Blog

The beach naturalists are back and rocking our new, ocean-blue-colored hats! We had so much fun exploring with all of you who came out to visit us the first week of this month as we kicked off our season. #1 in a series of guest blog posts by Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists Bobby Arispe and Jen Strongin.

Last week was Capitol Hill Ocean Week! Thousands of people gathered in DC to talk about solutions to pressing ocean challenges. The Seattle Aquarium participated for the first time, represented by Erin Meyer and Nora Nickum from our Conservation Programs and Partnerships department.

Last September, the Seattle Aquarium and Woodland Park Zoo co-hosted the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ annual conference. The Aquarium hosted the conference’s big kickoff social, the icebreaker—and, in a first for these events, it was carbon neutral!

As part of Orca Action Month, we are introducing a new series of infographics to help share the story of our southern resident orcas and the challenges they face. Last week we shared information showing how our local orcas are related through an interactive family tree and this week we will be focusing on where people can see our southern and northern resident pods in the wild.

We would like to extend a big heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in the Survive the Sound challenge. If you picked the Aquarium’s fish Pierre 59 we have some great news—you won! Pierre 59 was a strong swimmer and crossed the finish line ranked in first place! Pierre 59 was able to successfully migrate out of the Salish Sea, but the fact is not every fish made it. Migrating salmon face many obstacles as they travel through our local waters, and this challenge showed us that a small fraction of the fish who undertake the journey make it out to the open ocean.

Every year organizations across Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia unite to raise awareness on the challenges facing our beloved orcas. June kicks off Orca Action Month and we are excited that the Aquarium will be holding our own Orca Awareness Celebration as part of the festivities. The Aquarium and state lawmakers made orca recovery a top priority during this year’s legislative session and we continue to help raise awareness among our visitors and community about actions we can all take to help.

Thank you to everyone who signed up for the Survive the Sound challenge, an interactive online game where individuals are invited to follow their favorite fish character as it migrates through Puget Sound. The competition, which is being organized by one of our great conservation partners Long Live the Kings, is underway and we wanted to update you on the progress of our Aquarium team and our fish Pierre 59 as it makes the perilous trek to the ocean.

The 2019 legislative session has come to a close here in Washington state and we are proud that the Aquarium took an active role in advocating on behalf of the Salish Sea and the many incredible creatures that call it home. More than 2,000 bills were introduced in this Washington state legislative session. The legislators were very busy and so were we!

Just as people go to the doctor or dentist for regular check-ups, the animals in our care also get regular check-ups. Get the inside scoop as Senior Veterinarian Dr. Caitlin Hadfield shares details about fur seal Leu’s recent exam.

The Seattle Aquarium needs your help. We have joined in the fun and are participating in this year’s Survive the Sound competition that is being hosted by one of our conservation partners, Long Live the Kings.

At the Seattle Aquarium, we believe that sustainability starts at home—meaning that it’s important for us to model the practices we promote as part of our quest to improve ocean health. Our sustainability efforts are reflected everywhere in our facility—including our café.

Here at the Seattle Aquarium, we’re committed to sustainability—which means adopting green practices in our facility, sharing what we’re doing with our visitors, and promoting sustainable choices in the community at large.