The Great Lakes Aquarium is excited to open its new Oceans Alive exhibit Friday. It’s on the first floor east wing gallery, replacing the Shipwrecks Alive exhibit that’s been there for a decade.

The new exhibit features seahorses, seadragons, coral reefs, and sandy shore habitats. Perhaps, the most anticipated new animal is the Giant Pacific Octopus, which can be found on the west coast.

“We’re showing animals that are very unique. Folks around here don’t really get a chance to see some of these animals,” Executive Director Jay Walker told WDIO.

The Great Lakes Aquarium hopes that when visitors see these animals and precious ecosystems, they’ll be inspired to protect them.

Walker added, “I always say just a few paddle strokes outside the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence Seaway and you’re into the world. But there’s so much that we rely on in the large waters- when you think of how the large water that we have out here at Lake Superior affects our weather patterns and affects our lives. The ocean also affects even as far as inland, creating weather patterns. Oxygen is created from the oceans. So, we really are trying to talk about that we are a global system.”

A social media naming contest for the Giant Pacific Octopus will start later in June. Give to Max donors got to throw in a name to be considered. Staff have narrowed it down to four. The public will get to vote for their top two. Then the octopus herself will get to pick her name. Watch for those updates on social media.

Oceans Alive was funded in part with $220,000 of Duluth City Tourism Tax dollars. The Minnesota Power Foundation gifted $50,000 and became a naming sponsor of the exhibit.