The Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute (TNACI) seeks to conserve native aquatic animals and their habitats through scientific research, ecosystem restoration, education programs, and public outreach. TNACI focuses its efforts on protecting the natural resources of the Southeast, including monitoring human impact on fragile habitats, reintroducing native species to Tennessee's waters and partnering with peer organizations and private citizens to bolster the remarkable aquatic life of our region. TNACI's conservation messages are woven into education programs that enhance classroom learning for more than 100,000 students each year. Leading regional efforts to reverse the loss of aquatic biodiversity, TNACI works beyond political and academic borders to provide annual outreach programming for more than 200 stakeholders. TNACI fulfills its conservation mission by collaborating with a broad group of partners, including Tennessee Technological University, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and World Wildlife Fund. The Tennessee Aquarium, with its large and diverse audience, serves as a vehicle for sharing TNACI's field work and the practical, real-world implications of conservation efforts. For nearly 20 years, TNACI and the Aquarium have worked together to achieve specific conservation objectives and have inspired 21 million people with a greater understanding of their watershed and aquatic resources.