Aquarium Affairs Committee 

Vision

The Aquarium Affairs Committee will serve as a clearinghouse to assist AZA aquarium members in improving their business performance, ensuring the sustainability of their collections and collaborating on global conservation initiatives.

Mission

The mission of the AZA Aquarium Affairs Committee is to create a forum for aquarium leaders to focus on aquarium-wide subjects and advance the professional standards and practices of AZA aquariums. The AAC will consider all matters related to: 

• Sharing aquatic operating activities and best practices across all areas of aquatic enterprise operations within AZA and collaborating with other associations/NGO’s/groups (i.e. RAW) as appropriate

• Conservation and policy initiatives in aquatic habitats and ecosystems

• Represent aquarium/aquatic perspective within SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) 

• Successful integration of SAFE into aquarium operations

• Development of strategies to ensure sustainable collections, from fish to marine mammals

• Advancing animal welfare initiatives

• Unifying the accredited aquatic community and solidifying public support

• Providing guidance on AZA board policy related to aquatic issues

• Fostering aquarium representation on AZA committees and within conference programming

• Promotion of leadership opportunities and initiatives for aquarium personnel

• Coordinate with AZA’s Aquatic Collections Sustainability Committee

Chair
Stephanie Allard, National Aquarium

Vice Chairs
Evan Barniskis, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
Allison Tuttle, Mystic Aquarium

Members
Greg Charbeneau, OdySea Aquarium 
Peter Doyle, Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
Michael Fatzinger, North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
Harry Helling, Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceaonography
Jack Jewell, Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay
Crislyn McKerron, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
Mackenzie Neale, Vancouver Aquarium Ltd
Fred Petitt, The Seas
Carly Pope, Georgia Aquarium
Brad Rutherford, Monterey Bay Aquarium
Keith Sanford, Tennessee Aquarium
Bart Shepherd, Steinhart Aquarium
Dave Truedson, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk
Andrew Wood, The Florida Aquarium
Lam Xue Ying, S.E.A. Aquarium and Dolphin Island

Board Liaison
Carrie Lewis, Oregon Coast Aquarium

Committee Liaisons
Adrienne Rowland, Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay

AZA Staff Liaison
Brynn McDonnell