Policy Advocacy

The National Aquarium inspires compassion and care for our ocean planet in many ways, from our work in animal care and education to habitat restoration and wildlife rescue. Each facet of our work also informs our policy and advocacy efforts, which span local, regional and federal levels. Our organization works with many partners and coalitions to share diverse expertise with decision makers and inform the public process. We are dedicated to fostering an equitable and just future in which people have the resources necessary to protect animals and restore ecosystems while also balancing the needs of wildlife and human communities.

The Aquarium acts as a vocal advocate, supporting legislation, regulations and other public policies that are aligned with our mission and help achieve our conservation goals. Over the years, we have advocated for hundreds of policies that safeguard wildlife, restore habitats, build resiliency to climate change impacts, reduce carbon and plastic pollution, and advance environmental justice.

Climate Change

The effects of climate change driven by extracting and burning fossil fuels are far-reaching, affecting all people and wildlife. Maryland's communities experience a variety of climate impacts, ranging from increased seasonal temperatures to rising sea levels and saltwater inundation. We inform and advocate for policies that will help lessen these impacts, like transitioning to clean energy, reducing carbon emissions, improving coastal resilience and more.

Environmental Justice

Climate change, plastic pollution and biodiversity loss affect us all. Their impacts, though, are not experienced equally. Within Baltimore and across the country, social, economic, environmental and historical policy decisions have furthered unjust systems. As a result, communities of color and those that are economically distressed are disproportionately harmed by environmental degradation and climate change. These communities are also routinely underrepresented in or excluded from decision-making processes. We seek to counter this by advocating for meaningful and equitable engagement by all communities in policymaking. Together, we can take steps to ensure a healthy ocean planet for all people and wildlife, now and in the future.

Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution has devastating effects on wildlife, humans and ecosystems. Millions of metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, while more is diverted to landfills or incinerated. Humans are making more waste than we or our environment can handle. Systemic change is needed to support individual and large-scale efforts to decrease plastic use and waste. We advocate for policies that reduce plastic production and demand, for example, by requiring producer responsibility and encouraging behavior change. We also support policies that remove existing pollution and foster education and outreach.

Wildlife & Habitats

Protecting wildlife and habitats is key to maintaining healthy ecosystems, which provide us with everything from food to oxygen and more. Our efforts focus on policies that support and invest public funding in wildlife protection, animal rescue and rehabilitation efforts, initiatives that restore and reconnect natural spaces, and environmental education and stewardship.