Vancouver Aquarium

At TPA Airport, planes gotta fly, fish gotta swim

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Two 2,000-gallon aquatic exhibits are now back on view in the Red and Blue Baggage Claim areas at Tampa International Airport (TPA).

The exhibits, created and maintained by the Florida Aquarium, were first installed at the airport back in 1998 to offer a colorful and calming welcome for travelers arriving in Tampa.

The fish were removed in the summer of 2024 to make sure they stayed safe during a construction project that is now complete.

The tanks are now back in place and are filled with several species of fish, including blue striped grunts, porkfish, sharp nose puffers, barred hamlets, royal gramma, a French angelfish, and several tangs.

Fishy things at other airports

A handful of other airports have aquariums and fish-related installations.

One of our favorites is at Vancouver International Airport (YVR), which has worked with the Vancouver Aquarium since 2007 to maintain a giant tank in the airport with more than 5,000 marine creatures that are native to British Columbia.

Located post security in the International Terminal, you can spot Wolf Eels, Sea Stars, Sea Urchins and 21 different species of fish.

Souvenir Sunday at Vancouver Int’l Airport

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Each Sunday here at StuckatTheAirport.com is Souvenir Sunday – the day we look at fun, inexpensive and somewhat offbeat items you can pick up at the airport.

This week’s treats come from Vancouver International Airport.

I found this cute pink octopus at the airport’s Vancouver Aquarium shop:

A souvenir shop offered up these cute moose Mounties –

But my pick for Souvenir Sunday this week are these corny Bear Breath Mints:

Do you poke around the shops when you’re stuck at the airport? If you find something fun, inexpensive (around $10), and “of” the city or region, please snap a photo and send it along.
If your souvenir is featured on Souvenir Sunday, I’ll send you a fun air travel-related gift.