Monterey Bay Aquarium

Our summer hours start Saturday, just in time for the holiday...

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:00:58 -0700

Our summer hours start Saturday, just in time for the holiday weekend! We’ll be open from 9:30 am to 6 pm (9 am for members). Enjoy your visit!

Learn more about membership.

The giant Pacific octopus: male or female? That’s a...

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:24:00 -0700

The giant Pacific octopus: male or female? That’s a question we’re often asked. If you’re facing our exhibit currently, the one on the left is male, the one on the right is female. Right now, they’re hard to tell apart. But on occasion, a female will lay thousands of eggs, which look like small clusters of grapes, on the exhibit glass. Then you’ll know for sure!

Learn more.

California AB 521 goes before an important committee this week!...

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:10:33 -0700

California AB 521 goes before an important committee this week! Help us protect sea turtles, seabirds and sea otters by keeping plastic out of the ocean. If you live in California, won’t you take a minute to help?

Take action now.

(©Theresa Clyde)

Did you know that routine plumbing maintenance at the Aquarium...

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:52:24 -0700

Did you know that routine plumbing maintenance at the Aquarium sometimes yields interesting specimens for exhibit, like these gooseneck barnacles?

Learn how we “pig” our pipes to keep them free of organisms.

More great weather—and great events—at Cooking for...

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:55:35 -0700

More great weather—and great events—at Cooking for Solutions. We hope you had a chance to enjoy the festivities!

What an evening for our Cooking for Solutions Gala! There are...

Sat, 18 May 2013 09:13:00 -0700

What an evening for our Cooking for Solutions Gala! There are more events to come, and you can learn more here.

What’s it like to be a volunteer diver? This is as close...

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:35:40 -0700

What’s it like to be a volunteer diver? This is as close as you can get without getting wet!

Learn more about volunteering at the Aquarium.

Did you know that today is Endangered Species Day, celebrating...

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:27:10 -0700

Did you know that today is Endangered Species Day, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the federal Endangered Species Act? We rescue, study and care for many endangered species at the Aquarium, in cooperation with government agencies. These include snowy plovers, sharks, sea otters, penguins, rockfish and albatross. How will you celebrate this special day?

Learn about all our research and conservation efforts.

Our puffin exhibit in the Open Sea wing was briefly closed for...

Thu, 16 May 2013 09:01:46 -0700

Our puffin exhibit in the Open Sea wing was briefly closed for repair work, but it’s open again and the birds are oh-so-happy to be back. Can you tell? They’re also sporting spring plumage!

Learn more about puffins at the Aquarium.

What’s the best job ever? After watching this AMAZING...

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:56:18 -0700

What’s the best job ever? After watching this AMAZING video, we think you’ll agree: sea otter aquarist!

Support California AB 521: Help Protect Marine Life from Plastic Pollution!

Wed, 15 May 2013 13:15:00 -0700

Each year thousands of seabirds, sea turtles and other marine life are harmed by plastic pollution in our oceans. That’s why we’re supporting California bill AB 521, which would set goals for reducing plastic pollution in our coastal waters and require producers of plastic products to join consumers and state and local governments in addressing the problem of marine plastic pollution. You can read the full text of the bill here.

If you’re a California resident, it’s easy to do your part:

1. Find your California representative.

2. Use or adapt the following copy to send them a message:

I am calling/e-mailing to urge you to vote “yes” on AB 521. This bill will help protect seabirds, sea turtles and other ocean animals that I care about from the harmful impacts of marine plastic pollution. It will set reasonable targets for reducing marine plastic pollution in California’s ocean waters and require producers of plastic products to join consumers and state and local governments in addressing the problem of marine plastic pollution. Thank you for considering this important issue and working to protect our oceans.

How Plastics Impact Our Oceans

Plastic is one of the biggest pollution problems impacting the world’s oceans. Everyday items such as single-use plastic containers and packaging can have significant impacts on ocean life. A 2012 study by the Convention on Biological Diversity found that 663 different marine species are impacted by plastic pollution.

Plastic products find their way to the ocean through storm drains, streams and rivers and may be mistaken for food, as they break down into smaller particles that resemble small fish or krill. Some plastics can travel ocean currents all the way to the North Pacific Central Gyre where they are picked up by Laysan albatrosses like our Aquarium resident albatross Makana, shown above. Scientists estimate that each year, around 4.5 metric tons of plastics are brought onto Midway Island in the remote Pacific Ocean by albatrosses feeding plastic to their young. The canister shown on this page is the contents of one albatross’s stomach!

How AB 521 Helps

AB 521 would incentivize actions like redesigning products and improving product recycling. The bill would set reasonable targets for reducing marine plastic pollution through these and other actions and also provide much-needed funding for state and local plastic pollution cleanup efforts.

Thank you from the Monterey Bay Aquarium for supporting this important bill!

Learn more about Makana and ocean plastics.

Learn about our plastics exhibit, which showcases spectacular art installations and photo collages created from everyday plastics.

An endangered loggerhead sea turtle is making a splash on...

Wed, 15 May 2013 08:37:00 -0700

An endangered loggerhead sea turtle is making a splash on exhibit. Learn more in our latest podcast!

Have you visited yet? James Beard Award-winning Chef Cindy...

Tue, 14 May 2013 14:47:02 -0700

Have you visited yet? James Beard Award-winning Chef Cindy Pawlcyn shares her excitement and vision for our new restaurant, Cindy’s Waterfront: a labor of love, with an ocean view.

Are you feeling a bit of trepidation this Monday, like our...

Mon, 13 May 2013 09:08:35 -0700

Are you feeling a bit of trepidation this Monday, like our friend Gidget? We hope you have a great week! (Thanks to sea otter aquarist Nikki Dinsmore for being so quick with a camera.)

Watch our sea otters now via live web cam.

Photo

Sat, 11 May 2013 17:05:58 -0700

The party is only a week away! May 17 is the Gala and there are...

Fri, 10 May 2013 15:53:15 -0700

The party is only a week away! May 17 is the Gala and there are still tickets available! Enjoy over 80 food stations, premier wines and specialty beers while exploring the Aquarium exhibits! See you there!

www.cookingforsolutions.org

Does the lowly sea slug feel the urges of spring? You bet! There...

Fri, 10 May 2013 08:56:00 -0700

Does the lowly sea slug feel the urges of spring? You bet! There are nudibranch eggs in several exhibits, including bell-shaped egg cases in the melibe display.

Learn more about the melibe.

Help Save the Oceans One Bid at a Time! Our Cooking for...

Thu, 09 May 2013 13:17:00 -0700

Help Save the Oceans One Bid at a Time! Our Cooking for Solutions online auction starts today, benefits the Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program and features outstanding culinary adventures, great wines and one-of-a-kind items.

Learn more.

Have you visited yet? Our new restaurant, Cindy’s...

Thu, 09 May 2013 10:26:13 -0700

Have you visited yet? Our new restaurant, Cindy’s Waterfront, is open for business!

Learn more.

Celebrate World Oceans Day June 8-9 by falling asleep next to...

Wed, 08 May 2013 14:04:00 -0700

Celebrate World Oceans Day June 8-9 by falling asleep next to your favorite fish! Come with your family or group of 12 or more and enjoy special evening activities and programs, and get a tour of our jellies lab.

Learn more.