The National Marine Aquarium, which opened in May 1998, is situated in Plymouth in south-west England. It is the largest aquarium in the UK and houses over 5,000 animals. It acts as an educational institution by teaching visitors about the marine environment. The National Marine Aquarium is run by the Ocean Conservation Trust, a charity dedicated to ocean conservation. The marine aquarium is located in Sutton Harbour near the Barbican and fish market.