Dear Editor:

On Wednesday, June 28, I attended the well-advertised opening of the Maine State Aquarium in West Boothbay Harbor.  What had been advertised as a re-opening in the past is now being described as an “Open House.” I was very dismayed upon entering the “aquarium.” The once resplendent wall mural depicting Boothbay Harbor was gone. The large “rock” wall that adorned some of the walls in the past was mostly gone as well. There was no 20-foot long touch tank that had been a magnet for children and adults alike. The touch tank had previously been full of a huge variety of sea creatures (baby lobsters, moon snails, periwinkles, horseshoe crabs, sea stars, crabs, sea urchins, and more).

There are now four or five small portable touch tanks that visitors waited in line to see. The solitary blue lobster in one of the portable tanks garnered lots of attention. There were large poster-type displays posted around the space, explaining the roles of scientists, and ocean zones.

As a public school teacher I was fortunate, in the past, to have visited the aquarium several years with my fourth and fifth graders. This was their very favorite activity. I would not choose to bring them to the Maine State Aquarium in its current state.

I did hear the excuse of “supply chain issues” to explain the lack of progress in the aquarium, which has been closed for two years. I hope that this once gem of an aquarium can be restored to its former excellence.

Debra Clark

Winslow