Meet our Biologist!

Haley Townsend has been a Marine Biologist at Aquarium Encounters since June 2018. She is the newest member to the animal care team.

Haley is originally from Jacksonville North Carolina, and has lived in the keys since May 2018. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a degree in Biology. Haley originally wanted to be a doctor, but also had a passion for marine life and specifically sea turtles. When she originally moved to the keys and applied for the job she was hired as a guest service agent. Eventually the aquarium was in a need of another marine biologist and we asked Haley if she would be interested. She said yes, and now she leads encounters and takes care of all our animals alongside our other marine biologists. Haley has been a great addition to our husbandry team and continues to work hard and care for our aquarium’s residents.

Growing up on a farm with horses, cows, pigs, and sheep, just to name a few, Haley is comfortable caring for animals. In her spare time back in North Carolina she rode horses, down here in the Keys she spends her free days, and nights, diving! Her favorite animal here at the aquarium is our Alligator snapping turtle Fluffy.

Come in to do an encounter with Haley; she leads our Stingray cove and Big shark Bay encounters as well as general admission tours and daily feeds.