Page 10 – Seattle Aquarium

“Resharking” the ocean: Five lessons learned

Posted on October 11, 2022February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

Sharks and rays are vanishing at an alarming rate due to fishing and habitat loss. When these keystone species disappear, their entire ecosystems collapse. For over two years, the Seattle Aquarium has been part of a global coalition devoted to changing the story and “resharking” the ocean.

In August 2022, the coalition—called ReShark—achieved a major milestone in its first project. Eggs laid by Indo-Pacific leopard sharks (Stegostoma tigrinum) in the SEA LiFE Sydney Aquarium were moved from Australia to a new shark nursery in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Pups have already hatched and are growing quickly! When they’re mature, they’ll be released into their home waters to help bring back their species locally and safely within marine protected areas. And ReShark’s work will continue, with new eggs, new locations and new species to recover.

Dr. Erin Meyer, Director of Conservation Programs & Partnerships at the Seattle Aquarium, has helped build the coalition from its earliest days and chairs the project’s Steering Committee. She shared five key lessons from the first chapter of its work.

1. Aquariums can help bring back endangered marine species.

Aquariums have been advocating to protect ocean health, mobilizing communities and educating people about endangered marine animals. We can also help reverse the exponentially increasing number of species listed as endangered or critically endangered. For some endangered species, protecting and restoring habitat areas isn’t sufficient. Because if their numbers get too low, they can’t successfully reproduce. And that’s where aquariums can step in because we are the organizations with the expertise and experience in breeding, rearing, feeding and caring for these animals in ways that no other organization can do. It’s an incredible opportunity to put our knowledge to work to restore threatened species in the ocean.

How ReShark Works

Sharks and rays living in accredited aquariums lay eggs (or, depending on the species, pups).
Eggs or pups are transferred to special nurseries built by local communities in areas where species are in decline and other protective measures have not brought back their numbers.
At the nurseries, trained local aquarists rear shark and ray pups.
Once ready, juvenile sharks and rays are tagged and released into their home waters.

2. Building global partnerships takes time.

The first time I heard the idea for what would become ReShark was in early 2018, about a month after I got the job at the Aquarium. I then became part of a small group of colleagues from around the world that kept talking about the possibility over the next two years. Could we do it? If we did, how would it work? We formally launched the first project in February 2020. Then the pandemic began. Still, we kept going, working virtually with local leaders in Indonesia to get permits, building a nursery for baby sharks at the Raja Ampat Research & Conservation Centre, training aquarists in Indonesia, finding viable eggs to ship. Moving our first set of eggs in August took a huge amount of work behind the scenes by so many people. (See all ReShark partners involved in this work.) In August, I got to see the nursery for the first time in person—this amazing structure we’d all been working toward for two years. For me, that’s when it became very real.

ReShark by the Numbers

70+ partners | 13 countries | 2.5 years of planning

3. Cross-cultural collaboration moves at the speed of trust.

Conservation is about people. And we are agents of change, both damaging and regenerative. Collaborative conservation is intentional, co-led and begins with a blank slate. ReShark’s first project is co-designed and co-implemented with the West Papuan government in Indonesia as critical partners in this coalition. It would not have been possible without local leadership. Doing cross-cultural conservation work in a way that centers the priorities and needs of the people in the country where the work is taking place is incredibly important for this project and for the future of conservation in general. I often hear in the environmental justice community that work like this moves “at the speed of trust.” It takes years to earn trust and seconds to break it. As ReShark grows to include more species and more locations, we will continue to center the perspectives and expertise of local partners, breaking the colonialist approach to conservation, challenging our biases and checking our privilege. Conservation requires leaning into uncomfortable spaces, and we’re not shying away from that.

4. Restoring species means being willing to learn and adapt.

I’m not a shark biologist; my expertise is in invertebrates, ecosystems and conservation action. I’ve learned that it’s a far harder thing to move eggs around than I ever thought it would be. It seems so simple! You get the right animals, the right habitat, they make eggs and then you move the eggs, right? Wrong. It’s incredibly complicated. Bringing people to the table with unique experience and expertise is how this project has gone as far as it has. And we will continue to bring new perspectives and new expertise to the table as we grow. So far, we’ve successfully moved eggs and seen pups hatch. These are huge milestones! And now we’re hopeful that the animals will thrive, that we’ll be tagging and releasing them in the coming months. But we don’t yet know the outcome of this work because nobody’s ever done this before.

5. Hope is the key.

When the Seattle Aquarium’s Ocean Pavilion opens in 2024, we will have the opportunity through that platform to show people these incredible animals that exist on the other side of the Pacific Ocean. We’ll also have a new platform to talk about this initiative to bring sharks and rays back from the brink of extinction: to not only tell people that there are almost 400 species of sharks and rays listed as endangered or critically endangered around the world, but also, here’s what we—all 70+ partners—are doing to turn that back around. I believe that will bring a sense of hope to people who visit.

And importantly, our visitors can take action in their daily lives to help sharks and rays throughout our one world ocean. We’re all connected.

“When they’re hungry, they’ll let you know:” Caring for dogfish

Posted on September 6, 2022February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

Senior Aquarist Chris Van Damme gingerly holds one end of a herring when feeding Elliott and the other Pacific spiny dogfish at the Aquarium. Dogfish—who are just as enthusiastic about meals as their furry namesakes—can chomp through their food with astonishing speed and force. As Chris shares in our interview, it’s just one of the many reasons these creatures inspire awe and affection from their caretakers.

Q: What do you find fascinating about dogfish?
A: You wouldn’t know it from their name, but dogfish are sharks. They’re a smaller species of shark, but like all sharks, they’re fast and sleek. They can turn on a dime. They’re immensely strong.

Dogfish are also record-setters. They have among the longest pregnancies of any animal: 22 to 24 months. (Fun fact: Dogfish pups are born ready to hunt!) They reproduce late in life—as late as their mid-30s for females—and they live long lives—80 years or more! They’re also remarkable travelers. One of my colleagues found a dogfish in California that had been tagged in Alaska.

Q: What surprises people when they visit dogfish at the Aquarium?
A: Visitors who hear there are sharks living in the Aquarium’s Underwater Dome sometimes mistake the sturgeon—a prehistoric-looking animal—for dogfish. Dogfish are understated. They can be hard to spot, and you’ve got to be patient.

Q: Where can you spot dogfish in the Underwater Dome?
A: In the mornings, unless it’s time to eat, you’ll often see them sitting on the sand at the bottom. At other times, you’ll see them swimming about midway up in the Dome.

Q: How does the Underwater Dome mirror how dogfish live in Puget Sound?
A: First, the water here comes directly from the Sound. Its temperature and salinity match their natural environment. Also, the Dome is a multi-species habitat just like in the wild. And, like in Puget Sound, there are open sandy bottoms where they can rest.

Q: What do dogfish at the Aquarium eat?
A: They eat a variety of herring, anchovy, clam, squid and shrimp. Their diet here mimics their diet outside the Aquarium, and that’s important to their health.

Q: Do they consider other fish in the Dome as prey?
A: No, we dive and target-feed them by hand every afternoon to minimize the possibility of that happening. (And since they are primarily scavengers, it’s a highly unlikely scenario anyway.) We also do a surface feed, where we drop larger pieces of food to the bottom for them.

Q: What is it like to hand-feed dogfish?
A: They have very sharp teeth, so it’s important to release the fish before they get too close!

Q: How do they eat outside the Aquarium?
A: They often hunt in packs like dogs—that’s why they’re called dogfish—and can eat their way through schools of fish. (Fun fact: Dogfish can hunt in packs of up to 1,000!)

Q: Are local dogfish populations healthy?
A: Thankfully, our local dogfish populations are healthy. In part that’s because we don’t have a targeted fishery here (meaning that we don’t eat them). Atlantic spiny dogfish, by contrast, are eaten in Europe. Our local dogfish populations are also managed by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fisheries and by the Pacific Coast Management Fishery Council, which helps keep populations healthy.

That said, dogfish and all the animals living in our local waters are affected by what goes in our sewers and drains. (Tip: Learn how you can protect ocean health on our Act for the Ocean page.)

Q: What is a good pathway to a career like yours?
A: I studied oceanography at the University of Washington, which is a good field for studying the marine environment as a system. Oceanography combines physical, chemical, biological and geological science. If you’re specifically interested in working with sharks or helping to manage healthy shark populations, you should consider studying marine biology.

Q: As a diver, have you encountered dogfish outside of the Aquarium?
A: I can think of only a handful of times I’ve seen them while diving. Their senses are a lot better than ours. They see and hear us before we know they’re around, and they move fast.

They’re beautiful animals. It’s such a treasure and a treat to find one as a diver. It’s a gift.

Now that you’ve read Chris’s thoughts, check out our dogfish page to learn more about Elliott and the other dogfish at the Aquarium. On your next visit to the Aquarium, look carefully for Elliott in the Underwater Dome!

What is it like to care for a porcupinefish? Our senior aquarist weighs in

Posted on August 16, 2022February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

It’s fair to say that Senior Aquarist Alan Tomita knows more about porcupinefish than most people. An expert on tropical fish, he’s worked at the Seattle Aquarium for more than three decades. In this Q&A, Alan shares insights from his years spent caring for porcupinefish.

Q: What’s especially amazing about a porcupinefish?
A: Its superpower is intimidation. It can scare off predators by swallowing air or water to blow itself to double its size or more. Once it does, its spines—which are otherwise tucked away—transform into dangerous spikes.

Q: Does being puffed up change the way a porcupinefish moves or swims?
A: When a porcupinefish fully puffs itself up, its buoyancy is altered, often causing it to flip upside-down. But the upside-down fish ball has no problem bobbing along. Researchers and caregivers have noticed that a porcupinefish will sometimes puff up for no known reason, and not to the point where it loses buoyancy. This is believed to be the fish’s way of stretching its “puffer” muscles.

Q: In the wild, what kinds of predators are willing to take on a porcupinefish?
A: Because of its clever emerging spikes, the porcupinefish has few enemies. Its main predators are sharks, or fish that are large enough to swallow it whole.

Q: So large fish can safely swallow a porcupinefish?
A: Yes—if the predator can deflate it with its teeth, is big and fast enough to swallow it before it inflates, or is big enough to swallow it whole, even inflated.

However, a porcupinefish has a secret weapon hidden in its organs―a lethal toxin 1,200 times stronger than cyanide. This toxin doesn’t bother all fish and is most dangerous to mammals, including humans. In Japan, where porcupinefish (called fugu in that country) are considered a delicacy, fugu handlers must undergo special training to ensure the fish can be safely eaten.

Q: Are large fish the only threat to a porcupinefish?
A: No, its biggest threats are caused by humans. Since a porcupinefish will bite at whatever it finds floating in the water, it’s at risk for consuming plastic, which is dangerous to its health. People also like to collect porcupinefish, dry out the fish’s skin and inflate it for use as a Christmas tree ornament or lamp.

Q: Where do porcupinefish make their homes in the wild?
A: The porcupinefish—like many types of pufferfish—lives mainly in tropical waters around the world.

Q: What’s an average day in the life of a porcupinefish in the wild compared to at the Aquarium?
A: Porcupinefish living at the Aquarium spend most of their time hanging out, bobbing around and enjoying their own company.

In the wild, this solitary species will mostly sleep during the day and spend nighttime looking for food. It will “hang out” in caves and under ledges, swimming around mostly alone. Only juveniles seek the comfort of other porcupinefish.

A porcupinefish can live peacefully among nearly any type of fish. It’s not often threatened and therefore doesn’t need to use its defense mechanism unless something big comes along to scare it. Kōkala—the featured porcupinefish living at the Aquarium—currently lives in a habitat with about 200 other fish, and everything is simpatico.

Q: What does Kōkala eat at the Aquarium versus what she would eat in the wild?
A: In the wild, a porcupinefish enjoys a diet of hard-shell crustaceans, sea urchins, snails and other invertebrates.

At the Aquarium, Kōkala eats a diet mainly of clams, shrimp and squid, along with a jelly made of vegetable matter.

Q: Does she like her veggie gel?
A: Not really, but it’s good for her, and I can usually get her to eat one small square before she realizes what she’s gulped down.

Q: Isn’t that like a parent trying to sneak veggies into their child’s meal?
A: Exactly!

Q: What practical knowledge have you gained while working with porcupinefish?
A: When I’m caring for Kōkala, “care” is the key word. It’s not just the spikes that make being around a porcupinefish risky; her beak-like teeth also require me to proceed with caution. The first rule is to keep my fingers clear of her mouth. I’m always aware of how easy it would be to lose a finger.

Q: What led you to your career at the Seattle Aquarium?
A: I grew up in Hawai‘i, and my degree is in zoology from the University of Hawai‘i. I’d always wanted to work for a reputable aquarium and had my eye on Seattle for a while. When a position opened, I jumped on it, which turned out to be a smart move because I’ve been here for 33 years now!

Even though Kōkala is a loner, she doesn’t mind visitors! Plan a visit to the Seattle Aquarium, and maybe you’ll be lucky enough to see Kōkala stretch her muscles and puff herself up. You might even catch a glimpse of Alan caring for his favorite fish! Look for the puffers in our care in our Pacific Coral Reef and Tropical Pacific habitats. You can also discover more cool facts about these amazing animals on our pufferfish and porcupinefish webpage.

Get to know Sekiu the sea otter: Caretaker Q&A

Posted on August 1, 2022February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

Take a deep dive into the world of our resident sea otters, Sekiu and her “roomie” Mishka! Our own Caroline Hempstead, lead animal care specialist for sea otters, gave us some great, insider-only details about this dynamic duo—as well as what it took for her to land her dream job as their caretaker.

Q: What’s an average day like for Sekiu and Mishka at the Aquarium, compared to an average day for a sea otter living in the wild?

A: For a sea otter, life at the Aquarium is a bit like a vacation compared to life in the wild, where an average day is spent working around the clock in order to stay fed, warm and healthy. Sea otters need to consume 25 percent of their body weight in seafood every day, so searching for food takes a lot of their time. They’re also constantly grooming their fur to retain its waterproofing and insulating qualities. Resting is key to survival as well, since searching for food and grooming burns an immense amount of calories—especially in the frigid waters of the Pacific.

Sekiu and Mishka have it easy by comparison! Their caretakers deliver every meal—nine per day, to be exact—by hand from dawn to dusk. Their diet consists of restaurant-quality seafood: Dungeness crab, Penn Cove mussels, squid, shrimp, capelin, herring, surf clam and butter clam. And, while they still need to spend time grooming their fur and resting like their wild counterparts, not having to hunt and collect their own food allows them more time to play. We offer enrichment in all different forms, from live food—they love to crack open and devour live oysters and manila clams!—to puzzle toys, ice treats and changes to their habitat like increasing water flow, direction or level, or even shifting them to a different habitat.

Fast fact: Sea otters need their incredibly dense fur to stay warm because, unlike other marine mammals like harbor seals, they don’t have a blubber layer for added insulation. They meticulously groom their fur by rubbing and blowing into it.

Q: What would you say are the top things people can do to help sea otters thrive in the wild?

A: First, purchase sustainable seafood, which keeps our oceans healthier and allows all marine species to prosper. Next, avoid single-use plastics and properly dispose of toxic chemicals and oils. Debris—whether it’s large or microscopic, solid or liquid—is harmful to any living species and in most cases end up in our waterways. Sea otters need a healthy ocean to survive so by taking care of our planet, we’re also taking care of sea otters everywhere, including Sekiu and Mishka at the Aquarium.

Fast fact: Every year, 11 million metric tons of plastics enter the ocean. That’s the equivalent of one garbage truck full of plastic going into the ocean every single minute of every single day! You can help keep plastic out of the ocean—visit our take action page to get started.

Q: You’re an ultimate insider when it comes to Sekiu and Mishka. What can you tell us about their likes and dislikes?

A: Just like us, or our pets at home, Sekiu and Mishka have their favorite and least favorite foods. If given the choice, Sekiu prefers Dungeness crab over any other food item and will devour a whole crab within minutes. It’s one of my favorite feeds to watch as she literally tears into the crab limb by limb without hesitation. All you hear is crunch, crunch, crunch!

Mishka’s favorite food is shrimp. She will often store shrimp tails in her armpits, so she can eat all of them at the end of her meal—saving the best for last!

Fast fact: Crab and shrimp provide the sea otters with good fiber, since they eat not only the meat, but also some of the shell—which helps them digest and process the food properly.

Q: It must be amazing to work so closely with Sekiu and Mishka. What was your career path?

A: After earning my bachelor’s degree in marine biology and having a few other fun and exciting jobs in the marine field, I decided to volunteer at the Seattle Aquarium. I was hired soon after and worked in all the animal life science departments. It soon became apparent that sea otters were becoming my favorite. With a couple more years under my belt, I landed my dream job—caring for the sea otters! I not only oversee the care of our sea otters, I also get to conduct sea otter surveys and research in Washington. And now I’ve been working here for 24 years. Time flies when you’re having fun!

Interested in a career like Caroline’s? Check out our careers page—and watch this video featuring some of our amazing animal care staff!

Q: If someone wanted to follow in your footsteps, what would you suggest as far as education and training?

A: I’d recommend an educational background in animal science, animal behavior or marine biology to get a better understanding of animal biology. And it’s essential to obtain hands-on work experience in a zoo or aquarium setting. You can start like I did and become a volunteer, or apply for an internship to get your feet wet with our sea otters.

Bonus video! Learn more about sea otters as Caroline answers questions from Seattle Aquarium members.

Porcupinefish: Fact or “fishin’?”

Posted on July 21, 2022February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

With their bulbous bodies, large eyes and beak-like teeth, porcupinefish stand out from the crowd. But there’s more to these quirky fish than meets the eye. Test your ability to parse porcupinefish fact from “fishin’” by mousing over the boxes below!

With their bulbous bodies, large eyes and beak-like teeth, porcupinefish stand out from the crowd. But there’s more to these quirky fish than meets the eye. Test your ability to parse porcupinefish fact from “fishin’” by tapping the boxes below!

When a porcupinefish is threatened or provoked, it can puff itself up to twice its size

Fact!

Porcupinefish can inflate their bodies by swallowing water (or air), becoming rounder and doubling in size. This makes them appear larger, scaring off potential predators.

A porcupinefish gets its name from the round shape of a porcupine's body and its shy but curious nature

Fishin'

A porcupinefish is covered with sharp spines (up to 2 inches long) that lay flat against its body. When it puffs up, the spines stick out and become sharp spikes (like a porcupine)!

Porcupinefish is just another name for pufferfish

Fishin'

While the two fish are often collectively referred to as pufferfish or “puffers,” and many people use the names interchangeably, they are indeed distinct. Other pufferfish have soft spines that are unnoticeable in some species, but only the porcupinefish has sharp, protective spines.

A porcupine fish sometimes swims upside down

Fact!

When a porcupinefish puffs itself up, the modified buoyancy causes it to turn upside down, although its movement looks more like bobbing than swimming. When the danger has passed, a porcupinefish will deflate, turn right-side up and continue on its way.

Porcupinefish (and other pufferfish) are an exotic delicacy

Fact!

In many parts of the world, porcupinefish and puffers are served in high-end restaurants even though their internal organs contain a neurotoxin that’s 1,200 times stronger than cyanide. It takes a trained eye to prepare the fish correctly. In Japan, chefs are required to undergo rigorous training and testing before they can serve the potentially lethal fish. Despite these precautions, several dozen people worldwide are poisoned each year by eating the fish.

One way to protect porcupinefish—and all the animals in the ocean—is to skip your daily shower

Fact (kind of)!

Taking shorter showers, or showering less frequently, is one way to conserve water and reduce energy use, which benefits all the animals that live in the ocean. How does saving energy at home help the ocean? Reducing your energy use reduces your carbon footprint—which in turn reduces the carbon emissions that contribute to ocean acidification.

When a porcupinefish is threatened or provoked, it can puff itself up to twice its size

Fact!

Porcupinefish can inflate their bodies by swallowing water (or air), becoming rounder and doubling in size. This makes them appear larger, scaring off potential predators.

A porcupinefish gets its name from the round shape of a porcupine's body and its shy but curious nature

Fishin'

A porcupinefish is covered with sharp spines (up to 2 inches long) that lay flat against its body. When it puffs up, the spines stick out and become sharp spikes (like a porcupine)!

Porcupinefish is just another name for pufferfish

Fishin'

While the two fish are often collectively referred to as pufferfish, they are indeed distinct. Other pufferfish have soft spines that are unnoticeable in some species, but only the porcupinefish has sharp, protective spines.

A porcupine fish sometimes swims upside down

Fact!

When a porcupinefish puffs itself up, the modified buoyancy causes it to turn upside down. When the danger has passed, a porcupinefish will deflate, turn right-side up and continue on its way.

Porcupinefish (and other pufferfish) are an exotic delicacy

Fact!

In many parts of the world, porcupinefish and puffers are served in high-end restaurants even though their internal organs contain a neurotoxin that’s 1,200 times stronger than cyanide.

One way to protect porcupinefish—and all the animals in the ocean—is to skip your daily shower

Fact (kind of)!

Taking shorter showers, or showering less frequently, is one way to conserve water and reduce energy use, which benefits all the animals that live in the ocean.

Want to know more about the puffers in our care? Explore our pufferfish and porcupinefish webpage. Then plan a visit to the Aquarium and stop by our Pacific Coral Reef habitat!

A new series on protecting and preserving Puget Sound for all

Posted on July 21, 2022February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

Through a new campaign developed and produced by the nonprofit Sachamama, the Seattle Aquarium is featured alongside other prominent locals engaged in efforts to address threats to the health of Puget Sound—and the impact those threats could have on the vitality of our communities and economy.

Sachamama is a conservation organization grounded in Latinx cultural heritage and working to build support for a clean energy economy for all, and cultivating sustainable attitudes, behaviors and lifestyles. (Sachamama is a word in the Quechua language, which is spoken in the Amazon and South American Andes regions—it means “mother jungle.”) One of their key initiatives involves protecting the health of our ocean and inspiring conservation action and advocacy throughout Latinx communities.

Now we, along with several others, have lent support to Sachamama on a series of editorials focused on the health of Puget Sound and connections to local communities—including the environmental challenges that threaten our ecosystem and the well-being of our region’s residents.

The series showcases five local champions, their connections to the Sound and the environmental benefits the Sound provides for current and future generations. It’s part of a larger effort in support of 30×30, a global initiative to protect and conserve 30% of land and waters, including the ocean, by 2030.

Seattle Aquarium Senior Manager of Ocean Policy Nora Nickum was featured in Sachamama’s first published editorial, devoted to microplastics. The editorial highlighted our research into the prevalence of microplastics in Elliott Bay as well as partnering with the Plastic Free Washington/Washington Sin Plástico Coalition to pass SB 5323 and SB 5022, both of which will reduce plastic pollution in our local waters. Nora also participated as a panelist in Sachamama’s Facebook Live event focused on microplastics in Puget Sound. Seattle Aquarium Empathy Fellow Gabi Esparza was featured in the editorial as well, describing the important role of empathy in marine conservation and the Aquarium’s initiatives to increase access and inclusion throughout the community.

Other champions featured in the series include Candace Penn, climate change ecologist with the Squaxin Island Tribe Natural Resources Department; Luis Navarro, director of workforce development for the Port of Seattle; Ruby Vigo, coordinator for the Duwamish River Community Coalition; and Noe Rivera, an owner of Rivera’s Shellfish. All are working, in various ways, to ensure that Puget Sound can continue to be a source of life and livelihood for our communities and future generations. We thank Sachamama for their leadership on this exciting project—and inviting us to participate in it.

Seattle Aquarium scientists test alternative plastics as part of the Tom Ford Plastic Innovation Prize

Posted on May 16, 2022February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

The Clean Seas Research Program at the Seattle Aquarium is thrilled to announce the start of environmental testing and our role as scientists and one of two testing sites for The TOM FORD Plastic Innovation Prize powered by Lonely Whale.

Single-use plastic films used for packaging, produce wrap and to-go bags make up 5 million metric tons, or ~46%, of all ocean plastic. These thin films are nearly impossible to recycle, and as such, are used once before throwing away (hence the term “single-use”). Replacing plastic films with more sustainable, nontoxic alternatives is an essential step toward “turning off the tap” of our plastic film pollution problem.

The TOM FORD Plastic Innovation Prize (PIP) is catalyzing the development of innovative, market-ready replacements for thin-film plastic. Through partnering with Lonely Whale and New Materials Institute, the Seattle Aquarium is excited to scientifically assess alternatives to plastic films. Eight finalists were selected to produce their plastic film alternative products to undergo a series of environmental exposure and lab-based tests. These tests will help the scientific advisory board determine which product both meets our consumer needs for plastics (like durability and flexibility) yet undergoes quick and safe degradation in environmental conditions.

Scientific approach

The Seattle Aquarium’s team of marine plastic scientists are poised to implement product testing in temperate waters (cooler, more northern waters which experience little temperature change), which represent the vast majority of marine waters. This is exciting as it’s the first time alternative plastics have been tested in colder waters. In addition, while products will be exposed to both temperate and Caribbean waters (facilitated by New Materials Institute), at the Seattle Aquarium we are carrying out an additional and novel laboratory test: Exposure to a gray whale’s stomach.

Now, you may be (correctly) thinking, “You’re feeding whales plastic film alternatives?!? That can’t be safe!” But there’s more to the story. Using our new Clean Seas Research Lab, we’re able to simulate a gray whale gut without harm to any animals. There are four basic ingredients to mimicking a gray whale gut: heat, acid, enzymes and agitation. Over the course of eight months, plastic film alternative products will hang below the Aquarium in temperate waters, be retrieved at pre-determined timepoints, and be exposed to a simulated whale gut to assess how environmental exposure affects digestive degradation and physical properties. Both before and after the simulated gut exposure, products will be assessed in four tests: 1) tensile strength (breaking point under stress), 2) mass loss, 3) estrogenicity (containing chemicals that mimic or disrupt naturally occurring estrogen that may cause endocrine disruptors), and 4) electrical resistance (how readily electricity passes through materials). This series of tests is the first of its kind to assess how products degrade if ingested after being in saltwater for varying amounts of time.

Stepping away from single-use plastics

Plastic films are durable, flexible and, importantly, inexpensive. These traits are some of the reasons why they’re used in abundance. While it’s best to avoid buying and consuming single-use plastics, we recognize it can be difficult to do so completely. When walking into a store or receiving a package from an online order, you’ll notice nearly everything is wrapped in plastic. In some instances, you’re not given a choice, and avoiding single-use or plastic films isn’t possible. To fully “turn off the tap” of our plastic pollution problem, both consumers as well as producers must take sustainable steps forward.

The Seattle Aquarium advocates for reducing the production of single-use plastics in the first place, such as by transitioning to reusable packaging alternatives. However, where films are necessary, companies must adopt sustainable, nontoxic, Earth- and ocean-friendly alternatives.

The TOM FORD Plastic Innovation Prize Early Adopter Coalition, consisting of several global companies (Nike, J. Crew, MillerKnoll and others), has committed to test plastic-alternative products in their supply chain to permanently eliminate their use of plastic film. From the scientific tests performed on products at the Seattle Aquarium focusing on biological degradation at end-of-life performance, we hope to better understand what types of material can meet society’s need for durable, flexible and degradable films and move toward turning off the tap.

You can make a difference now

This project is one step of many toward supply chain and single-use plastic waste reduction. As an individual, you can easily reduce single-use plastics—and here are just a few ways:

Pick up litter on a local beach or, better yet, organize a group of friends or family members to join a local beach cleanup!
Switch to reusable dishes and utensils. Bring your own reusable mug or bottle when you get coffee or water. Skip the plastic utensils and straws when you get takeout food.
Choose products with less packaging. Pay attention to how much incidental plastic comes with what you buy—your candy, headphones, pens and more come in plastic packaging. Strive to cut down on your daily plastic consumption, buy used instead of new whenever possible and reward corporations that package responsibly!
Buy in bulk rather than individually packaged items (some stores in the Seattle area allow personal containers, like Mason jars, for bulk products including grains and spices).
Shop local to reduce shipping and packaging plastics.
Find your congressional representative and urge them to co-sponsor the Reducing Waste in National Parks Act (H.R.5533) to eliminate the sale and distribution of single-use plastics—including plastic bottles, bags and food containers—in national parks across the country.
Urge your senators to support the Plastic Pellet-Free Waters Act (S.1507) to keep plastic pellets out of the environment.

Find out more about how to get involved with plastic policies at our online Act for the Ocean page.

Lifting up youth voices for positive change

Posted on April 13, 2022December 19, 2023 by Emma Leiser

Kids of all ages love visiting the Aquarium to see the animals—but did you know some of them also support the Aquarium’s mission on their own time? Teens in our Youth Ocean Advocates (YOA) program, open to students in grades 9–12, volunteer for a variety of marine conservation and advocacy activities during the school year or over the summer.

Youth Ocean Advocate Samantha-Lynn Martinez told us, “I went into this program with virtually no marine science background, nor interest in public speaking or interactions with strangers, but I came in with a big heart for marine life and a willingness to learn and step outside of my comfort zone.”

Karla Fox is equally inspired by the YOA program. “Whether you come in thinking you know everything there is to know about marine life, or you come in potentially being able to identify a sea otter, you’ll find your place.”

These two young people answered questions from of our state’s most influential educators, politicians and businesspeople―including Governor Jay Inslee and Bill Gates―at a recent conference promoting legislative advocacy called Educators for Environment, Equity and Economy. High school students from across the state were invited to discuss their interests and motivations related to the environment and respond to dozens of questions from local leaders.

Teens participated in a series of discussions on the importance of marine conservation. Samantha-Lynn facilitated a discussion, and both students took part in multiple panels. They spoke on topics such as developing environmental empathy in young people and social justice for vulnerable communities disproportionally affected by environmental degradation. Educators and teachers also spoke about what they wanted to achieve and what they could do to help amplify young voices.

By the end of the event, students had created a list of recommendations for leaders, including:

Work together to develop strategies both in and out of school.
Provide learning experiences that are project based and address real-world problems.
Create learning environments that are inclusive.
Develop a mentor program.
Incorporate climate change as a part of regular school curriculum.
Develop a program to educate youth about government policy and the politics of climate change.
Continually listen to youth when working on issues related to climate.

The leaders listened. It was a beneficial meeting of the minds on all levels and validated the importance of hearing from teens when developing youth learning programs both in and out of school.

Not only do our YOAs make significant contributions to the future of environmental conservation—the program can also give them a jump start on their careers. As a freshman at the University of Washington, Samantha-Lynn is already well on her way. “After dipping my toes in guest engagement/education and presenting, I’ve decided to pursue a Conservation Biology and Marine Biology degree at the UW with hopes to attend grad school for a master’s in the communications field of either design or wildlife film.”

High school junior Karla has her eye on a similar career. “The Aquarium has helped me realize that I’m passionate about conservation, marine life and working with others. I can’t wait to see where that takes me.”

Interested in learning more about the Seattle Aquarium Youth Ocean Advocates program? As Samantha-Lynn told us, “Come as you are and discover something new along the way!”

Supporting climate resilience: Q&A with Nicole Killebrew and Nora Nickum

Posted on April 5, 2022February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

From youth engagement to ocean policy advocacy, the Seattle Aquarium is working to advance climate solutions to avert further ocean acidification and ocean warming and build the resilience of marine ecosystems and coastal communities. Climate change is a multifaceted challenge, with impacts at local, state, national and global scales.

Here, Interpretation Coordinator Nicole Killebrew and Senior Ocean Policy Manager Nora Nickum discuss the challenges of climate change, potential policy solutions and opportunities for hope.

Can you describe some of the ways climate change harms ocean animals and our marine environment?

Nicole: Climate change is caused by burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas. When we burn fossil fuels in excess, that creates a heat-trapping blanket around the Earth, warming the ocean and land. This fuels extreme weather events, alters where animals can live and travel, shifts food availability, and changes the chemistry of the ocean through a process called ocean acidification. The ocean is like our planet’s heart, and just like a heart circulates blood and regulates the body’s temperature, so does the ocean for our planet by circulating heat, moisture and nutrients. Burning fossil fuels puts stress on our ocean and damages the ocean’s ability to keep the climate stable. These climate impacts increase survival stressors on marine animals around the world in a number of ways. Climate change also puts strain on the resilience of marine ecosystems that animals rely on as their home.

Nicole, how has your work as an educator informed the way you speak about climate issues?

Nicole: I’m involved with the National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation. That work focuses on identifying the core story of climate change and telling that story so that people feel hopeful and empowered to take action. We need to connect people based on their values and things they already care about to collectively work toward solutions. We also need to keep social and environmental justice in mind—there are differences in how different communities are affected by ocean disruptions and climate change. It comes down to raising our voices and rethinking our reliance on fossil fuels as a primary energy source.

Nora, how can policy solutions help build climate resilience across the United States and the world?

Nora: Taking action to reduce emissions and build resilience is urgent to avoid worsening impacts on human communities and ecosystems. We can all make changes in our daily lives to help with that, like taking public transportation instead of driving. But we also need big changes to happen quickly and at scale. That’s where policy plays a key role.

What types of national climate policies does the Seattle Aquarium support and why?

Nora: We’ll need multiple policy solutions to address climate change—but fortunately, there are a lot of good, science-based ideas out there. There are currently several bills in Congress that the Aquarium is supporting. The Blue Carbon Protection Act (H.R. 3906), for example, would mobilize new funding to protect and restore blue carbon ecosystems—like mangroves, tidal marshes and seagrass beds—and increase long-term carbon storage. The Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act (H.R. 3764) would prohibit the expansion of offshore oil exploration and drilling on most of the Outer Continental Shelf; promote decreases in shipping emissions; and create a grant program to support climate research and resilience with Indigenous and local knowledge. And the Climate Resilience Workforce Act (H.R. 6492) would ensure there’s a skilled and equitable workforce capable of preparing for and responding to climate change. We also support carbon pricing policies that are science-based and center the voices and needs of those disproportionately impacted by pollution, and we advocate for phasing out fossil fuels as rapidly as possible.

I also want to mention the importance of policies to reduce single-use plastics. Plastic is largely made from petroleum and there are greenhouse gas emissions at every stage of the production process. Reducing single-use plastics will also have the benefit of reducing pollution along shorelines and in the ocean.

There are more policies needed, but these are all meaningful steps in the right direction.

What is a story of hope that has resonated with you?

Nicole: One very tangible example was the Seattle Aquarium’s participation in the Community Solar Program. Through the program, community members could purchase solar panels to put on our roof. They receive credits for renewable energy and the power is part of the Aquarium’s general power grid. The program not only supports renewable energy, but also has an additional psychological benefit: What kind of message does it send to the community to look at the roof of the Seattle Aquarium and see it covered with solar panels?

Nora: I find hope in the many ways we can reduce emissions, build climate resilience and protect biodiversity all at the same time. There are so many good ideas and “shovel-ready” projects out there, we just need to prioritize and invest in them. For example, eelgrass beds can store huge amounts of carbon—keeping it from entering our atmosphere as carbon dioxide. They also protect coastlines during storms. And they provide important habitat for forage fish and juvenile salmon. We can realize all of these benefits by protecting and restoring eelgrass beds. This legislative session, we supported a bill in Washington state to ensure the Department of Natural Resources now has the resources to create a collaborative plan to restore or conserve 10,000 acres of eelgrass meadows and kelp forests by 2040.

Do you have advice for someone interested in raising their voice for ocean-climate action?

Nora: Contact your members of Congress to let them know you want to see urgent action on climate change. You could ask them to support any of the specific policies I mentioned earlier. Most importantly, tell them why you care about the climate crisis, which will make your message personal and memorable.

Nicole: There are many ways you can support renewables, including through community solar programs or rounding up your energy bill to have funds go directly toward renewable energy. Puget Sound Energy and Seattle City Light provide that option, and you could ask your energy company to if they don’t already. Beyond renewables, ask questions and reach out to organizations focused on climate action. See how you can get involved!

What do you hope these solutions can achieve in 10 years? Fifty years?

Nicole: It comes back to the core mechanism of why climate change is occurring—we need to shift away from fossil fuels toward a renewable energy system. Reducing our fossil fuel use is a step in that direction. If we can do that, we’ll see a stabilization in the climate system, ensuring the ocean can continue to function in a way that supports marine life and communities around the world. My hope is that people feel empowered to take action and feel connected to our climate system. Together, we can work toward positive change.

Nora: I envision us on a new path where all communities and ecosystems can be resilient and thrive. We can get there if we speak up, prioritize action and investments today, and see not just the problems we need to fix, but all the benefits we can achieve for people, public health, biodiversity, access to nature and more.

Saying goodbye: End-of-life animal care at the Seattle Aquarium

Posted on March 31, 2022May 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

In a recent series of blog posts, we described what it’s like to care for the 12,000+ animals that live at the Aquarium and how we aim to provide the best lives possible for them. This post is devoted to the final stage: end-of life care and, when necessary, euthanasia—which means producing a humane death that is rapid, avoids pain and minimizes any distress. While many of the animals in our care die of natural causes, euthanasia is a critical and compassionate element of the care we provide. No animal can live forever, and we want the animals in our care to pass as peacefully as possible when it’s time.

The Seattle Aquarium has carefully developed a comprehensive set of lifelong care and euthanasia policies and protocols as well as quality-of-life assessments to guide the process of determining when humane euthanasia is called for. These policies and protocols are in alignment with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations, as well as the standards set forth by the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians and the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. They apply to all animals at the Aquarium, from fur seals to sea stars, as well as rescued animals that we care for (such as sea turtles). These decisions are not taken lightly and always involve veterinary and animal care staff.

Emergency euthanasia and planned euthanasia for health and welfare reasons are two categories of humane euthanasia described in the Aquarium’s policy:

Emergency euthanasia may be the most humane and compassionate choice if an animal is in acute distress and we can’t relieve that distress. An example might be a rescued sea turtle with severe injuries from a boat strike that we can’t fix. These situations are always hard, but we do everything we can to minimize pain and suffering. Fortunately, emergency euthanasia is rare at the Aquarium.
It’s more common that euthanasia decisions are planned. This is because we monitor our animals closely and usually know when an animal is getting toward the end of its life. This is often due to symptoms that are affecting quality of life and where there are no additional diagnostic, treatment or management options.

“Our harbor seal, Q, was diagnosed with cancer in early 2021,” says Senior Veterinarian Dr. Caitlin Hadfield. “The cancer responded really well to chemotherapy, and he was his normal happy self for several more months. The cancer came back, and we went into what is called rescue therapy. We used his individual quality-of-life assessments, other monitoring and regular discussions with his animal care professionals to help understand how he was doing. We knew that the rescue therapy was unlikely to give him much time, and so we were ready to provide a peaceful euthanasia when we saw signs that he wasn’t thriving.” Q was humanely euthanized in June of 2021.

Regardless of the reason, when euthanasia is deemed necessary, the Seattle Aquarium is committed to always providing appropriate methods that are in the animal’s best interest and that cause the most rapid, painless and distress-free death as possible.

While the decision to humanely euthanize an animal can be emotionally difficult, it’s also one that needs to be made when the situation calls for it—and we’re grateful for the clear policies and protocols, aligned with governing bodies and best practices in animal care, that help guide us.