Find news and recent press releases about the Aquarium.
February 26, 2015
MEDIA ADVISORY
Marine Mammal Mania and more spring excitement coming to Seattle Aquarium!
Spring is coming, and spring brings Marine Mammal Mania to Seattle! Join the Aquarium every weekend in April to celebrate some of the biggest and brightest stars of the sea.
WHEN:
April 4–May 25
WHERE:
Seattle Aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59, Seattle
WHAT:
Marine Mammal Mania:
Kids and adults alike will enjoy hands-on activities while discovering more about these wonderful animals. Meet marine mammal experts for special talks and demonstrations every weekend as well.
- April 4–5 activities will be dedicated to the mega-sized, charismatic WILD ORCAS of Puget Sound.
- April 12–13 will be all about the charming HARBOR SEALS showing off in their new home at the Aquarium.
- April 18–19 will focus on the sleek swimming NORTHERN FUR SEALS, with the new boys in town, Flaherty and Leu.
- April 25–26 will feature the fabulous, furry and sometimes funny SEA OTTERS, including our youngest sweetheart—Mishka.
May Days:
The fun continues in May with May Days at the Aquarium. Join us throughout the month for May Day, music, moms, and Family Science Weekend over the Memorial Day holiday.
Selected weekend days in May: Spring concert series.
- May 1: The original May Day with a marine twist! The Aquarium’s marine mammals will receive treats of flower-shaped ice toys!
- May 5: The Seattle Foundation’s GiveBIG—a chance to have your donations to the Seattle Aquarium go further. Visit SeattleAquarium.org for a link to donate to GiveBIG!
- May 10: Mother’s Day at the Aquarium—celebrate moms of all types, animal and human.
- May 15: Endangered Species Day—join us on social media and at the Aquarium to learn more about endangered animals.
- May 23–25: Memorial Day Weekend—Family Science Weekend. Participate in activities to learn about science and research taking place at the Seattle Aquarium. Hands-on activities, special talks and demonstrations will help the whole family discover science in a fun way.
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 $21.95; Youth (4–12) $14.95; Children 3 and under are admitted free.
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
February 12, 2015
Octopus Blind Date at the Seattle Aquarium
WHEN:
Saturday, February 14 at noon
WHERE:
Seattle Aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59, Seattle
WHAT:
Watch live to see if romance blossoms between our male and female giant Pacific octopuses when they meet for the very first time on Valentine’s Day. Aquarium biologists will set the mood with decorative hearts, roses and romantic music at the Octopus exhibit. Will her three hearts skip a beat? Will he wrap his eight arms around her? Join us to find out!
Additional Octopus Week photo opportunities and highlights:
- Live octopus release on Sunday, February 15 at noon. Watch live video feed as our biologists escort one of our octopuses to a new home in Puget Sound, just below the Aquarium’s pier.
- At noon on the following Sunday, February 22, another octopus will be released.
- Divers will swim with an octopus on February 16, 20 and 21 at noon in the Window on Washington Waters exhibit. Get a really good view of an octopus and find out all kinds of cool information about this iconic Puget Sound animal.
- Hands-on activities for kids of all ages, February 14–22.
- Daily octopus feedings and talks.
Winter 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 $21.95; Youth (4–12) $14.95; Children three and under are admitted free.
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
February 9, 2015
Octopus week is back at the Seattle Aquarium
WHEN:
February 14–22
WHERE:
Seattle Aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59, Seattle
WHAT:
Join us for fun and learning about one of the coolest creatures in Puget Sound.
Octopus Week Highlights:
- Octopus Blind Date on Saturday, February 14 starting at noon. Watch live to see if romance blossoms between our male and female giant Pacific octopuses when they meet for the very first time on Valentine’s Day. Aquarium biologists will set the mood with decorative hearts, roses and romantic music at the Octopus exhibit. Will her three hearts skip a beat? Will he wrap his eight arms around her? Join us to find out!
- Live octopus release on Sunday, February 15 at noon. Watch live video feed as our biologists escort one of our octopuses to a new home in Puget Sound, just below the Aquarium’s pier.
- The following Sunday, February 22 at noon, another octopus will be released. Divers swimming with an octopus on 2/16, 2/20 and 2/21 at noon in the Window on Washington Waters exhibit. Get a really good view of an octopus and find out all kinds of cool information about this iconic Puget Sound animal. Hands-on activities for kids of all ages February 14–22.
- Daily octopus feedings and talks.
Winter 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 $21.95; Youth (4–12) $14.95; Children three and under are admitted free.
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
January 30, 2015
Seattle Aquarium welcomes “Mishka,” a new northern sea otter
SEATTLE—The Seattle Aquarium is looking forward to welcoming Mishka, a six-month-old Alaskan sea otter, to its marine mammal collection. Mishka will be arriving very early on the morning of Saturday, Jan. 31, and is expected to be able to be viewed by Aquarium guests on Sunday, February 1.
Mishka, which is Russian for “little bear,” is coming to the Aquarium by way of the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska. After being caught in a fishing net in July 2014, she was rescued, rehabilitated at the Alaska SeaLife Center, and deemed non-releasable by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). Her caretakers in Alaska report that she’s been enjoying a diet of surf clams, crab, mussels, capelin, squid, herring and pollock and now weighs just over 26 pounds. They also say that she seems to have a lot of fun with enrichment activities, particularly piles of ice.
Because Mishka has been living indoors, Aquarium staff will be systematically acclimating her to her new outdoor environment. She will be placed in the sea otter holding pool the same day she arrives. The windows will be covered and stanchions will be used to keep visitors out of the area. Based on Mishka’s behavior, the window coverings will be removed in sections. Over the following few days, the stanchions will be moved closer to the windows until she gets used to people being close. In time, as she becomes comfortable in her new surroundings, we will introduce Aniak as her first companion.
The Seattle Aquarium has housed northern sea otters since opening in 1977 and was the first facility to have a northern sea otter pup conceived and born in a zoo or aquarium and survive into adulthood. Multiple populations of sea otters are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. As accredited members of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), the Alaska SeaLife Center and Seattle Aquarium are working collaboratively to place sea otters that have been deemed non-releasable by the USFWS. Initiatives like this help further our goals related to conservation research and education about this species.
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.
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
January 28, 2015
Seattle Aquarium salutes champions of marine conservation
SEATTLE—On January 27, the Seattle Aquarium conferred its top awards at its annual Chairman’s Dinner to community and scientific leaders who have worked to preserve and protect marine environments both locally and around the world.
Each year the Seattle Aquarium Medal is bestowed upon an individual whose leadership and lifetime accomplishments reflect our mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment. The 2015 Medal went to Martha Kongsgaard, whose long list of leadership roles includes serving as chair of the Leadership Council of the Puget Sound Partnership and co-founding the Kongsgaard-Goldman Foundation, which gives grants to a nonprofit environmental, social justice and arts organizations, many of which affect Puget Sound, in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.
Notes Seattle Aquarium president and CEO Robert W. Davidson, “We are reminded every day that we live in contentious times; it sometimes seems that finding common ground on issues such as the health of Puget Sound or the ocean is an impossible job. But we must reject that view. In America we need leaders who understand what good citizenship is all about, and who can step up the task. Martha Kongsgaard is such a citizen.”
The Seattle Aquarium also awards an annual $10,000 research grant to the Seattle Aquarium Research Center for Conservation and Husbandry (SEARCCH) in honor of an influential leader in this arena. The 2015 Seattle Aquarium Research Award recipient was Dr. Terrie Klinger, director and professor at the UW School of Marine and Environmental Affairs; co-director of the Washington Ocean Acidification Center; Stan and Alta Barer endowed professor of sustainability science; and adjunct professor at the UW School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences. An applied marine ecologist, Dr. Klinger’s research interests include ocean acidification and ocean change. Her long research record combines ecological theory and rigorous field study.
Comments Davidson, “Dr. Klinger’s unusual and demonstrated capacity as a leader among scientists and in public policy has contributed to progress throughout the region over the past two decades. She not only does research—she knows how to lead, drive and inspire the research of others. The scale and urgency of our need for science to effectively inform public policy on issues related to ocean health, including the health of our own Puget Sound, require scientists of her talent.”
Aquarium board member Stuart Rolfe was also honored at the Chairman’s Dinner, with a surprise presentation of the Scott S. Patrick Inspirational Award, named for the late Aquarium board member and Seattle Seahawks executive who served with extraordinary passion. Rolfe, the owner and president of Wright Hotels, Inc., was elected to the Seattle Aquarium board of directors in 2000 and has been a major contributor to the board and Aquarium. His notable achievements include serving as board chair in 2008 and 2009; co-chairing the Aquarium’s 2007 New Currents capital campaign; and co-leading the transition of the Aquarium to nonprofit management in 2010. He is now co-chairing the Aquarium’s master plan process.
###
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.
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
January 9, 2015
MEDIA ADVISORY: Visit Hawai’i in your own backyard at the Seattle Aquarium
Are tropical breezes and warm sandy beaches calling out to you? Come to the Seattle Aquarium to get in the aloha spirit and visit a bit of paradise in your own back yard.
When:
Jan. 17–19 and 24–25
Where:
Seattle Aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59, Seattle, Wash.
WHAT:
January 17–19, 10:30am and 1:30pm
Join us for hands-on activities, special demonstrations, and Hawai’ian performances both weekends. Visit with special guest Randall Kosaki, PhD., NOAA’s deputy superintendent of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, the single largest fully protected conservation area under the U.S. flag, and one of the largest marine conservation areas in the world. It encompasses 139,797 square miles of the Pacific Ocean (362,073 square kilometers)—an area larger than all the country's national parks combined. Dr. Kosaki is an expert on the marine life found in the coral reefs of this unique and critical marine habitat.
Direct from Hawai’i, the Seattle Aquarium is proud to welcome Honu By The Sea, a live musical featuring a young Waikiki beachboy who loves to surf the ocean and dreams of living under the sea. Upon finding a magical sea star along the beach, his wish is granted to spend an entire day under water where he encounters several amazing ocean characters. The show’s producer, Hawaii-native Johnson Enos, created Honu by the Sea as a way to educate the public about the importance of caring for the ocean.
January 24–25, 10:30am and 1:30pm
Come hula with us! Join Aunty Manu’s halau and enjoy the music and dancing of the 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 $21.95; Youth (4-12) $14.95; Children three and younger are admitted FREE.
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
December 24, 2014
It’s Time to Celebrate Winter Fishtival at the Seattle Aquarium
When:
Dec. 26, 2014–Jan. 4, 2015
Where:
Seattle Aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59, Seattle, Wash.
WHAT: Winter Fishtival
Join us for our annual holiday school-break festivities! Winter Fishtival features hands-on activities, special talks and opportunities to learn more about the Aquarium’s fish, birds, tide pool creatures and marine mammals. Each day we’ll highlight different sea animals. This free event is included with Aquarium admission; no reservation needed.
Friday, Dec. 26: Octopus and Friends
Saturday, Dec. 27: Puffins
Sunday, Dec. 28: Plankton
Monday, Dec. 29: Rockfish
Tuesday, Dec. 30: Marine Mammals
Wednesday, Dec. 31: Coral Reef Animals
Thursday, Jan. 1: Sculpins
Friday, Jan. 2: Tide Pool Animals
Saturday, Jan. 3: Wolf Eels, along with special guest Captain Barnacles of the Octonauts! Come meet and get your picture taken with Captain Barnacles. Meet and greet times are 10am, 11am, 1pm and 2pm.
Sunday, Jan. 4: Undersea Garden Critters
WINTER BEACH ADVENTURE
When:
9–10:30 pm: Saturday, Jan. 3
The low tide level of -1.3 will be at 9:47 pm.
What: Nighttime Low Tide Beach Walk
Join Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalist staff and volunteers to explore the beach during winter nighttime low tides and discover what creatures we see on the beach at this time of year.
MORE FAMILY FUN
When:
9:30am–noon: Jan. 12, 13, 26 and 27; and Feb. 9, 10, 23 and 24.
What: Toddler Time
From dressing up like an octopus to fish-print painting and touching live tide pool animals, Toddler Time will keep even the busiest of bodies engaged and entertained. A myriad of developmentally appropriate activities await for tots to explore. Toddler Time is geared toward children age 5 and younger, accompanied by an adult. This free, drop-in program is included with Aquarium admission; no reservation needed.
EXPLORE THE TROPICS
When:
Jan. 17–19 with special performances of Honu by the Sea at 10:30am and 1:30pm Jan. 24–25 with Hawaiian music and hula at 10:30am and 1:30pm
What: Visit Hawaii in Your Own Backyard
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. Featuring Hawaiian entertainment, hands-on activities and special diver shows.
WINTER HOURS/PRICES AT THE AQUARIUM:
The Aquarium’s admission gate is open 9:30am–5pm daily, with the exhibits closing at 6pm.
Holiday hours: We’re open Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) from 9:30am to 3pm with exhibits closing at 4pm; closed Christmas Day (Dec. 25). Open regular hours New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Admission fees: Adults $21.95; Youth (4–12) $14.95; Children age 3 and under are admitted free.
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
December 16, 2014
Northern fur seal "Chewbacca" passes away
Seattle—Northern fur seal Chewbacca passed away at the Seattle Aquarium Sunday morning, Dec. 14. Chewy, as he was called, underwent emergency surgery to remove a mass from his gastrointestinal system late last Thursday, Dec. 11. Although he recovered from the surgery, 48 hours later complications arose that necessitated his humane euthanasia.
“Despite his medical condition and through all our interventions, it should be noted he remained amazingly cooperative and never showed any aggression toward his care givers,” said Traci Belting, Curator of Mammals and Birds. “He was an amazing animal and will be sorely missed by everyone.”
Chewbacca, a 13-year-old male northern fur seal, was born at the New York Aquarium and was transferred to Moody Gardens in Texas in April 2011. He came to the Seattle Aquarium in February 2014 as part of an ongoing collaboration with other zoos and aquariums that hold fur seals. The Seattle Aquarium is one of only three facilities in North America that exhibit the species; the others are New England Aquarium in Boston, Massachusetts; and Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Connecticut. Combined, the three exhibiting institutions now house a total of nine northern fur seals.
The mission of the Seattle Aquarium is "inspiring conservation of our marine environment." Since Washington state is part of the migratory range of this species, the Seattle Aquarium is in a unique position to link our animals to the Pacific Ocean and to increase awareness and knowledge of northern fur seals in the wild and their role in our marine environment.
###
Contact:
Tim Kuniholm
(206) 386-4345
t.kuniholm@seattleaquarium.org
November 13, 2014
SEATTLE AQUARIUM HONORED FOR SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS
The Seattle Aquarium received two awards for sustainable operations in October of 2014. The first was the 2014 “Visionary Leadership Award” presented by the Seattle 2030 District, or S2030D, a high-performance building district in downtown Seattle that aims to dramatically reduce environmental impacts of building construction and operations.
The Aquarium was honored for energy-efficient retrofits, carbon capture through tree planting and solar panels constructed on its Pier 59 facility, among the largest array on an aquarium in the country. The institution was cited by the 2030 District for embodying “the visionary leadership across disciplines necessary to meet our most challenging environmental goals and for being a champion for water quality and restoration of Puget Sound."
In addition, the Aquarium was honored to receive a “Community Impact Award” from Seattle Business magazine. The awards honored “the region’s most influential community leaders” and celebrated 24 honorees in categories ranging from sustainability to youth development. The Aquarium received a silver award in the “Sustainability in Business Operations” category.
Sustainable business practices are an important part of delivering on our institution’s vision, notes Aquarium President & CEO Bob Davidson. “The Aquarium’s mission is Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment. And that’s not limited to our waterways. Every step we take toward sustainability—from energy sources we rely on to reducing our carbon footprint—benefits the incredible marine and terrestrial world around us.”
###
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.
On the web: SeattleAquarium.org
On Facebook: Facebook.com/Aquarium.Seattle
On Twitter: Twitter.com/SeattleAquarium
Inspiring Conservation of our Marine Environment
Contact:
Tim Kuniholm
(206) 386-4345
t.kuniholm@seattleaquarium.org