Page 13 – Seattle Aquarium

Help protect endangered orcas from ship strikes

Posted on June 16, 2021February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

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.

We have supported new requirements for slow-speed zones and vessel distance, measures to reduce oil spill risk, and state funding for the Quiet Sound program to encourage large ships to voluntarily slow down, and we’ve asked the Navy to do more to mitigate the potential impacts of sonar testing on the orcas. The Seattle Aquarium is also one of the shore-based marine mammal viewing spots along the Whale Trail.

But there is more that we can do to make the waters safer for the endangered orcas, and we invite you to join us in taking action when you’re outside this summer and beyond.

When ships collide with whales and dolphins, it can cause serious injury and even death. But with timely warnings, shipmasters and pilots can slow down the ship, alter course, increase vigilance or turn off their sounders to reduce disturbance and the risk of hitting a whale. Using the WhaleReport app, we can all help ensure that ship captains know when whales are in their vicinity.

The WhaleReport Alert System (WRAS) was developed in Canada by Ocean Wise and its partners, and a few years ago Governor Inslee’s Orca Task Force recommended expanding it to Washington waters. The WRAS has already delivered over 8,000 alerts to ship operators in Canada and Washington. But the platform needs more real-time sightings reports, especially from here in Washington, to be as effective as possible.

Here’s how you can help!

If you spot a whale, dolphin, porpoise or sea turtle—from shore, a ferry or a boat—report it via WhaleReport as soon as possible (in addition to any reporting you’d normally do to a local sightings network). It only takes a couple of minutes, and there are two ways you can do it:

Fill out the short form at report.wildwhales.org. (The first time you go to the page, it will ask for your details.* If you are on your personal computer, you can ask the browser to store your information so that you only need to enter this information once.)

Use the WhaleReport app, available for download on iOS and Android smartphones.

Note that sightings data reported to the WhaleReport Alert System is only shared with the operators of large ships, tugs, ferries and government agencies. The data is not available for public use. The Whale Museum is responsible for data collection in Washington state and also uses the reports for conservation-oriented research.

If you would like to learn more about how the system works, visit wildwhales.org/wras.

Thank you for taking action to protect marine wildlife!

*Ocean Wise researchers will only use your contact information to ask you any follow-up questions regarding your sighting reports to aid in our research efforts and will not contact you for any promotional reasons. Your details are protected under Ocean Wise’s Privacy Policy.

Q&A with Susan Gates, winner of the 2021 Seattle Aquarium Scott S. Patrick Award

Posted on June 15, 2021February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

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.

Susan joined the Seattle Aquarium board of directors in 1996 and sits on the finance and project oversight committees. She’s a regional credit administrator for Beneficial State Bank, and her previous experience includes being senior vice president of AmericanWest Bank, Key Bank and several other local and regional banks. She also works on several boards for bank trade associations and community nonprofits, as well as on the College of Business and Economics advisory committee for Western Washington University.

Susan’s lifelong and deep love of the ocean, along with long-held commitments to conservation and environmental justice, are reflected in her many contributions to our organization. We asked about her impressive tenure and valuable insights below:

Q: When did you first fall in love with the ocean, and how has that shaped your life?
A: My husband, Jack, and our grown kids, Margaret Ann and Elk, are longtime sailors and have sailed all over the Salish Sea. We love seeing orcas, humpbacks and minkes from a proper distance; Dall porpoises; and seals and otters. We’ve snorkeled with tropical fish and sea turtles in Hawaii and sailed and snorkeled in the British Virgin Islands and Croatia. All of that has inspired an awe of our one world ocean and a strong urge to protect it, as we have seen fewer and fewer sea creatures over the years inhabiting our area.

Q: What inspired you to join the Seattle Aquarium’s board of directors?
A: The “wow” moment for me was when our family traveled to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago after they opened their Pacific Northwest exhibit in 1991. I had never seen such an amazing exhibit with all of “our” PNW aquatic critters, and I was really struck with the idea—Why isn’t this in Seattle? When we got home, I saw that the Seattle Aquarium was planning an expansion, so I pitched them on using KeyBank (my employer at the time) for the anticipated bond financing. That particular expansion and the bonds never happened, but one thing led to another, and I joined the membership committee, then the board—and the rest is history.

Q: The Scott S. Patrick award recognizes strong leaders on the Aquarium’s board. What advice do you have for students and young adults who want to become effective leaders?
A:

Be curious, ask lots of questions and observe at school, at work and in your community to find out how things work, and follow your passions.
Think actively about examples you see of good, inspiring leadership and ineffective leadership and keep a list about both. You’ll likely find that different leadership styles work with different people/levels of experience/backgrounds/knowledge levels.
Get feedback from team members—it’s vital.
Find a mentor and get their insight while sharing yours.
Volunteer on a nonprofit project. Once you see how that works, volunteer to lead a project. Over time it may lead to a board position where you have to take a broader perspective for the organization.
I’ve found it’s often easier to gain leadership experience in volunteer roles—where the stakes are possibly a bit lower than at work—and find ways to gain more responsibility. Then you’ll have more experience and practice leading when you step up in work roles.

Q: You’re one of the top five longest-tenured Aquarium board members. What keeps you coming back?
A: Through all of these years, there have been interesting challenges for us on the board—always some knotty issue, expansion plans, funds to raise/keep track of, bonds to repay, budgets to balance, events to inspire, guests and members to stir to action, and staff members to encourage and empower.

This past year was awful, but we’ve been resilient and mercifully have had wonderful support from our amazing team members, board and community.

Q: You have an extensive background in finance. Has that perspective given you any particular insight when it comes to supporting conservation of our marine environment? What has that specific perspective made clear to you or brought to your attention?
A: For an organization to continue do good and improve the environment, and more specifically our marine environment, it needs to be on a sound financial footing or it won’t be around to fulfill its mission. And, while there are financial considerations, there is also the human side of running an organization like the Aquarium. We need to be kind and thoughtful with our teammates at the Aquarium; bear in mind how our decisions impact the animals in our care and our mission; and also be mindful of our sustainability as an economic entity.

Q: What excites you about the future of the Seattle Aquarium?
A: We have such a bright future as an organization, starting with the new Ocean Pavilion to expand our marine conservation story and reach. Our recognition of historic inequities in our communities and rededicating our organization to reaching and serving all of our diverse communities and telling their stories and lived experiences is so important. I especially am looking forward to our continued work with the Coast Salish peoples, amplifying Indigenous art and stories as we seek to inspire love and appreciation for our one world ocean.

Climate resilience in coral reef fish communities

Posted on June 9, 2021February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

Fish assemblage structure before and after a marine heatwave in West Hawaiʻi

Guest blogger Amy Olsen began her time at the Seattle Aquarium as a volunteer diver in the Underwater Dome habitat. She is now a laboratory specialist/research technician in the Conservation Programs and Partnerships department. Her Master in Marine Affairs program is in the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs at the University of Washington.

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. Healthy coral reefs have been estimated to add $477 million annually to Hawaiʻi’s economy through tourism and subsistence, recreational and commercial fisheries (Cesar & van Beukering, 2004).

For my master’s thesis project, I examined coral reef resilience to climate change by analyzing changes in fish assemblages (i.e., which species exist in the same area at the same time) after a marine heatwave. I analyzed 11 years of subtidal video survey data in three areas in West Hawaiʻi, capturing a marine heatwave event from 2014 to 2016. Fish were counted and identified to species, then assigned to one of seven functional groups: predators, secondary consumers, planktivores, corallivores and three herbivore groups—scrapers, grazers and browsers.

The dataset I used was collected by my supervisor, Dr. Shawn Larson, curator of conservation research at the Seattle Aquarium. This work falls under climate resilience, one of our three organization-wide conservation priorities along with sustainable seas and clean waters.

The Seattle Aquarium has been conducting video-based reef monitoring surveys every year in Hawaiʻi since 2009. The goals of this monitoring project are the following:

Document changes in fish diversity and abundance over time.
Determine coral cover (how much of the ocean bottom is covered by coral versus rock or sand), identify coral species and calculate percentage of coral bleaching over time.
Collect environmental data such as bacteria, nutrients and microplastics.

I used statistical tests to evaluate how the fish communities changed after the marine heatwave. All three areas in West Hawaiʻi were found to be different in the years after the heatwave. Interestingly, regardless of how differently these areas are managed or how different the habitat is, all three communities became more similar to each other.

This has been previously described in the literature where climate changes in the marine environment favor small, generalist, algae-eating fish that are able to adapt to these changes. This is called biotic homogenization and has been cited as a pressing global biodiversity crisis (Dornelas et al., 2014, Magurran et al., 2015, McGill et al., 2015).

Kona, the Marine Life Conservation District with the highest level of fishing protection among our sites, showed the highest total fish abundance and least variation over time in abundance over the study period, suggesting ecosystem stability. These sites had the highest diversity values and also documented the highest coral loss. While the fish assemblage was significantly different after the marine heatwave, the observation that fish abundance remained high could indicate this area has higher resilience than the other two areas, and may suggest more stability to new or unusual environmental conditions (Bernhardt & Leslie 2013).

Marine protected areas can be an effective management strategy to prevent overfishing, protect diverse species and provide a refuge for life stages that are more sensitive, but they do not prevent warming of the ocean surface or coral bleaching. However, management policies that prevent overfishing of herbivorous fish, such as browsers or scrapers, can prevent phase shifts from healthy coral reef systems to algal-dominated systems which has been found to aid reef resilience (Hughes et al., 2003).

Protected reefs lead to higher abundance and biodiversity of reef fish (McLean et al., 2019). Coral and fish species responses to thermal stress is highly variable, so networks of marine protected areas require thoughtful place-based approaches for effective implementation. Success is dependent on an effective combination of science-based management, public support and political will (Bellwood et al., 2004).

Understanding how marine heatwaves impact coral reef communities can guide decision-making for effective coastal management. Continued long-term monitoring is necessary to evaluate disturbance impacts on the coral reef ecosystem, as we anticipate climate change and marine heatwaves will continue into the future.

Take action!

To help protect coral reefs from these stressors, the Seattle Aquarium is supporting policies such as the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act (S.46 and H.R.160). This act would provide new federal grants to support state coral reef management and restoration and respond to coral reef emergencies and disasters. You can help! Visit this Aquarium Conservation Partnership quick action page to encourage your members of Congress to co-sponsor this bipartisan legislation.

References:

Bellwood DR, Hughes TP, Folke C, Nyström M (2004) Confronting the coral reef crisis. Nature 429:827–833.

Cesar HSJ, van Beukering PJH (2004) Economic valuation of the coral reefs of Hawaiʻi. Pacific Sci 58:231–242.

Dornelas M, Gotelli NJ, McGill B, Shimadzu H, Moyes F, Sievers C, Magurran AE (2014) Assemblage time series reveal biodiversity change but not systematic loss. Science (80- ) 344:296–299.

Hughes T, Jackson J, Kleypas J, Lough J, Marshall P, Palumbi S, Pandolfi J, Rosen B, Roughgarden J (2003) Climate Change, Human Impacts, and the Resilience of Coral Reefs. Science (80- ) 301:929–933.

Magurran AE, Dornelas M, Moyes F, Gotelli NJ, McGill B (2015) Rapid biotic homogenization of marine fish assemblages. Nat Commun 6:2–6.

McGill BJ, Dornelas M, Gotelli NJ, Magurran AE (2015) Fifteen forms of biodiversity trend in the anthropocene. Trends Ecol Evol 30:104–113.

McLean M, Auber A, Graham NAJ, Houk P, Villéger S, Violle C, Thuiller W, Wilson SK, Mouillot D (2019) Trait structure and redundancy determine sensitivity to disturbance in marine fish communities. Glob Chang Biol 25:3424–3437.

Governor Inslee signs ground-breaking bill at the Aquarium

Posted on May 21, 2021February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

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. Enjoy a few photos from the big event!

Governor Jay Inslee signing a document on a clipboard held by a young boy. — Governor Inslee signing SB5022 with the assistance of Representative Liz Berry’s son, George.

Representative Berry speaking at a podium. — Representative Berry speaking about how Washington is a leader on the issue of plastic pollution.

Robert Davidson and Governor Jay Inslee standing in front of a monitor and having a conversation. — Governor Inslee meets with Seattle Aquarium President & CEO Robert W. Davidson to learn more about the Aquarium’s new Ocean Pavilion.

Governor Jay Inslee, Susan Bullerdick, Robert Davidson, and Bob Donegan standing on the pier and smiling. — From left: Governor Jay Inslee; Seattle Aquarium Director of Capital Projects Susan Bullerdick; Seattle Aquarium President & CEO Robert W. Davidson; Ivar’s President and Seattle Aquarium Immediate Past Board Chair Bob Donegan.

State Senator Mona Das speaking at a podium in front of the Window on Washington Waters habitat. — State Senator Mona Das (who sponsored the bill).

Big wins for ocean health: Report from the 2021 state legislative session

Posted on May 6, 2021February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

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.

Wins for a healthy ocean

Reducing plastic pollution

We worked closely with partners to pass Senate Bill 5022, which helps protect the health of our ocean by cutting back on harmful and unnecessary single-use plastics.

This bill bans expanded polystyrene foam (plastic foam) food service ware, packing peanuts and recreational coolers starting in 2023.
Beginning in 2022, food services businesses may provide single-use utensils, straws, condiment packets and cold-beverage lids only when the customer confirms they want them. This will significantly reduce unnecessary plastic waste. While five other states have addressed plastic straws (through bans or opt-in policies), Washington state is the first to take this action on the other single-use items.
Manufacturers of plastic beverage bottles, trash bags and household cleaning and personal-care containers will be required to use post-consumer recycled content.

Protecting nearshore marine waters

With the passage of SB 5145, Washington state prohibited seabed mining leases for hard minerals—like gold, titanium and more—in state waters. Seabed mining is an emerging global threat that would devastate fragile marine ecosystems. We joined our partners in testifying in support of this bill.

Supporting orca recovery

We are grateful to the state legislature for an operating budget that includes funding for Quiet Sound, which will help reduce underwater noise from ships and make it easier for the critically endangered orcas to find scarce salmon. Our ocean policy manager, Nora Nickum, advocated for this funding in a Quiet Sound op-ed in the Seattle Times with NRDC’s senior advocate for Quiet Seas, Regan Nelson.

Advancing environmental justice

The Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act (SB 5141) adds an essential racial-equity lens to the environmental program work done by the state, and we were glad to endorse it. It also creates an Environmental Justice Council that will work with state agencies to ensure equitable community engagement. We congratulate Front and Centered on the passage of the HEAL Act—a vital step to ensure a healthy environment for all.

Mitigating climate change

The transportation sector is responsible for nearly half of our climate and air pollution in Washington. We joined partners in urging the legislature to adopt a Clean Fuel Standard (HB 1091) and support a transportation system that prioritizes equity and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. We celebrate the passage of the Clean Fuel Standard, which will protect our climate and clean our air.

Looking ahead

This session was a huge success, but there is still more work to do to protect the ocean.

In the next Washington state legislative session, the Seattle Aquarium and our partners will promote additional measures to reduce plastic pollution and improve our recycling system. We will also continue working to advance salmon recovery and push House Bill 1117 across the finish line. This bill, which would ensure that salmon recovery is integrated with local land use planning under the Growth Management Act, passed the House this year but did not get a vote on the Senate floor in time.

In the meantime, we will continue our work on federal policy—collaborating with aquariums across the country—in areas like plastic pollution, climate change, orca recovery, coral reef restoration and more.

Thank you

Thank you to Senators Das, Saldaña, Van De Wege and Stanford and Representatives Berry, Fitzgibbon and Lekanoff for sponsoring these important bills to protect the health of our ocean.

We also want to extend a huge thank-you to everyone who participated in our action alerts. Constituent calls and emails helped get bills passed! (If you didn’t receive our email action alerts, please consider joining our policy email list.)

Reducing oil spill risk to protect otters, orcas and more

Posted on May 5, 2021February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

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. Ocean waters that are more acidic dissolve shells and coral skeletons and make it hard for animals to form new shells. These changes, along with ocean warming and other climate change impacts, harm marine ecosystems and the people who rely on them for their food, livelihoods and well-being.

The transportation of fossil fuels and the accompanying potential for oil spills threaten the waters of the Salish Sea every day. There are proposed projects that would further increase oil handling in Washington state, along with the chance of devastating oil spills from trains, tankers and barges. In a 2019 count by Friends of the San Juans, there were 25 proposed new, expanding or recently completed terminal and refinery projects, which would add 4,232 more vessel transits every year to and from ports in Washington state and British Columbia.

Some types of oil are light and float on saltwater, spreading out very rapidly and making the oil easily accessible to seabirds and mammals at the water’s surface. Other kinds of oils are heavy and sink, causing problems for fish and organisms on the seafloor. Animals are hurt when they inhale oil as they surface to breathe or swallow oil as they try to clean themselves. When birds’ feathers or mammals’ fur get coated in oil, it also undermines their insulation, making it difficult for them to maintain the right body temperature. Oil and gas transport in marine waterways is listed among the primary threats to the sea otter population. And it is estimated that an oil spill of 2,000,000–4,000,000 gallons may kill up to half of the remaining endangered southern resident orcas (1).

Many Seattle Aquarium staff have the federal and local training required to safely handle and care for wild marine animals in the event of an oil spill. Three of our staff are also trainers and provide annual Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER-24) classes in the region with a focus on oiled wildlife response.

But we must do more than prepare for the eventuality of a catastrophic oil spill in the Salish Sea. Fossil fuels must be phased out to protect the health of our ocean and the marine species that call it home. The Seattle Aquarium has begun engaging with partners in the Stand Up to Oil coalition, a group of organizations committed to protecting Pacific Northwest communities from the health, safety and environmental threats of oil infrastructure and transport.

Over the last few months, we have raised our voice to oppose new fossil fuel infrastructure in Washington state and ensure that oil spill risks to endangered species are explicitly considered in project-approval processes. These efforts have included:

Opposing the Kalama methanol refinery: We joined many other organizations and communities in urging the Washington Department of Ecology to deny a proposal to build and operate a methanol refinery along the Columbia River in Kalama, Washington. The project would have resulted in significant greenhouse gas emissions for the next 40 years at all points in the process—from fracking and piping the gas to its conversion to liquid methanol and then to plastics or fuel, and then the burning of that fuel. In a huge win for the health of our ocean and climate, the Department of Ecology rejected this proposal in January 2021.
Ensuring better planning for oil spill risk: We have asked the Department of Ecology to require updates to oil spill contingency plans to better reduce the risk of oil spills to the endangered orcas.
Expressing concerns about oil terminal expansion: There is a proposal to expand the SeaPort Sound bulk oil terminal. We asked the City of Tacoma to closely examine potential harm to the sensitive intertidal and marine ecosystems of the Salish Sea.
Preparing for new rules for fossil fuels: This summer, the Washington Department of Ecology will develop rules for evaluating any new fossil fuel project proposals. This is an opportunity to ensure the Department of Ecology applies the best available science and social equity considerations in future permitting decisions. Be on the lookout for an upcoming action alert to help hold coal, oil and gas projects accountable for the air pollution they create.

We invite you to join the Seattle Aquarium in speaking up for the health of our ocean and climate! Get breaking news and urgent action alerts by subscribing to our policy email list.

(1) Lacy, R.C., Williams, R., Ashe, E. et al. Evaluating anthropogenic threats to endangered killer whales to inform effective recovery plans. Sci Rep 7, 14119 (2017).

An Aquarium for all: KultureCity certification complete

Posted on March 16, 2021February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

“Our communities are what shapes our lives and to know that the Seattle Aquarium is willing to go the extra mile to ensure that everyone, no matter their ability, is included in their community is amazing.”

Uma Srivastava, COO, KultureCity®

The Seattle Aquarium is happy to announce that, as part of our work to fulfill our “Inclusive Community” value, we’ve partnered with KultureCity, the nation’s leading nonprofit on sensory accessibility and acceptance for those with invisible disabilities, to improve our ability to assist and accommodate guests with sensory needs.

People affected by sensory need/processing issues find noises, smells, lights and even crowds not only overwhelming from a sensory perspective but also sometimes physically painful. Because of this, these people often find themselves isolated from the community.

Our objective at the Aquarium is to provide an inclusive and seamless experience for all guests, including those with sensory needs. We strive to raise awareness of the needs and challenges faced by individuals with sensory processing disorders by supplying our team members with continuous training and offering the resources and accommodations below to our guests:

Aquarium staff members and volunteers have received training on how to recognize guests with sensory needs and how to handle a sensory overload situation.
Sensory bags, equipped with noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools, verbal cue cards and weighted lap pads, are available for check-out at our Guest Services desk to those who may feel overwhelmed by the environment (items will be sanitized after each use for health and safety).
Signage has been installed identifying louder areas of the Aquarium where guests may want to use noise-canceling headphones.

We’re excited to complete this process and increase Aquarium accessibility for all. Download the KultureCity all-inclusive app for iOs or Android to get the Seattle Aquarium’s social story for further assistance with your visit—plus, discover other zoos, aquariums, cultural institutions and businesses across the country that have been certified by KultureCity.

Q&A with Dr. James Estes, winner of the 2021 Seattle Aquarium Conservation Research Award

Posted on March 5, 2021February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

“I fell in love with nature and natural history. From that point on my path was clear."

Dr. James Estes

A world-renowned marine ecologist and professor emeritus at the University of California Santa Cruz (retired in 2018), Dr. Estes is best known for his work on kelp forest ecosystem structure and function—particularly how it relates to sea otters as a keystone species. His career spanned over 40 years, including working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey. During that time, he also mentored 30+ graduate students and published more than 180 papers.

We are honored to present him with this year’s award. And, while we can’t gather for our annual Ocean Conservation Honors event to hear his thoughts in person, Dr. Estes kindly agreed to share some of them with us in this Q&A.

Q: What inspired you to choose your career?
A: Several things. My mother’s cousin, Dr. Irvin Buss, was a wildlife professor at Washington State University. His stories prompted me to dream of such a life for myself—studying animals in wild places. But I had little further interest in biology until, as a freshman at the University of Minnesota, I took the introductory biology class. That class inspired me to major in zoology. Then, between my junior and senior years of college, I took two summer field courses—ornithology, the study of birds, and the natural history of freshwater fishes and invertebrates—at the University’s Lake Itasca Field Station. Over the course of that summer I fell in love with nature and natural history. From that point on my path was clear.

Q: What keeps you doing the work you do?
A: Many things. Part of it is the joy of being in nature; part of it is the excitement of learning; part of it is a continuing drive to do something useful with my life. For me, success in research is like an addiction. I can’t stop.

(In addition to the career accomplishments listed above, Dr. Estes published a book in 2016 called Serendipity: An Ecologist’s Quest to Understand Nature and wrote a recent paper, published in Science, that has fueled rich discussion among marine ecologists. He and Seattle Aquarium Curator of Conservation Research Dr. Shawn Larson are currently collaborating on a feasibility study for the reintroduction of sea otters to Oregon for the Elakha Alliance. The Aquarium is also collaborating with him and many others on a new project focused on investigating the role of sea otters and other species as drivers of ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change along the Washington coast.)

Q: What impact do you hope to make with your work—what legacy would you like to leave?
A: For most people, conservation is something we do for ethical reasons. I see conservation as much more than that—something we must do to maintain a world that is fit to live in. I would most like for more people to understand that, and that the conservation of a species like the sea otter is a two-way street—that is, not only do sea otters depend on healthy habitats, but healthy habitats depend on sea otters. You can’t have one without the other.

Q: Ocean conservation is essential for the future of our marine environment. What does conservation mean to you?
A: Two camps have developed in conservation over the past 15 or so years: those who believe in conservation for nature’s sake, and those who consider conservation more from the perspectives of human need and human welfare. Both camps were founded with good intentions and are based on certain obvious truths. But I’m an old-school conservation biologist. In my view, the goal of conservation, first and foremost, should be about the preservation of nature.

Q: Why should people care about sea otter conservation?
A: There are several reasons. One is the ethical imperative to prevent extinctions. Another is because without sea otters, the coastal ecosystems that provide so many services to both humans and nature will be diminished. And yet another is more symbolic. Other large predators, like wolves, sharks and lions, are similarly important to the habitats they live in. In this sense, sea otters are a poster child for the conservation of predators. If we fail to conserve these predators, we will de facto turn nature into a different and less desirable place.

Q: Throughout your career, you’ve explored the connections between large predators and the impacts of these animals on other species and ecological processes. What could humans learn from this research in regard to how we impact our own environment?
A: Large predators have been part of nature for almost a half a billion years. Only since the recent rise of humans have these species begun to disappear. I believe the work my colleagues and I have done shows how catastrophic these losses, if not arrested, will be to our own welfare.

Interested in learning more about our annual Ocean Conservation Honors awards? Read our Q&A with Cristina Mittermeier, winner of the 2021 Seattle Aquarium Sylvia Earle Award.

Q&A with Cristina Mittermeier, winner of the 2021 Seattle Aquarium Sylvia Earle Medal

Posted on March 3, 2021February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

“Conservation is a big puzzle, and my job demands that I am an ambassador both for the natural world and my fellow conservationists.”

Cristina Mittermeier

In recognition of her three decades of courageous journalism, and making the pictures that tell the story of our planet, we are honored to present Cristina Mittermeier with this year’s Seattle Aquarium Sylvia Earle Medal.

A marine biologist and activist who pioneered the concept and field of conservation photography, Cristina’s many accomplishments include founding the International League of Conservation Photographers to provide a platform for photographers working on environmental issues and co-founding the nonprofit SeaLegacy, an organization dedicated to the protection of the ocean and which harnesses the power of communications technology to educate and inform the world about the incredible beauty of the ocean, and all of the challenges that it faces in the wake of the climate crisis.

Cristina Mittermeier diving underwater while holding a underwater camera rig. — "I often have to pinch myself when I am reminded that I do have the coolest job in the world. It is an incredible privilege to get to do the work that I do, and I am so grateful and so proud to be one of the women at the front-lines of conservation. Women are taking on more leadership roles in the field; we are scientists and doctors, photographers and filmmakers and we are changing the world together every day. It is important to me to celebrate and support the accomplishments of other women; we need to hold each other up as innovators, and artists and examples for inspiration."—Cristina Mittermeier | Photo: Paul Nicklen/SeaLegacy

In 2020, on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, Cristina announced the most ambitious project of her career: Only One, a new collective of organizations that uses digital technology and visual storytelling to catalyze lasting cultural change, with the ultimate goal of conserving the world’s oceans from now into perpetuity. She is a Sony Artisan of Imagery and was named one of National Geographic’s Adventurers of the Year in 2018, among many other awards.

Although we can’t honor Cristina’s tremendous achievements at our annual Ocean Conservation Honors event, we can share this Q&A—which Cristina generously participated in from on board the SeaLegacy1 in the beautiful waters of the Bahamas.

Cristina Mittermeier underwater holding coral. — "Titouan Bernicot told me he was 'born on a pearl farm lost in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.' At age 16, he realized that the coral reefs in French Polynesia were dying and decided to do something to help. He founded the Coral Gardeners, a nonprofit that educates the public about the importance of coral reefs. Now 20 years old, Titouan works alongside his fellow Coral Gardeners to restore the reef on their home island of Mo'orea. Spending time with them and my team at SeaLegacy reinvigorated my own sense of purpose and filled me with hope."—Cristina Mittermeier | Photo: Cristina Mittermeier/SeaLegacy

Q: Art and science can sometimes be seen as polar opposites, but in your work they go hand in hand. How do you weave these two subjects together, and why do you feel it’s effective?
A: For me, art and science very much go hand in hand. I work hard to ensure my images are artistic and beautiful, and I use my scientific knowledge to inform how they are presented to my audience. Every image is an opportunity to tell a story that educates, inspires, amuses and brings people closer to the imperative of protecting our only home.

Q: What keeps you doing the work you do?
A: The knowledge that there is no other choice. Climate change is one of many crises affecting the natural world. I still don’t see the urgent recognition of the need to act swiftly to avoid even more severe planetary consequences.

A salmon swimming in a river. — "When I first moved to the Pacific Northwest, I had never seen wild salmon, especially as they make their way up the beautiful rivers and streams of British Columbia and Alaska and all I can say is, I was blown away. It is difficult to imagine the slice of pink flesh sitting on your sushi or your bagel as an ocean super-athlete but that is exactly what salmon are. After spawning in the clear, cold waters of their native rivers, salmon babies swim out to the ocean and depending on the species, might spend between a year and four years out at sea. Eventually they return to the same stream where they were born, oftentimes having to swim upstream, against the current and dodging dams, fishermen, roads and predators, for hundreds of kilometres. The few that make it, will spawn and then will die. This is an oversimplified story of a very complex creature. Measures must be taken to ensure they don’t disappear like so many other species."—Cristina Mittermeier | Photo: Cristina Mittermeier/SeaLegacy

Q: What impact do you hope to make with your work—what legacy would you like to leave?
A: I want to be part of the generation that creates the paradigm shift I have dreamt of for so long. At the end of my life, I want to know that my contributions helped move humanity toward a better understanding of how to live within our planet’s natural boundaries. Our solutions should not be solely technological, they need to be philosophical, and I know that thanks to my work as an artist and influencer I have a role to play in socializing those ideas.

Q: You practice a principle called “enoughness,” which you’ve said has to do with taking only what you need and using everything that you take, knowing that doing so will allow others to also have enough. Can you describe some of the ways you use “enoughness” in your daily life?
A: That’s easy. Just like I practice yoga and fiscal discipline, I practice enoughness. All that is needed is to ask the question, “How much is enough for me? Do I really need more of X or Y to feel fulfilled and happy? Am I consuming mindlessly, or are my choices thoughtful and considerate?” Enoughness is a personal choice we all can make every day.

Two orcas breaching the surface of the ocean. — "The Salish Sea is an underwater world bursting with biodiversity. Roving pods of orcas patrol the rocky coasts, sea lions congregate in the shallows, and the ocean floor is alive with brightly-colored anemones that rival our ocean’s coral reefs. Recently, our friends at Mission Blue spearheaded by my good friend and ocean legend Dr. Sylvia Earle, have declared the Salish Sea a “hope spot”; a critical marine ecosystem with the potential to replenish our ocean’s biodiversity and support a thriving blue economy."—Cristina Mittermeier | Photo: Cristina Mittermeier/SeaLegacy

Q: You’ve traveled and photographed all over the world. What stands out to you about the waters and animals of the Pacific Northwest?
A: The Pacific Northwest is one of the most abundant and beautiful seascapes in the world. It is not just the ocean, but the menagerie of amazing wildlife that use the water and the land, and the unique relationship that First Nations and Indigenous communities have had with that landscape for thousands of years.

Q: What messages do you aim to send with your work, and what actions do you hope to inspire?
A: I recognize that as more and more people become aware of the perilous situation humanity faces if we continue down the same path, the feeling of guilt and powerlessness can be paralyzing. I have tried to find ways to help people feel like they are invited and welcome to be part of the solutions. By attaching easy actions to every piece of content we produce and publish in our activation platform, Only One, we make it easy and fun for people to help create solutions. We all can be part of making this a better planet.

An Egg Yolk Jelly. — "Egg Yolk Jelly in the Salish Sea. When I create a fine art photograph, I look for compositions that take what is unknown and mysterious for my viewers and make it familiar; as if they were the ones swept up in the pull of the ocean with their camera housing or standing on the shores with the viewfinder pressed to their eye. I want them to feel as if they know my subjects, to evoke a sense of closeness that we may feel for our own homes, beloved backyard ponds or gardens, and the people with whom we share our lives. I want us to feel how we are inextricably connected to this beautiful planet and rouse us to protect it."—Cristina Mittermeier | Photo: Cristina Mittermeier/SeaLegacy

Speaking up for ocean health: 2021 priorities in the Washington legislature

Posted on January 19, 2021December 19, 2023 by Emma Leiser

Although things will look different in the Olympia legislature this year due to COVID-19, the Seattle Aquarium is still gearing up to advance science-based measures to protect the ocean. Keep reading to learn about some of our top priorities for 2021.

Reducing plastic pollution

Scientists predict that by 2050, if we don’t make drastic reductions in the amount of plastic we use and dispose of every day, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by weight.

Last year, we worked with partners to pass the Reusable Bag Bill and help slow the flow of plastic into the ocean.

This year, we’re actively supporting Senate Bill 5022, which includes measures that will protect the health of our ocean by cutting back on harmful and unnecessary single-use plastics:

A ban on Styrofoam.
Requirements for using recycled plastic to make new drink bottles.
A requirement that food service businesses provide single-use utensils, straws, condiment packets and cold-beverage lids only when requested by the customer.

Advancing environmental justice

The Seattle Aquarium supports the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act (SB 5141), a recommendation from the Environmental Justice Task Force which adds an essential racial equity lens to the environmental program work done by the state.

Mitigating climate change

The transportation sector is responsible for nearly half of our climate and air pollution in Washington. We join partners in urging the legislature to adopt a Clean Fuel Standard (HB 1091) and support a transportation system that prioritizes equity and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Protecting funding for environmental programs

In the context of the multi-billion-dollar budget shortfall resulting from the pandemic, and as a member of the Environmental Priorities Coalition, we also support the Conservation Works priority. This seeks to protect essential environmental programs from budget cuts and promote investments in stimulus projects that tackle climate change, create good jobs, recover salmon and help communities chart their own course for a better future.

Read more about the Environmental Priorities Coalition’s shared legislative priorities.

Protecting nearshore marine waters

We support a prohibition on seabed mining leases for hard minerals—like gold, titanium and more—in state waters (SB 5145). This is an emerging threat and would have unavoidable and devastating impacts on marine ecosystems.

Supporting the cultural community

The pandemic also makes it essential to support the cultural community, including aquariums, with new funding tools that ensure we emerge strongly from the pandemic. The Aquarium is advocating for legislation that would allow local legislative bodies to establish new cultural access programs either through council and commission vote or through a vote of the people.

Join us in taking action!

Contact your legislators now to let them know your priorities for a healthy ocean. Visit our Act for the Ocean page for more information and ways to reach your elected officials.
Get breaking news and urgent action alerts by joining our policy email list.