Blog

Invertebrates—animals without backbones—are found in every habitat at the Seattle Aquarium. And, like all animals that make their homes with us, they need expert care to thrive.

Aggregating anemones are the most abundant species of anemone along the North American coast. Found attached to rocks, they prey on small fish, snails, crabs and other animals that they immobilize with venom from their tentacles, then devour through their mouths, located at the top center of their bodies.

Many of us have heard about the growing problem around single-use plastics and at the Aquarium we are committed to how we can take positive steps toward making a difference! Unfortunately the statistics are staggering. Globally we are now producing almost 300 million tons of plastics every year, with more than half of that being “single use.”

The Seattle Aquarium is excited to announce that we recently partnered with Whidbey Island Ice Cream Company on a new sea salted caramel ice cream bar! The ice cream which has received the Aquarium’s “Seal of Approval” will be available in a variety of local stores and in our very own Aquarium Café. A portion of the proceeds from each bar sold will support conservation and educational programming at the Aquarium. We have to admit, we got an early taste and they are quite yummy!

“Daily disposable contact lenses crate a lot of waste,” says Aquarium volunteer Jacquelyn Simmons. She has, if you’ll pardon the pun, a clear view of that waste: When she’s not volunteering at the Aquarium, Jacquelyn works as a patient coordinator at the Columbia Vision Center optometry office in Seattle—“It’s another way to enjoy biology!” she laughs.

As part of ongoing efforts to help save our southern resident orca population, a task force convened by Governor Jay Inslee has been meeting regularly over the past six months to help determine how we can take measurable steps to better protect our local orca population. Photo: Center for Whale Research.

Just like people, the animals at the Aquarium benefit from expert care, including regular medical exams. And recently, when three of our resident wolf eels were being relocated into new habitats, senior veterinarian Caitlin Hadfield, Vet MB Dipl. ACZM Dipl. ECZM, worked with Aquarium staff aquarists to do routine health checks.

We all love our local southern resident orcas, but they continue to struggle as they face ongoing strain on their local habitat and food supply. The Seattle Aquarium along with numerous local leaders, researchers, conservationists and partners from the Orca Salmon Alliance are advocating for greater protections for this iconic species and the salmon they depend on for food.

Sodexo, the Aquarium’s café/catering partner, recently received an “Outie” award for workplace excellence at the Out & Equal Workplace Summit in Seattle. The award recognizes Sodexo for their historic and ongoing commitment to pursuing and executing workplace inclusion and equality for LGBT employees.

Trick-or-treaters in costume are a common sight on October 31—but did you know that some of the animals at the Aquarium have their own ways of “dressing up”? If you’re still figuring out what you’ll wear on Halloween, maybe these saltwater costume experts can provide some inspiration. Take a look, then come see the animals in person at the Aquarium: dressed up or in “plain clothes,” they’re sure to captivate!

The Aquarium aspires to turn knowledge, into inspiration and move people to action. And this November Washington voters have an opportunity to take a big step toward better protecting the health of our planet and the ocean, by voting YES on Initiative 1631.

Being a youth volunteer at the Seattle Aquarium recently got even more rewarding: participants now have the opportunity to earn college credit through a new “badging” program developed by Aquarium youth engagement staff and volunteers in collaboration with researchers and faculty from University of Washington Bothell.