Blog

The Seattle Aquarium is committed to continued diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) learning and practices, and to using our sphere of influence to actively oppose racism within our industry and communities of conservation. We are proud today to share with you our commitment to anti-racism, as well as some further information about our ongoing DEI work.

An egg-bound red Irish lord (Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus) at the Seattle Aquarium needed surgery, so a board-certified surgeon from Animal Surgical and Orthopedic Clinic (ASOC) performed the necessary procedure. 

It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of Q, one of our beloved harbor seals, at the age of 22. Q started showing some health issues in March of this year. X-rays at the time showed a mass inside his chest. “Diagnostic tests suggested that the most likely cause was a cancer known as lymphoma,” says Dr. Caitlin Hadfield, senior veterinarian at the Seattle Aquarium. 

Have you heard of nurdles? They might sound cute, but they are actually small preproduction plastic pellets that are produced and shipped around the world to be melted down and molded into plastic products. Not only does plastic production use fossil fuels and thereby contribute to climate change, but these small nurdles often spill during transit and end up in the environment—an estimated 230,000 tons of them every year. 

We are deeply saddened to announce the loss of Aniak, one of our beloved sea otters. Aniak was a 19-year-old female born here at the Seattle Aquarium to Lootas, our former sea otter matriarch.

The Seattle Aquarium works on policies to reduce noise and disturbance impacts on the endangered southern resident orcas, which currently number only 75. Quieter waters will make it easier for the orcas to communicate with each other and find scarce salmon, while we all work to restore habitat so that those salmon are more abundant. 

This year marks Susan’s 25th year as a Seattle Aquarium board member, and we’re proud to honor her with the Scott S. Patrick Inspirational Award. Named for the late Aquarium board member and Seattle Seahawks executive who served with extraordinary passion, the Scott S. Patrick award annually recognizes the Seattle Aquarium board member whose service best exemplifies the passion, leadership and enthusiasm that characterized Scott Patrick’s life and board service. 

Coral reefs are subject to marine heatwaves caused by human-induced climate change. Long-term thermal stress can negatively affect corals and the associated marine organisms that use these areas as critical habitat by causing coral bleaching. Coral reefs provide important ecosystem goods and services such as fisheries and tourism as well as aesthetic and cultural value. 

The northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) is one of 34 species of the group of carnivorous mammals with front and rear flippers, called pinnipeds (fin footed). Northern fur seals are known for their extremely dense fur, with about 300,000 hairs per square inch (second only to sea otters) and the largest sexual dimorphism, or size difference, of any marine mammal. Females can weigh up to around 100 pounds, and males can weigh up to 600 pounds!

On Monday, May 17, Governor Jay Inslee came to the Seattle Aquarium to sign a new law (SB5022) that will reduce plastic pollution and improve recycling in Washington. The Aquarium worked closely with partners to help pass the bill, which helps protect the health of our ocean by cutting back on harmful and unnecessary single-use plastics.

The 2021 legislative session looked different this year due to COVID-19. All legislative committees and votes were held virtually, and the capitol campus was closed to the public. Even with the switch to remote advocacy, the Seattle Aquarium was able to successfully advocate for science-based measures to protect our marine environment. Join us as we take a look back at some highlights from this session.

Fossil fuels pose a huge risk to the health of our oceans. When we burn fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas, more carbon dioxide goes into the atmosphere. As the ocean absorbs some of these emissions, the chemistry of the seawater changes.