What Mississippi Aquarium does

Mississippi Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit aquarium located on a 5.8-acre beachfront campus at 2100 E Beach Boulevard in Gulfport, Mississippi, operating since its August 2020 opening. The facility houses over one million gallons of fresh and saltwater habitats across 12 exhibits, including Aquatic Wonders (touch pool, swirl habitat, and a 360-degree ocean tunnel), Changing Tides (kelp forest, rainforest, and coral reef biomes), a dolphin habitat, an aviary, and a freshwater river, supporting 200+ animal species and 300+ fish species. It generates revenue through a diversified mix of general admission tickets, annual passes, premium animal encounters (Dolphin, Penguin, SeaTREK diving, Animal Academy), on-site food and retail (Pelican Pointe Cafe, Treetop Treats with Amazon Just Walk Out technology, The Gulf Shop), and event hosting (weddings, corporate events, meetings, birthday parties) with Levy Restaurants as exclusive caterer via the TripleSeat platform. The aquarium also operates a substantial K-12 education portfolio including field trips, homeschool days, Project SAIL sponsored Title I school admission, Camp Aqua summer camp, Career Camp, mobile Aquarium in Motion outreach, and virtual learning curricula (FINS, SEAS, FIRST) aligned with Mississippi College & Career Readiness Standards. Distribution is primarily direct-to-consumer through the website, on-site sales, and third-party ticketing on Saffire, with marketing across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, YouTube, and Spotify. The nonprofit does not receive state or city funding and relies on members, donors, corporate sponsors, and visitor revenue to fund operations, capital projects, and a science-driven conservation program that includes an authorized Kemp's ridley sea turtle rehabilitation (106 turtles released since 2020), African penguin breeding (Project Penguin capital campaign with $8M of $9M raised), hammerhead shark satellite tagging, manatee research, and monarch butterfly conservation in partnership with NOAA, USFWS, AZA, and Gulf Coast universities.

Name

Mississippi Aquarium

Legal name

Mississippi Aquarium

Website

https://msaquarium.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Mississippi Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit aquarium in Gulfport, Mississippi operating a 5.8-acre, 1M+ gallon facility with 200+ species, serving general public visitors, K-12 schools, event hosts, and conservation donors through admissions, premium experiences, education programs, and event venue rentals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aquarium and Marine Conservation Services

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Zoo & Aquarium Parks (Ticketed Wildlife Attractions) (THAJAEAE), Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

Keywords

• Aquarium visitor experiences
• Marine conservation programs
• Animal encounters and education
• Event venue hosting
• Wildlife rehabilitation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Gulfport

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. General Admission Tickets: Daily admission fees for visitors to the aquarium, with pricing varying for adults, children, and special categories. Military discounts and hospitality worker free days offered.
2. Annual Passes: Year-round membership offering unlimited visits, 10% discounts on food, retail, and experiences, and exclusive access to passholder-only events.
3. Experiences and Encounters: Premium animal encounters including dolphin encounters, penguin encounters, SeaTREK diving experiences, and Animal Academy programs with additional fees on top of general admission.
4. Event Venue Rentals: Corporate events, weddings, receptions, meetings, and small gatherings hosted at the aquarium facility with catering by Levy Restaurants.
5. Education Programs: Summer camps (Camp Aqua, Career Camp), field trips, homeschool days, outreach programs, and virtual learning sessions generate program fees.
6. Animal Adoptions: Symbolic animal adoption programs for penguins, alligators, dolphins, otters, sharks, stingrays, and turtles with gift boxes including certificates, plush animals, and fact cards.
7. Donations and Charitable Support: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the aquarium relies on donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation support, and fundraising to support operations, conservation, and education initiatives.
8. Food and Retail: Pelican Pointe Cafe, Treetop Treats, and The Gulf Shop provide food, beverages, and merchandise sales with 10% discount for annual passholders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mississippi Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit aquarium in Gulfport, Mississippi offering general admission, annual passes, premium animal encounters (dolphin, penguin, SeaTREK diving, Animal Academy), event hosting for weddings and corporate functions, K-12 and homeschool education programs, summer camps, and wildlife conservation programs including sea turtle rehabilitation and African penguin breeding. Revenue is generated through ticket sales, memberships, food and beverage, retail, event rentals, education fees, and donations.

Product overview

Mississippi Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit aquarium offering a unified portfolio of visitor experiences, educational programs, event hosting services, and conservation initiatives across its 5.8-acre campus in Gulfport, Mississippi. The core visitor experience includes general admission tickets and annual passes providing access to 12 habitats housing over 200 species and 300+ species of fish across exhibits including Aquatic Wonders (touch pool, swirl habitat, oceans habitat with 360-degree tunnel), Changing Tides (kelp forest, rainforest, coral reef biomes), a dolphin habitat, aviary, and freshwater river. Premium add-on experiences include Dolphin Encounter, Penguin Encounter, SeaTREK® Diving Experience, Animal Academy, and Wild Explorer Virtual Reality. Event services encompass weddings, corporate events, small gatherings, meetings, and birthday parties with in-house catering by Levy Restaurants. Education programs span field trips, Project SAIL (Title I school sponsorship), homeschool days, Camp Aqua (summer camp), Career Camp, outreach (Aquarium in Motion), and virtual learning. Conservation programs include sea turtle rehabilitation (106+ released since 2020), Project Penguin (African penguin conservation with Penguin Pointe habitat fundraising), and scientific/field research on sharks, manatees, dolphins, and horseshoe crabs. Ancillary offerings include Pelican Pointe Cafe, Treetop Treats (Amazon Just Walk Out technology), The Gulf Shop, animal adoption programs, and volunteer opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Admission Tickets
• Annual Pass / Membership
• Dolphin Encounter
• Penguin Encounter
• SeaTREK Diving Experience
• Animal Academy
• Wild Explorer Virtual Reality
• Weddings and Receptions
• Corporate Events
• Small Gatherings
• Birthday Parties
• Field Trips
• Project SAIL
• Homeschool Days
• Camp Aqua
• Career Camp
• Education Outreach (Aquarium in Motion)
• Virtual Learning
• Pelican Pointe Cafe
• Treetop Treats
• The Gulf Shop
• Sea Turtle Rehabilitation
• Project Penguin
• Scientific and Field Conservation
• Community Conservation
• Adopt an Animal
• Rehab Hero (Sea Turtle Sponsorship)
• Animal Enrichment Program
• Volunteer Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 106 Kemp's ridley sea turtles rehabilitated and released since 2020
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner supporting sustainable seafood practices. Aquarium participates in Seafood Watch program for menu selections.
• Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner for marine resource management and conservation initiatives.
• University of Southern MississippicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner for conservation science and marine biology studies.
• Mississippi State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner including MSU Science Education at Sea program and beach cleanup collaboration with MSU Extension Office.
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner for sea turtle conservation, marine mammal research, and Deepwater Horizon restoration efforts including Secrets of the Deep exhibit.
• The Memphis ZoocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDusky Gopher Frog conservation partnership with 176 zoo-raised frogs transported to Mississippi Gulf Coast for release.
• New England AquariumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCold-stunned Kemp's ridley sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation partnership.
• Dauphin Island Sea LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManatee research and horseshoe crab conservation studies in the Gulf of Mexico.
• USFWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSea turtle stranding response, rehabilitation authorization, and release coordination.
• Mississippi State Coastal ExtensioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeach cleanup organization and hammerhead shark satellite tagging research collaboration.
• Levy RestaurantscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive in-house catering partner for all events at Mississippi Aquarium with over 40 years of restaurant and catering experience.
• ABC RentalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive decor partner offering eclectic variety of party and event decor with professional staff.
• National Audubon SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonarch butterfly conservation program with native plant donations and pollinator garden establishment.
• Woodside Wildlife RescueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWildlife rehabilitation partner for raccoons, North American river otters, and beavers. Aquarium provides food, supplies, and labor.
• OCEARCHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShark tracking platform for satellite tag data from hammerhead shark research.
• Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonarch butterfly conservation program partnership with AZA for pollinator initiatives.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Aquarium (Baltimore): Major U.S. nonprofit aquarium with similar dolphin encounters, penguin habitat, conservation programming, and event-hosting business. Operates at significantly larger scale but is closely comparable in mission and product mix.
• Georgia Aquarium: One of the largest aquariums in the U.S. with similar dolphin, penguin, and shark experiences plus comparable education and conservation programming. Operates at significantly larger scale but serves overlapping visitor demographics and event markets.

Regional players

• Shreveport Aquarium: Smaller regional aquarium located in Louisiana, serving an overlapping Gulf South visitor base with exhibit and education offerings comparable in scope though smaller in scale.

Direct peers

• The Florida Aquarium: 501(c)(3) nonprofit aquarium in Tampa with comparable exhibit focus on Gulf and Caribbean species, sea turtle rehabilitation, education programs, and event venue offerings. Operates in an adjacent regional market.
• OdySea Aquarium: Large aquarium in Scottsdale, Arizona offering similar SeaTREK diving, penguin encounters, sea turtle exhibits, and event venue services. Comparable product mix targeting family and tourist segments.
• Texas State Aquarium: Nonprofit Gulf Coast aquarium in Corpus Christi with similar mission around marine conservation, education, and animal encounters. Comparable operating model, scale, and species focus.
• Audubon Aquarium of the Americas: Major Gulf Coast/South regional aquarium located in New Orleans with comparable exhibit offerings, education programs, and conservation focus. Operates as a similar nonprofit attraction model within driving distance of Mississippi Aquarium.
• Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies: For-profit aquarium with multi-location footprint offering similar shark tunnels, penguin encounters, and family-focused experiences. Comparable visitor demographic and ticketed attraction model.
• Tennessee Aquarium: Nonprofit freshwater/saltwater aquarium in Chattanooga with similar exhibit portfolio, education programs, conservation focus, and event-hosting capabilities. Closely matched in scale and operational model.
• New England Aquarium: Nonprofit aquarium with comparable sea turtle rehabilitation program (explicit partner on Kemp's ridley rescue), education programming, and conservation research partnerships. Closely matched in mission and operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/MS_aquarium
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCkbka1oKhZHQvixc9eqSTHg
• Facebookfacebook.com/mississippiaquarium
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/msaquarium
• Instagraminstagram.com/mississippiaquarium

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Mississippi Aquarium