de Mar, Spain on June 16, 2025, aimed at strengthening joint efforts in marine conservation, environmental education, and technological innovation in aquariology. The agreement covers species exchange for educational and conservation purposes, transfer of technical and scientific knowledge, specialized training programs, and joint research initiatives. The Dominican aquarium receives 8,000–10,000 students weekly and plans to enrich its educational offerings with a new Mediterranean species exhibit through this partnership.
• Centro Científico de Mónaco (Centre Scientifique de Monaco)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 June 2025MOU between Acuario Nacional and the Centre Scientifique de Monaco covering bilateral cooperation in marine research, technical training, and coastal and oceanic biodiversity conservation. Key focus on the Coral Genetic Reservoir project, training Dominican specialists in advanced molecular biology techniques including coral DNA extraction, handling, and conservation. The collaboration aligns with the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) framework and involves training exchanges using cutting-edge technologies.
• Fundación Dominicana de Estudios Marinos (FUNDEMAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFUNDEMAR coordinated the rescue and transfer of an injured green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) found at Dream Dominicus hotel in La Romana to the Acuario Nacional's veterinary clinic. Both institutions collaborate on marine mammal stranding response and sea turtle rehabilitation programs. FUNDEMAR representatives Rita Sellares and Richely Plekaniec have been key partners in multiple rescue operations.
• Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Recursos NaturalescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe parent ministry oversees the Acuario Nacional and collaborates on all major conservation initiatives including sea turtle rescue and nesting protection programs, marine protected area expansion (from 10.8% to 30.8% coverage), and manatee rehabilitation. The ministry's Viceministerio de Recursos Costeros y Marinos works directly with the aquarium on coastal and marine resource management.
• ITESMARENA (Instituto Técnico de Estudios Superiores en Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborated on the Guardaparque Training Course (first in over a decade) coordinated with the Ministry of Environment and INFOTEP. 54 park rangers and 4 tutors visited the Acuario Nacional for technical training on marine biodiversity and conservation education.
• Fundación Grupo PuntacanaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiólogo Daniel Veras, Coordinator Aquarist of Fundación Grupo Puntacana, delivered a 3-day training workshop (April 21–23, 2025) on marine ornamental fish reproduction, aquaculture, broodstock management, live food production, and larviculture techniques. Fundación Grupo Puntacana has an established ornamental fish breeding program in partnership with Roger Williams University (USA).
• Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUASD biology students conduct academic practice at the aquarium and participated in sea turtle release events. The university is a key partner in educational outreach, with students from the School of Biology actively involved in aquarium conservation activities and educational programs.
• Universidad Central del Este (UCE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterinary students from Universidad Central del Este performed academic practice at the aquarium's clinical facilities, gaining hands-on experience in marine animal veterinary care.
• Alcaldía del Distrito NacionalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National District Municipality collaborates with the aquarium on coastal conservation activities including sea turtle releases at Playa Güibia and environmental education initiatives.
• Fundación Dominicana de Ciegos and Fundación Tecnológica para Ciegos Luis Braille (ÁGORA RD Program)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialized training provided to Acuario Nacional staff on inclusive service and assistive technologies for visitors with visual disabilities, including Braille system usage, assistive technologies, and proper communication approaches for people with disabilities.
• Banreservas (Banco de Reservas)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for financial literacy education targeting school children visiting the aquarium. Banreservas representatives delivered savings education talks, and the bank's mascot 'Ballenita Jenny' was introduced as an aquarium character to promote savings habits among young visitors. 106 students from Colegio Matías Ramón Mella participated.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Audubon Aquarium of the Americas: Public aquarium in New Orleans operating marine exhibits, sea turtle rescue, and education programs. Comparable as a publicly-oriented aquarium combining visitor experience with species rehabilitation and education.
• Georgia Aquarium: One of the largest public aquariums in the world, offering marine exhibits, species conservation, and educational programming. Comparable as a flagship public aquarium with a mission combining visitor experience, conservation, and education, though at a much larger scale and privately operated.
• Tennessee Aquarium: Public aquarium with freshwater and saltwater exhibits, conservation research, and educational programming. Comparable operating model combining aquatic animal exhibits with conservation and visitor-focused education.
• National Aquarium (Baltimore): Major U.S. public aquarium focused on aquatic animal exhibits, conservation, and education. Comparable in operating a public aquarium with conservation and educational mission, though structured as an independent nonprofit.

Direct peers

• Aquarium Costa de Almería: Spanish regional aquarium that signed a 2025 cooperation agreement with Acuario Nacional for species exchange, training, and joint research. Direct institutional partner with similar marine exhibit, conservation, and education functions.
• Oceanogràfic (Valencia): Largest aquarium in Europe and a public-facing marine complex combining species exhibits, conservation research, and education. Comparable as a flagship national aquarium that integrates marine wildlife rescue/rehabilitation, education programming, and visitor services at scale.
• Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk: Regional public aquarium with strong education and marine conservation programs, including seal and shark exhibits and student field-trip offerings. Comparable in scale and in combining public aquarium operations with environmental education at scale.
• Monterey Bay Aquarium: Public aquarium renowned for marine conservation, sea otter and sea turtle programs, and award-winning educational outreach. Comparable mission and operational profile combining exhibits, species rehabilitation (notably sea otters and turtles), and school-focused environmental education.
• Lisbon Oceanarium (Oceanário de Lisboa): Large public aquarium in Lisbon with a strong marine conservation and education mandate. Comparable as a public-facing aquarium that integrates environmental education, species display, and marine research in a single flagship facility.

Emerging players

• FUNDEMAR (Fundación Dominicana de Estudios Marinos): Dominican marine conservation NGO that partners with Acuario Nacional on sea turtle rescue and marine mammal stranding response. Closest local peer operating in marine conservation and rehabilitation in the same geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AcuarioRDo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/AcuarioRDo
• Facebookfacebook.com/AcuarioRDo
• Instagraminstagram.com/AcuarioRDo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/acuario-nacional

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Acuario Nacional