The National Aquarium, based in Washington DC, is home to several aquatic species for protection and educational purposes. The aquarium provides awareness and seeks help in protecting the aquatic world. Its board of directors and staff are committed to develop a nice environment where the general public will be made aware of the conservation and the current problems that the global aquatic habitat is facing today.

The National Museum houses more than 200 species for protection and conservation. These species are categorized by marine and freshwater fish, invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles and invasive species. In these galleries, visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about the aquatic wildlife animals such as the alligators, piranhas, sharks, frogs, and eels.

One of the major highlights within the Aquarium institute is the several collections which are now part of the America?s Aquatic Treasures. These treasures display the animals and habitats that are protected by the National Marine Sanctuaries Program. These treasures are also divided into galleries, namely: American Freshwater Ecosystem Gallery, Amphibians Gallery, the Amazon River Basin Gallery, and the National Marine Sanctuaries and National Parks Gallery.

The aquarium also gives emphasis to conservation through education. The general public is being made aware of the conservation programs and initiatives done by the aquarium. The National Aquarium currently partners with different government agencies to work on conservation efforts on coral reefs in the Bahamas, participates in protecting the hellbender, North America?s largest salamander, and even provides a variety of conservation educational programs, classes, and workshops for civic groups, organizations, and especially school groups. Educators on the other hand, are encouraged to get their own teaching aids and resources offered by the National Aquarium to give them more insight and understanding about marine habitat.

Overall, the National Aquarium survives with the help of outside funding, donations, and through memberships.