Asheville Marine Aquarium Society (AMAS)

About Us

The Asheville Marine Aquarium Society is a non-profit organization whose goals are to educate and share knowledge in responsible marine and reef aquarium care. We are also involved in programs to protect and save the world's coral reefs, and to sponsor local programs to educate the public. The AMAS is managed and run by a group of volunteers. We are 100% funded by memberships and sponsors.

The AMAS was formed in 2005 by Joe Jaworski, a long time reef enthusiast who moved to Western North Carolina and discovered there were no aquarium clubs in the area. The AMAS now serves Western North Carolina, Upstate South Carolina, and Eastern Tennessee.

Aquarist Education

We pride ourselves on providing clear and concise information to new and advanced aquarists. We do this primarily through our online Forum. Though our focus is on the local aquarist, we have many registered users from all parts of the US who provide valuable assistance in livestock husbandry and marine aquarium problem-solving.

Membership

We offer a two-tiered membership. Registration on our forum is free which provides the ability to post messages and use private mail to communicate with other users. Our paid membership is $30 per year and includes our monthly newsletter, access to the the book and equipment library, discounts at some local fish stores, an online photo gallery, and participation in local activities and outings.

Newsletter

We publish a monthly newsletter containing a wide variety of marine aquarium topics. Our newsletter is somewhat unique because it also includes commentary and articles that challenge legacy practices in marine aquarium keeping.

Meetings

We hold meetings in downtown Asheville the second Wednesday of every other month. Our meetings include guest speakers, frag swaps, and presentations by members.

Activities

We hold an annual “Tank Tour” where we rent a bus and visit members homes to see and learn about different reef and marine setups. We have also hosted demonstrations at the local mall to educate the public about marine aquarium keeping.

For more information, please visit our website: Ashevillemarine.org.

If you would like to showcase your club in Reefkeeping Magazine, please email the webmaster for more information.