In 1999, a five-storey museum building with almost 2,000 m2 (22,000 sq ft) of floor space was inaugurated, housing a new permanent exhibition, a library, storage rooms, an archive and offices.

[2] The largest aquarium tank contains 100,000 L (26,000 US gal) saltwater and is home to species such as cod, halibut, conger eel, gilthead seabream, greater spotted dogfish and thornback ray,[4] while the sealarium contains 500,000 L (130,000 US gal) and is home to grey seal and harbour seal.

[5] By 2007, the museum had welcomed six million visitors since its opening but thereafter, as a result of a considerable decrease in the number of Germans visiting Denmark, it experienced a few difficult years.

[2] The 1931-built Claus Sørensen E.1 is a preserved fishing cutter that is also used for educational tours around the port of Esbjerg and the Wadden Sea.

[6] In November 2021 operation of E.1 was taken over by local shipowner Esvagt, for technical and safety matters, with the company's retired seafarers providing crew.