| Abstract: | Abstract In 1997 the Monterey Bay Aquarium refined its mission to one concise statement: The mission of the Monterey Bay Aquarium is to inspire conservation of the oceans. This has led to increased conservation content in exhibitions and more evaluation studies focused on visitors' conservation knowledge, understanding, attitudes and behavior. This article reviews conservation‐related findings from the aquarium's exhibition evaluation efforts over the last 14 years, summarizing the major themes that emerge from this body of work. Findings suggest that visitors to the Monterey Bay Aquarium are interested in and receptive to conservation content and learn new conservation information from exhibitions. Visitors' interest is most influenced by their personal involvement with conservation issues and previous visitation to the aquarium. After leaving the aquarium, there is evidence that visitors retain specific conservation information and maintain levels of concern about conservation topics for weeks, and even months, after their visit. Additionally, some visitors use the Seafood Watch pocket guide to choose sustainable seafood months after visiting the aquarium. |
