History & Mission

The Tampa Bay Aquarium Society (T.B.A.S.) is a non-profit organization which strives not only to promote the Aquarium hobby and to further education and conservation of the aquatic environment to Floridians, but to the populace in general.

The T.B.A.S. was established in 1992 by a small group of enthusiastic local hobbyists, many of whom are still active in the club today. Now, 10 years later, the T.B.A.S. publishes a top of the line monthly bulletin, boasts of a monthly program of highly touted aquarists in the tropical fish world, has a tremendous web site, conducts fish shows and conferences that inspire all and shows the tropical fish world the commitment of T.B.A.S. to the exciting, challenging hobby of tropical fish.

The very existence and success of T.B.A.S., through the years, has been possible only through the dedication of the T.B.A.S. members and the local and national supporters of the tropical fish hobby including the local fish farms. The T.B.A.S. is proud of all it has accomplished and will continue to promote the tropical fish hobby as it has done in the past.

It is with great pride that T.B.A.S. also considers itself as a “family”. The fellowship among the club members is extraordinary and it is this closeness that makes T.B.A.S. unique among clubs.

As a group we must strive to continue to bring in new members and continue to support the local fish shop in a shrinking hobby, but we must never lose our focus on the enhancement of the hobby.