North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores | 1,759 followers on LinkedIn. Inspiring appreciation and conservation of North Carolina's aquatic environments and animals. | On September 17, 1976, the state opened three North Carolina Marine Resources Centers – one at Fort Fisher, one at Pine Knoll Shores, and one on Roanoke Island. The centers were launched as research and education facilities, which also offered small exhibits that were open to the public. The centers quickly became popular, and in 1986, they were renamed the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, and the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island.