Alaska SeaLife Center: Marine Wildlife Rescue
The Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward is a nonprofit aquarium and research center that rescues stranded marine animals, studies Alaska's marine ecosystems and teaches ocean science (Alaska SeaLife Center).
Image: NASA (iss072e820937, Gulf of Alaska and aurora, March 12, 2025).
Last reviewed: 2 sources cited
Alaska has one permanent place to rescue stranded seals, sea otters and walruses, and it is in Seward.
It runs Alaska's only permanent marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation center, for a coastline of more than 33,900 miles (Alaska SeaLife Center).
Explain Like I'm 10
- Sometimes baby seals and sea otters lose their mothers or get hurt.
- The Alaska SeaLife Center brings them to Seward and cares for them day and night.
- Its scientists also study sea lions and seabirds to learn how the ocean is changing.
The Five W's of the Alaska SeaLife Center
Who
The Alaska SeaLife Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Its rehabilitation work is authorized by USFWS and NMFS.
What
Marine wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, research and ocean education.
When
Open since 1998; 2024 marked 26 years of its Wildlife Response Program.
Where
Seward, Alaska, the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park.
Why
Its mission is to generate and share scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska's marine A community of living things and the place they live, like a reef or a forest, all depending on each other. Glossary.
Connected Solutions
- Gulf of Alaska Keeper Clears tons of debris from Alaska's remote beaches.
Impact Statement
Nonprofit solution · active
In 2024, its education programs reached more than 94,000 people on site and 181,000 off site, and its distance learning has reached classrooms in all 50 U.S. states and 10 countries (Alaska SeaLife Center).
Source: Alaska SeaLife Center, 2024 Annual Report
For Further Information: Alaska SeaLife Center, 2024 Annual Report
In July 2024, the center led intensive care for a rare orphaned Pacific walrus calf rescued from Utqiagvik. Her name, Ukiaq, means "autumn" in Iñupiaq (Alaska SeaLife Center).
How This Saves People & the Planet
For People
The center reports that it is the main reason 28,700 people visit Seward each year, with a $46.5 million direct positive impact on the local economy (Alaska SeaLife Center).
Source: Alaska SeaLife Center, 2024 Annual Report
For Nature
Its long-term studies include 27 years of Steller sea lion video monitoring on Chiswell Island and Alaska's only year-round marine bird survey, in Resurrection Bay since 2011 (Alaska SeaLife Center).
Support the Alaska SeaLife Center
Support the Alaska SeaLife Center directly.
DonateRelated Solutions
More solutions like this one, matched by meaning.
Help This Work
Links go straight to the organization. Saving Planets doesn't receive any of the money.