For more than 70 years, the North Jersey Aquarium Society has brought together people who share a passion for fish, aquariums, aquatic plants, and the natural world. Founded in 1953, NJAS is one of the oldest continuously active aquarium societies in New Jersey — and one of the longest-running aquarium clubs in the country.
NJAS was also a charter member of the Northeast Council of Aquarium Societies, established in 1956, and our history is closely tied to the broader development of the aquarium hobby in the Northeast. Over the decades, the club has been home to accomplished breeders, authors, speakers, and educators whose influence has extended far beyond New Jersey — a legacy that continues today as experienced aquarists share what they know with the next generation.
Want to be part of it? See what's coming up next, learn about our Breeders and Growers Award Programs, or find out how to join the club.
Few NJAS members left a deeper mark than Dr. Paul V. Loiselle, a longtime member who passed away on April 15, 2025, at 79. After joining NJAS in the 1970s, Paul went on to become Curator of Freshwater Fishes at the New York Aquarium, conducting fieldwork on threatened fish across Madagascar, West Africa, and the Amazon. He became one of the aquarium hobby's most influential voices for connecting hobbyists to real conservation — his work helped shape the CARES Preservation Program that NJAS members still participate in today, and three fish species (Ptychochromis loisellei, Paretroplus loisellei, and Melanotaenia loisellei) carry his name in tribute.
His story is a reminder of what a simple love of fish can grow into — for one member, and for a club.
The volunteers currently running the club.
Loading board…
Volunteer-run groups that keep specific parts of the club running.
Loading committees…