“We are thrilled to have Brian Skerry as our keynote speaker for SeaChange,” said event chair Eric Steinwinder. “His powerful photography epitomizes the need to take action on behalf of ocean health—and fits perfectly with the Seattle Aquarium’s work to inspire conservation action in every individual we reach.”
September 15, 2017
Enjoy a fall and winter full of family fun with the Seattle Aquarium!
WHEN:
September 2017–January 2018
WHERE:
Seattle Aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59, Seattle, WA
WHAT:
Sea Otter Awareness Weekend, September 23–24
Join biologists at the Seattle Aquarium and explore the lives of sea otters. See how the Seattle Aquarium biologists care for these enchanting animals, including providing great nutrition, training and even toys!
Toddler Time
From dressing up like a wolf eel to fish-print painting and water play with ocean animal toys, Toddler Time keeps even the busiest of bodies engaged and entertained with developmentally age-appropriate, hands-on activities.
Toddler Time takes place in our classrooms on select Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays. Children ages 5 and under must be accompanied by an adult. FREE with Aquarium admission.
Drop in for any length of time between 9:30am and noon
October 8–10 and 29–31
November 5–7 and 12–14
December 3–5 and 10–12
January 7–9 and 21–23
February 4–6 and 11–13
Cedar River Salmon Journey: every weekend in October
FREE family-friendly salmon viewing programs
Follow salmon up the Cedar River this October! Watch our local salmon spawning, learn about their adventures and the things we can all do to improve watershed health. Volunteer naturalists will be stationed from 11am to 4pm on October 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29 at four locations along the Cedar River in the Renton and Maple Valley areas. Carpool if you can—these sites have limited parking. For a flyer with directions or to get more information visit SeattleAquarium.org.
Halloween fun at the Seattle Aquarium, October 28–29
Get your Halloween celebration started early! Put on your costume and join us for creepy games and activities, face painting, fun treats and two kinds of pumpkin carving demonstrations—on land with master carver Russ Leno and underwater with our Aquarium divers. Trick or treat at additional waterfront locations on Sunday, October 29, noon–4pm.
Discover Science Weekend, November 10–12
Bring the family to explore science together through exciting interactive experiments and presentations. Meet scientists and researchers from the Aquarium as well as other organizations in the community to learn about current projects, as well as why and how the research is being conducted.
Lightning Talks
Discover Science Weekend kickoff event
Wednesday, November 8, 7–10pm at the Seattle Aquarium.
Diving Santa, Saturdays and Sundays, November 25–December 24
Come to the Aquarium and get in the spirit for the winter holidays! Meet Diving Santa, take a photo and treat yourself to a seasonal beverage at our café’s espresso bar. With special holiday concerts featuring local Puget Sound groups on select weekends. Be sure to bring your camera!
Winter Fishtival, December 26–January 1
Join us for hands-on activities, special talks and opportunities to learn more about the marine animals at the Aquarium and in Puget Sound. Each day will feature a different sea animal and activities. Included with Aquarium admission; no reservation necessary.
Hawaii in Your Own Backyard, January 13–15
Take a break from winter, dress up in Aloha wear, and join us at the Aquarium to explore a little of the tropics. Discover some of the unique sea life that originates only in the Hawaiian Islands.
Hours/prices at the Aquarium:
The Aquarium’s admission gate is open 9:30am to 5pm daily, with the exhibits closing at 6pm. Admission fees: Adults $29.95; Youth (4–12) $19.95; Children 3 and under are admitted free.
On the web: SeattleAquarium.org
On Facebook: facebook.com/Aquarium.Seattle
On Twitter: twitter.com/SeattleAquarium
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Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment.
Contact:
Tim Kuniholm
(206) 386-4345
t.kuniholm@seattleaquarium.org
August 16, 2017
NINETEEN TOP U.S. AQUARIUMS JOIN FORCES TO TACKLE GROWING PLASTIC POLLUTION THREAT FACING OCEAN, RIVERS, GREAT LAKES
Aquariums from coast to coast shift away from single-use plastic products and packaging, rally consumers to build market demand for innovative alternatives
The Seattle Aquarium has joined forces with 18 other aquariums across the United States and created a new Aquarium Conservation Partnership (ACP) to address one of the gravest threats facing ocean and freshwater animals: plastic pollution. The ACP announced the launch of a nationwide consumer campaign and a business commitment to drive a shift away from single-use plastic among their visitors, in their communities and beyond.
“The public trusts aquariums to do what’s right for the health of the ocean and for ocean wildlife,” said Julie Packard, executive director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. “We’re just beginning to understand the full impacts of ocean plastic pollution on ecosystems, marine life and human health. But we already know enough to say that now is the time to act.”
Through the national “In Our Hands” campaign, the ACP hopes to empower their 20 million visitors and millions more in their communities to drive a national shift away from single-use plastic and toward innovative alternatives. The campaign includes a website that inspires visitors to make positive, everyday behavior changes and raise awareness of the issue.
All 19 aquariums are also supporting this shift away from single-use plastic within their own businesses. As of today, all ACP members have eliminated plastic straws and single-use plastic take-away bags in their institutions and, in hopes of additional plastic reduction, the aquariums have committed to showcasing innovative alternatives to single-use plastic in their facilities. The Seattle Aquarium has also eliminated plastic beverage lids and containers.
“As leaders in aquatic conservation, aquariums are expected to walk their talk, and that’s exactly what this partnership is meant to do,” said National Aquarium CEO John Racanelli. “We are uniquely qualified to set an example for others—in reducing our plastic footprint, encouraging sustainable operating practices, and inspiring hope in a public that is hungry to be part of the solution. We’re right where we should be.”
About 8.8 million tons of plastic enters the ocean each year worldwide—roughly a dump truck full of plastic every minute of every day. In the United States alone, plastic waste averages more than 200 pounds per person each year. If nothing changes, by 2025 the flow of plastic into the ocean is expected to double. But it’s not just the ocean that’s affected: Plastic pollution in lakes and rivers has been found at levels as high, or higher, than in oceanic gyres that concentrate plastic trash. Today, there are an estimated one billion plastic particles floating on the surface of Lake Michigan alone.
This summer, the aquariums will focus on raising awareness, sparking consumer action and sharing their own success stories to highlight the many ways they’ve cut back on single-use plastic in their operations.
They are working with business partners to showcase innovative alternatives to single-use plastic products, and will collaborate with vendors to accelerate design of new products and materials.
The aquariums are also using their collective voice—at the local, state and national level—to support policies that reduce the flow of plastic pollution into the ocean, rivers and lakes. Beyond sponsoring clean-up events and education programs, many have backed successful efforts to stem the use of plastic shopping bags and plastic microbeads found in personal care products.
“The Seattle Aquarium is committed to leading by example” stated Jim Wharton, Seattle Aquarium’s director of conservation education. “On June 1, we eliminated plastic straws, lids and beverage bottles from the building. Of course, we moved away from plastic bags years ago. We believe this will spark conversations with our guests and inspire our community to join us. Choosing alternatives to single-use plastics is one of the many ways the Aquarium lives its ocean ethic.”
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About the Seattle Aquarium
The Seattle Aquarium is one of Washington state’s leading environmental education and stewardship institutions, and the region’s gathering place for discussion and sharing information about marine conservation. It maintains a number of research initiatives in cooperation with federal, state, zoological and university partners. The Aquarium is located on Pier 59, at 1483 Alaskan Way.
About the Aquarium Conservation Partnership
The Aquarium Conservation Partnership (ACP) is a collaboration of 19 AZA-accredited public aquariums across North America committed to advancing conservation and advocacy of the world’s oceans, lakes and rivers through public action, business leadership and policy changes aimed at addressing major threats to aquatic environments. It was first championed by the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California, National Aquarium in Baltimore and Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, in collaboration with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Photo, video and graphic assets
High-resolution photos, video and graphic assets can be downloaded from the following link. Captions and credit information are included: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/9o9d9whgx5kzrvk/AAAB7mPsHoWcvl5L6JA1K4v2a?dl=0
On the web: SeattleAquarium.org
On Facebook: facebook.com/Aquarium.Seattle
On Twitter: twitter.com/SeattleAquarium
Contact:
Tim Kuniholm
(206) 386-4345
t.kuniholm@seattleaquarium.org
Laura Austin
(206) 386-4329
l.austin@seattleaquarium.org
July 14, 2017
KING5 News: Seattle Aquarium ditches plastic straws
Click here to view the article/video.
July 12, 2017
CURBED Seattle: Seattle Aquarium is getting a massive new building
Click here to view the article.
July 11, 2017
Aquarium announces new staff veterinarian
SEATTLE—The Seattle Aquarium recently announced the appointment of Caitlin Hadfield, DVM as the new staff veterinarian. She began at the Aquarium on June 1.
Hadfield’s undergraduate degree was in zoology followed a few years later by her veterinary degree at Cambridge University. Throughout that time, she worked on projects ranging from humpback whale fieldwork and reef surveys to veterinary work at the Shedd Aquarium and Alaska SeaLife Center. After graduating, Caitlin worked at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, with her final position being senior vet. While there, she became boarded with the American and European colleges of zoological medicine (ACZM and ECZM). “I will always be proud of what we did over my 12 years at the National Aquarium, and I am looking forward to joining the Seattle Aquarium,” said Hadfield.
About the Seattle Aquarium
The Seattle Aquarium is one of Washington state’s leading environmental education and stewardship institutions, and the region’s gathering place for discussion and sharing information about marine conservation. It maintains a number of research initiatives in cooperation with federal, state, zoological and university partners. The Aquarium is accredited by the AZA and located on Pier 59, at 1483 Alaskan Way.
On the web: SeattleAquarium.org
On Facebook: facebook.com/Aquarium.Seattle
On Twitter: twitter.com/SeattleAquarium.
Photo available upon request.
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Contact:
Tim Kuniholm
(206) 386-4345
t.kuniholm@seattleaquarium.org
June 29, 2017
LMN Architects selected for Seattle Aquarium's New Ocean Pavilion
Click here to view press release.
June 28, 2017
Daily Journal of Commerce: New waterfront icon: Ocean Pavilion
Click here to view the article.
Daily Journal of Commerce: Overlook Walk slims down, aquarium steps up
Click here to view the article.
June 19, 2017
Aquarium announces new finance director
SEATTLE—The Seattle Aquarium recently announced the appointment of Rick Johnson as the new director of finance and administration. He began work in this role at the Aquarium on June 1.
Rick brings over 30 years of cultural nonprofit experience with him, most recently from his time with the Seattle Opera where he held both the chief financial officer and chief operating officer responsibilities and, at times, was a singer in the Seattle Opera chorus!
Johnson has participated in more than one large successful capital campaign and was instrumental in the successful construction of The Smith Center for Performing Arts in Las Vegas, NV. Rick also worked with City of Seattle officials on the Opera's new building project on the grounds of the Seattle Center, which is a public/private partnership project as was The Smith Center. “Rick is a strong communicator and has the depth of experience to help the Aquarium through complex challenges that come with our future growth and expansion,” said Robert Davidson, Seattle Aquarium president & CEO.
Other notable highlights from Rick's past experience include teaching graduate level nonprofit financial management courses for a number of universities. Rick holds an MBA from the UCLA Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Music degree from Boston University.
“I started college as a science major and wanted to be a marine biologist,” said Johnson, “So I’m thrilled to be a part of the Seattle Aquarium and helping to contribute to conservation of our marine environment.” Rick is a singer and a member of the board of Seattle Pro Musica. He is also very active with University Unitarian Church, including being the chair of the finance committee.
About the Seattle Aquarium
The Seattle Aquarium is one of Washington state’s leading environmental education and stewardship institutions, and the region’s gathering place for discussion and sharing information about marine conservation. It maintains a number of research initiatives in cooperation with federal, state, zoological and university partners. The Aquarium is accredited by the AZA and located on Pier 59, at 1483 Alaskan Way.
On the web: SeattleAquarium.org
On Facebook: facebook.com/Aquarium.Seattle
On Twitter: twitter.com/SeattleAquarium.
Photo available upon request.
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Contact:
Tim Kuniholm
(206) 386-4345
t.kuniholm@seattleaquarium.org
Press releases