Kids and adults alike can enjoy hands-on activities to discover more about these wonderful animals. Each weekend, our mammal caretakers will demonstrate how they make ice toy treats for the otters and seals—and then you can watch to see how much the animals enjoy these treats.
March 20, 2013
MEDIA ADVISORY: Seattle Aquarium convenes sea otter conservation experts from around the world
WHEN:
March 22—24, 2013
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE:
- Friday, March 22 2:00pm–6:30pm
- Saturday, March 23 8:30am–6:30pm
- Sunday, March 24 8:30am–3:00pm
WHERE:
Seattle Aquarium
1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59
Seattle, WA 98101
WHAT:
The Seattle Aquarium will host the largest meeting of sea otter biologists in the world at the Sea Otter Conservation Workshop. The event will feature more than 50 presentations, including discussions on wild sea otter biology, ecology, husbandry and conservation presented by biologists from federal, state and non-government conservation agencies; updates on sea otters and facility husbandry; and research from every U.S. institution that keeps sea otters. The conference—the eighth since the Seattle Aquarium began hosting them biennially in 1999—will be attended by delegates from the United States, Canada, Europe, Russia and Japan.
WHO:
Jack Ames who has over 40 years working with sea otters for the California Department of Fish and game will be the keynote speaker at the Conference Dinner Friday evening. Ames helped develop the diver deployed trap* to safely catch sea otters for conservation research. He will be speaking about his experience in the field and his perceptions on the greatest threats to sea otters today. He will also speak about the most important management practices for sea otter conservation that he has seen employed, including geographic transplant successes.
*Video of the Wilson trap in action from the USGS Pacific Nearshore Project website.
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Contact:
Tim Kuniholm
(206) 386-4345
t.kuniholm@seattleaquarium.org
March 1, 2013
MEDIA ADVISORY: Marine Mammal Mania—and more!—at Seattle Aquarium this spring
WHEN:
March 7—May 2
WHERE:
Seattle Aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59, Seattle, WA
WHAT:
Marine Mammal Mania, April 5–7, 12–14, and 19–21
Join us for three special weekends to learn about some of the stars in the sea: sea otters, fur seals and wild orcas. Participate in hands-on activities for kids, special talks and demonstrations. Meet marine mammal experts and researchers. Learn how we make ice toy treats and then watch the reaction as we share them with the otters and seals!
Sound Conversations with Jeff Renner, March 7, April 11 and May 2, 7–9pm
Join us for insights into the health of the world's oceans and marine life. Participate in the dialogue as local and international experts talk with KING 5’s Chief Meteorologist Jeff Renner about the challenges faced by marine creatures—and opportunities to heal and conserve our marine environment now and for generations to come.
March 7: Elliott Norse, Ph.D., “Assembling a Portfolio of Places to Save Marine Life”
April 11: Ginger Armbrust, Ph.D., “Marine Plankton: Tiny Creatures with a Powerful Impact”
May 2: Ken Balcomb III, “Orcas: Giants of the Salish Sea”
A reception with light refreshments will precede each program. Tickets: $10 each available online at SeattleAquarium.org.
Adult Volunteer Orientation, Saturday, April 7, 10am–12pm
Join the Aquarium team! Meet new people, learn new things and most of all, have fun! Volunteers at the Seattle Aquarium learn about the marine environment and their relationship to it. They share their time, meet people with similar interests and assist guests in appreciating the unique qualities and valuable education the Aquarium has to offer. Please register for the orientation by going online to SeattleAquarium.org.
COST:
The Aquarium’s admission gate is open 9:30am to 5pm daily, with the exhibits closing at 6pm. Admission fees: Adults $19.95; Youth (4-12) $13.95; Children three and younger are admitted free.
On the web: SeattleAquarium.org
On Facebook: facebook.com/Aquarium.Seattle
On Twitter: twitter.com/SeattleAquarium
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Contact:
Tim Kuniholm
(206) 386-4345
t.kuniholm@seattleaquarium.org
February 26, 2013
MEDIA ADVISORY: Oceans and the incredible life that lives there: Come hear Sound Conversations with Jeff Renner
WHEN:
March 7, Elliott Norse, Ph.D., Assembling a Portfolio of Places to Save Marine Life
April 11, Ginger Armbrust, Ph.D., Marine Plankton: Tiny Creatures with a Powerful Impact
May 2, Ken Balcomb III, Orcas: Giants of the Salish Sea
WHERE:
Seattle Aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59, Seattle, WA
WHAT:
Sound Conversations with Jeff Renner is the Seattle Aquarium’s annual speaker series. Based on a talk-show format rather than a typical lecture format, Sound Conversations includes audience participation throughout the evening that encourages lively dialogue. Join the discussion about the challenges faced by marine creatures and the opportunities to heal and conserve Puget Sound now and for generations to come.
WHO:
March 7: Elliott Norse, Ph.D.
Founder and Chief Scientist, Marine Conservation Institute
Assembling a Portfolio of Places to Save Marine Life
A global thinker and author who’s devoted his career to conserving life in our seas and forests, Dr. Norse worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the Ecological Society of America, The Wilderness Society and the Ocean Conservancy before founding the Marine Conservation Institute in 1996. Join us to hear about his vision to assemble a global system of refuges to save marine life for the future.
April 11: Ginger Armbrust, Ph.D.
Director, School of Oceanography, University of Washington/Principal Investigator of the Armbrust Lab
Marine Plankton: Tiny Creatures with a Powerful Impact
Dr. Armbrust’s research focuses on phytoplankton, organisms that are responsible for about 50% of the total amount of photosynthesis that occurs on our planet. Join us to learn about the critical role these organisms play in our global carbon cycle, and ultimately, in our global climate.
May 2: Ken Balcomb III
Executive Director of the Center for Whale Research/Principal Investigator for Orca Survey
Orcas: Giants of the Salish Sea
The leading expert on Salish Sea orcas and a pioneer in photo-identification techniques, Ken Balcomb has been documenting the population and behavior of our region’s orcas since 1976. He’s often recognized as the scientist who discovered that Navy sonar might be responsible for beaching whales, and played a vital role in increasing government awareness of orcas’ declining numbers.
MORE INFO:
Doors open at 7pm for a reception in Seattle Aquarium’s Life on the Edge Exhibit. Program begins at 7:30pm in the Ackerley Foundation Puget Sound Great Hall.
COST:
$10 per person. Purchase tickets online at SeattleAquarium.org.
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Contact:
Tim Kuniholm
(206) 386-4345
t.kuniholm@seattleaquarium.org
February 8, 2013
Rep. Norm Dicks and Dr. Dick Feely saluted by Aquarium as champions of Puget Sound and oceans worldwide
SEATTLE—The Seattle Aquarium conferred its top awards Thursday to leaders in politics and science who have worked to preserve and protect marine environments both locally and planet-wide. Congressman Norm Dicks and oceanographer Richard Feely were honored during the annual Chairman’s Dinner at the Seattle Aquarium.
“Congressman Dicks and Dr. Feely have worked the front lines of politics and research to preserve our shorelines here in Washington State,” said Bob Davidson, president and CEO of the Seattle Aquarium. “They see the big picture, and understand how small elements affect it.” Congressman Dicks represented Washington’s 6th District, including the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas, from 1977 until last month. During his career, he has been a leader in restoring salmon habitat and fought to secure tens of millions of dollars for the cleanup of Puget Sound and Hood Canal. He increased support for research and remediation work on estuaries by the Environmental Protection Agency, and over the course of three decades wrote legislation to preserve wilderness areas and funding for other public lands.
As a chemical oceanographer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Dr. Feely has done substantial research on the effects of carbon dioxide on marine ecosystems. In the summer of 2012, he began testing equipment to measure ocean acidification in the waters outside the Seattle Aquarium. That equipment will eventually be taken thousands of miles into the Pacific to gauge acidification in the open ocean. His work in this arena has garnered international attention.
Aquarium board member Mary L. Bass was also honored at the Chairman’s dinner, with a surprise presentation of the Scott S. Patrick Inspirational Award, named for the late Aquarium board member and Seattle Seahawks executive who served with extraordinary passion. Bass, a vice president with Wells Fargo whose Aquarium leadership helped build its board of directors and sharply expand its fundraising programs, spent her childhood summers on the waters and beaches of Camano Island. She has been a tireless and inspirational proponent of the Aquarium for the past decade, as well as a leader for volunteerism in the broader community.
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About the Seattle Aquarium
The Seattle Aquarium is one of Washington state’s leading environmental education and stewardship institutions, and the region’s gathering place for discussion and sharing information about marine conservation. It maintains a number of research initiatives in cooperation with federal, state, zoological and university partners. The Aquarium is located on Pier 59, at 1483 Alaskan Way.
On the web: SeattleAquarium.org
On Facebook: facebook.com/Aquarium.Seattle
On Twitter: twitter.com/SeattleAquarium
Contact:
Tim Kuniholm
(206) 386-4345
t.kuniholm@seattleaquarium.org
January 30, 2013
MEDIA ADVISORY: Wrap your arms around Octopus Week at the Seattle Aquarium!
Octopus Blind Date, Valentine’s day, February 14
Octopus Week activities, February 15-24
Most people celebrate President’s Day weekend and mid-winter break. Here in Seattle we combine those celebrations with Octopus Week at the Seattle Aquarium! Join us February 14-24 for fun and learning about one of the coolest creatures in Puget Sound.
Octopus Week highlights:
- Octopus Blind Date on Thursday, 2/14 starting at noon. Watch what happens when sixteen arms, six hearts (three hearts each) and two giant Pacific octopuses meet on Valentine’s Day. Aquarium biologists set the mood with decorative hearts, roses and romantic music at the Octopus exhibit. But it’s up to the octopuses to decide whether or not love is in the water!
- Hands-on activities for kids of all ages 2/15-2/24.
- Daily octopus feedings and talks.
- We’ll have divers swimming with an octopus on 2/16, 2/17, 2/18, 2/23 & 2/24 at noon in the Window on Washington Waters exhibit. Get a really good view of an octopus and find out all kinds of cool information about this iconic Puget Sound animal.
Winter hours/prices at the Aquarium:
The Aquarium’s admission gate is open 9:30am to 5pm daily, with the exhibits closing at 6pm. Admission fees: Adults $19.95; Youth (4-12) $13.95; Children three and younger are admitted FREE. (206) 386-4300 or SeattleAquarium.org for more information.
Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment.
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Contact:
Tim Kuniholm
(206) 386-4345
t.kuniholm@seattleaquarium.org
January 18, 2013
Waterfront Seattle receives national recognition
Waterfront Seattle recently received national recognition from the American Planning Association for excellence in planning. The project has been awarded the National Planning Achievement Award for Urban Design for the Waterfront Seattle Concept Design and Framework Plan.
To read the full article, click here.
January 10, 2013
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY/MEDIA ADVISORY: Seattle Aquarium Sea Otters Show 12th Man Spirit
WHEN:
Friday, January 11 through Sunday, January 13, at 12pm.
WHAT:
The Seattle Aquarium will continue to show its spirit and support of the Seattle Seahawks' playoff run this Friday through Sunday with our resident sea otters getting treats of 12th Man ice toys. In addition, our underwater SCUBA divers will don the Seahawks FAN home jersey in our Window on Washington Waters exhibit dive shows this weekend. A 12th man flag will also be flying underwater in the exhibit.
Dive shows are scheduled for 10am, 11:30am and 12:15pm daily, and are free with Aquarium admission. Dive shows feature our Puget Sound animal collection with a new twist of Seahawk pride. Guests are encouraged to wear their favorite Seahawks gear and celebrate with us.
WHERE:
Seattle Aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59, Seattle, WA, Window on Washington Waters exhibit. Please enter through the main Aquarium entrance.
Hours/prices at the Aquarium: The Aquarium’s admission gate is open 9:30am to 5pm daily, with the exhibits closing at 6pm. Admission fees: Adults $19.95; Youth (4-12) $13.95; Children 3 and younger are admitted FREE.
On the web: www.seattleaquarium.org
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/Aquarium.Seattle
On Twitter: twitter.com/SeattleAquarium
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Contact:
Tim Kuniholm
(206) 386-4345
t.kuniholm@seattleaquarium.org