[6] Nausicaa is described as a centre of scientific and technical discovery of the marine environment, focusing primarily on the relationship between man and the sea.

The idea for the aquarium started when Guy Lengagne, then mayor of Boulogne-sur-Mer, wanted to repurpose an old casino.

In 1982, oceanographers Philippe Vallette, Stéphane Henard, and Christophe Liacopoulos were tasked with a preliminary study, and eventually with implementing the project.

A major expansion of the facility in 1998 doubled the exhibition area to 4,500 square metres (48,000 sq ft) in order to add about 10,000 animals, including California sea lions, and a Tropical Lagoon Village with sharks and coral reefs.

This app was the first of its kind in such an environment, allowing visitors to navigate the aquarium with ease and access enriched additional content about the exhibits.

"The High Sea" is centered on the huge 10,000,000 L (2,600,000 US gal) tank for large pelagic fish such as manta rays, oceanic sunfish and scalloped hammerheads.

On 14 November 2008, Nausicaa was awarded first prize for medical training in the care of sea lions at the IMATA (International Marine Animal Trainers Association) annual conference, which took place in Cancun, Mexico.