Find news and recent press releases about the Aquarium.
May 7, 2018
Mothers, Families, Beaches and the World's Ocean—Just Some of the Fun Coming to Seattle Aquarium!
The sun is out (today anyway) and we’re looking forward to another season of fun and learning at the Seattle Aquarium!
Mother’s Day at the Aquarium, May 13: Celebrate the joys of motherhood and discover some of the secrets of our sea animal mothers. Join us for special talks and demonstrations—all about the moms! Also enjoy free parking for up to four hours at select waterfront garages.
Sound Conversations—In Search of a Strawless Ocean, May 17: Join our host Jeff Renner and special guest Dune Ives, executive director of Lonely Whale, to discuss the issue of ocean plastics. Why worry about plastics in the ocean? What can be done about it? How can I, as an individual, really help with solutions to the problem? Learn about these topics and more.
Aquarium After Hours, May 24: Gather your friends for an evening where adults take over the Seattle Aquarium at Aquarium After Hours. Want to take a closer look at life on the edge? The intertidal zone—where land and sea meet—is bustling with life and unexpected surprises. Come discover the amazing animals that dwell in this ever-changing habitat. This 21+ event will provide you with the opportunity to brush up on beach animal ID and etiquette so you can explore local beaches on low-tide days this summer with confidence!
Family Science Weekend, May 26–28: Memorial Day Weekend is also Family Science Weekend. Join us at the Seattle Aquarium for fun, hands-on science including looking for plankton, learning about Aquarium research and more! Don’t forget to bring along one of your stuffed animals for a check-up!
Meet beach naturalists, May–August: May 29 is the beginning of the summer Beach Naturalist program. Join trained volunteers and explore the shoreline with us at several local beaches. This is a free, drop-in program and reservations aren’t needed. Visit the Aquarium website for all the dates, times, locations and directions.
World Ocean Celebration, June 9–10: Celebrate the world’s one big ocean with us and learn to be an ocean hero! Everyone, no matter where they live, can help keep the ocean clean and healthy. We'll show you how with a variety of hands-on activities and special demonstrations. We’ll also have a special show featuring Captain Barnacles and Kwazii: Octonauts—To Your Stations! Show times are 11am and 1pm.
Hours/prices at the Aquarium: The Aquarium’s admission gate is open 9:30am to 5pm daily, with the exhibits closing at 6pm.*Special note:* The entire Aquarium will be closed all day Friday, June 1 for Splash!, our annual fundraising gala. We will reopen at 9:30am on Saturday, June 2. Admission fees: Adults $29.95; youth (ages 4–12) $19.95; children age 3 and under are admitted free.
On the web: SeattleAquarium.org
On Facebook: facebook.com/Aquarium.Seattle
On Twitter: twitter.com/SeattleAquarium
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Contact:
Tim Kuniholm
(206) 386-4345
t.kuniholm@seattleaquarium.org
March 8, 2018
The Aquarium announces a new photography show: BIRDS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST and Some Southern Hemisphere Favorites—photography by Peter R. Cavanagh.
Where: Seattle Aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59, Seattle, WA
From eagles, owls, puffins and snow geese to penguins, blue-footed boobies and more, this exhibit encompasses a variety of bird species, photographed in ways which will inspire awe in the viewer. This exhibit will be at the Aquarium on the walls of the Life on the Edge exhibit, March through summer 2018.
Peter Cavanagh is a Pacific Northwest photographer who specializes in photographing birds in flight. He was guest curator of the recent exhibit How Birds Fly at the Seattle Museum of Flight. He has travelled widely from Antarctica to Iceland (the migration route of Arctic terns) in pursuit of interesting birds. His work has won awards in the U.S. and Canada, has been featured by the Audubon Society and the American Ornithological Union, and can be seen in the permanent collection on board the Washington state ferry Samish. Peter’s images have been included in the Audubon Top 100 Bird Photographs for each of the last three years and in the showcase collection of the North American Nature Photographers Association. His new book, 100 Flying Birds: A Photographer’s Notebook, will be published in 2019.
Artist’s statement:
Photographers often describe themselves as people who capture light but my goal is to capture motion in a still image. My interest in bird flight flows naturally from my professional training in biomechanics, my background as a private pilot, and my passion for photography. Learning about and observing birds has provided me with an access point into the connected web of natural ecosystems. Because birds are so sensitive to the state of their environments, they speak to us through their decreasing numbers and continuing extinctions about the harm being wrought on the planet by humans. It is my hope that the images in this exhibit will excite the viewer to value the presence of such diverse and splendid creatures and to advocate for policies that will preserve and enhance this presence for future generations.
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 $29.95; youth (ages 4–12) $19.95; children ages 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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Contact:
Tim Kuniholm
(206) 386-4345
t.kuniholm@seattleaquarium.org
March 7, 2018
Marine Mammal Mania and more spring excitement coming to Seattle Aquarium
Where: Seattle Aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59, Seattle, WA
Spring is just around the corner, and Marine Mammal Mania isn’t far behind it! Join the Aquarium April 6–15 to celebrate some of the ocean’s most charismatic animals. Kids and adults alike will enjoy hands-on activities while discovering more about otters and seals.
Some highlights include:
• Skype sessions with marine mammal experts from organizations such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Monterey Bay Aquarium’s sea otter program.
• Learn about current research on marine mammals including caring for injured sea otters, drones used to help with population surveys and other cutting-edge research.
• Meet Aquarium biologists who care for the otters and seals at the Seattle Aquarium.
The fun continues in May!
• May 9: 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 13: Mother’s Day at the Aquarium—celebrate moms of all types: animal and human.
• May 17: Sound Conversations – In Search of a Strawless Ocean with special guest Dune Ives, executive director, Lonely Whale.
• May 26–28, Memorial Day Weekend is also Family Science Weekend! Learn about science and research taking place at the Seattle Aquarium with hands-on activities, special talks and demonstrations that will help the whole family discover science in a fun way.
• May 29: Meet us at the beach for the beginning of the summer 2018 Beach Naturalist program. Join trained volunteers and explore the shoreline with us!
Hours/prices at the Aquarium:
Admission fees: Adults $29.95; youth (ages 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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Contact:
Tim Kuniholm
(206) 386-4345
t.kuniholm@seattleaquarium.org
February 7, 2018
Seattle Aquarium honors Dr. Sylvia A. Earle with inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award
Where: Seattle Aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59, Seattle, WA
On January 25, the Seattle Aquarium held its annual Chairman’s Dinner, which honors community and scientific leaders who have worked to preserve and protect marine environments both locally and around the world.
This year’s event held a twist: the bestowal of the Aquarium’s first Lifetime Achievement Award, which was given to Sylvia A. Earle, Ph.D. Recognized by the Library of Congress as a “Living Legend,” Dr. Earle is presently chairman of deep ocean exploration and research and an explorer-in-residence at the National Geographic Society. She has led more than 60 research expeditions worldwide, involving in excess of 7,000 hours underwater, and is founder of the Sylvia Earle Alliance (S.E.A.)/Mission Blue, founder of Deep Ocean Exploration and Research Inc. (DOER), chair of the advisory council for the Harte Research Institute and former chief scientist of NOAA.
In 2007, the Aquarium presented Dr. Earle with the Seattle Aquarium Medal, which is presented each year to an individual whose leadership and lifetime accomplishments reflect the mission of the Seattle Aquarium: Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment. Dr. Earle was selected for her pioneering research, writing and exploration that helped increase understanding of the ocean and make its protection an international priority—work that she has continued as the ocean’s most visible proponent.
Upon conferring the Lifetime Achievement Award, Seattle Aquarium President & CEO Robert W. Davidson also announced that the Seattle Aquarium Medal is being renamed and will henceforth be known as the Seattle Aquarium Sylvia Earle Medal.
Megan N. Dethier, Ph.D., a research professor in the biology department at the University of Washington who is in full-time residence at the Friday Harbor Laboratories, received the Seattle Aquarium Conservation Research Award, which honors individuals performing leadership research in the field.
Since the late 1970s, Dr. Dethier has been working on the shoreline ecology of the Pacific Northwest. She designed a marine habitat classification system for Washington state, and has worked with the National Park Service and various Washington agencies designing shoreline mapping and monitoring programs. Her current research efforts are mostly focused in Puget Sound, investigating the linkage between physical features of shoreline habitats and their biota, and the effects of human impacts (such as shoreline armoring) on this linkage. President & CEO Davidson presented longtime board member George Willoughby with the Scott S. Patrick Inspirational Award. Named for the late Aquarium board member and Seattle Seahawks executive who served with extraordinary passion, the award annually recognizes the Seattle Aquarium board member whose service best exemplifies the passion, leadership and enthusiasm which characterized Scott Patrick’s life and board service.
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
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Contact:
Tim Kuniholm
(206) 386-4345
t.kuniholm@seattleaquarium.org
February 2, 2018
Octopus Week is Coming to the Seattle Aquarium
When: February 17-25
Where: Seattle Aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59, Seattle, WA
Alien looking. Intelligent. Masters of camouflage. Blue blood. Three hearts. Eight arms. No bones. Eats crab. Toxic saliva.
It’s an animal of mystery and legend. An icon. And one of the coolest creatures in Puget Sound, the giant Pacific octopus. Celebrate President’s Day Weekend and mid-Winter break with this very special local celebrity. Join us on a mission of discovery as we explore the mystery and lifestyle of this amazing undersea animal with daily octopus feedings and talks, plus hands-on activities. In addition, the following action packed activities are always highlights of Octopus Week:
- Live octopus release on Saturday, 2/17 at noon. Watch live video feed as our biologists escort Webster, one of our octopuses, to a new home in Puget Sound just below the Aquarium’s pier. The following Saturday, 2/24 at noon, Yoda, another octopus will be released.
- Divers swimming with an octopus on 2/19 and 2/25 at noon in the Window on Washington Waters exhibit. Get a one-of-a-kind view of an octopus and learn amazing facts about this iconic Puget Sound animal.
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 $29.95; youth (4–12) $19.95; children 3 and under are admitted free.
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. Holiday Hours: Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve open 9:30am to 3pm, with the exhibits closing at 4pm. Closed Christmas Day.
On the web: SeattleAquarium.org
On Facebook: facebook.com/Aquarium.Seattle
On Twitter: twitter.com/SeattleAquarium
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Contact:
Tim Kuniholm
(206) 386-4345
t.kuniholm@seattleaquarium.org
November 22, 2017
Santa returns to dive at the Seattle Aquarium!
When: Saturdays—Mondays, November 25—December 24
Where: Seattle Aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59, Seattle, WA
What:
Come to the Aquarium and get in the spirit for the winter holidays! See Santa diving in the 120,000-gallon Window on Washington Waters exhibit. Bring your camera, take your picture with Diving Santa and stay perfectly dry! Or have your photo taken by our professional photographer so the whole family can be in the picture. Treat yourself to a seasonal beverage at our café’s espresso bar. Enjoy special holiday concerts featuring local Puget Sound groups on Saturdays and Sundays at 1pm.
November 25—Caspar Babypants
November 26—Emerald City Voices
December 2—Dickens Carolers
December 3—Northwest Girlchoir
December 9—Recess Monkey
December 10—Sound Point Duo
December 16—The Not-Its!
December 17—Dickens Carolers
December 23—Caspar Babypants
December 24—Dickens Carolers
Donations will be accepted to help fund DreamNights at the Seattle Aquarium—evenings dedicated to bringing children who have disabilities, are chronically ill or who have special needs to the Aquarium for a special night of exploring the undersea world in a safe and relaxed atmosphere.
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. Holiday Hours: Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve open 9:30am to 3pm, with the exhibits closing at 4pm. Closed Christmas Day.
On the web: SeattleAquarium.org
On Facebook: facebook.com/Aquarium.Seattle
On Twitter: twitter.com/SeattleAquarium
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Contact:
Tim Kuniholm
(206) 386-4345
t.kuniholm@seattleaquarium.org
November 2, 2017
Beached Oregon Sea Turtle Signals Start of Stranding Season in the Pacific Northwest
The stranding of an endangered Olive Ridley sea turtle on the Oregon Coast in mid-October offers a reminder that the typical season for sea turtle strandings is beginning. Beachgoers should watch for stranded turtles and report them through an available hotline so trained responders can help rescue the animals, if necessary.
An initial call to the Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network at about 6 pm. October 21 reported an adult female Olive Ridley sea turtle stranded alive near Salishan, Oregon. The Oregon network is part of the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network, coordinated by NOAA Fisheries. The OSU network coordinator, Jim Rice, responded to the report and, with the help of local residents, collected the turtle from the beach. No Oregon facilities were available to take the turtle, so Rice transported the turtle to Kelso, WA where he transferred it to SR3 (SeaLife Response, Rehabilitation and Research) for transport to the Seattle Aquarium, where it remains for long-term care and rehabilitation.
The turtle is currently in guarded condition but has been showing signs of gradual improvement with the help of supportive care, gradual warming, antibiotics, and other medications. She remains weak and emaciated but the Seattle Aquarium team is doing everything possible to bring her back to good health.
Olive Ridley sea turtles are one of the most abundant species of sea turtles in the world, but are protected as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. While Olive Ridleys are most abundant in warm tropical waters, the frequency of strandings may suggest they are more common off the Oregon and Washington coast than originally thought. Sea turtles do not typically come ashore unless they are hypothermic, sick, or injured. Strandings occur most often in late fall and early winter, when ocean conditions shift and sometimes trap turtles in colder water. Cold water debilitates sea turtles by reducing their body temperature, leaving them unable to swim and feed and more susceptible to currents that can carry them ashore. 49 sea turtles have stranded in Washington and Oregon over the past 10 years.
Trained responders take stranded sea turtles to an authorized rehabilitation facility, in this case the Seattle Aquarium, where they are treated for hypothermia and assessed for any underlying illness or injury. Since sea turtles are listed under the Endangered Species Act, rehabilitation facilities must be permitted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Treating and rehabilitating sea turtles is a lengthy process that typically takes about 8-10 months. Once recovered, healthy turtles are typically released back into the wild in more southern waters.
If you find a sea turtle on shore please report it immediately to the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network at 1-866-767-6114. This hotline is monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and the Network will respond as quickly as possible to your report. The Network includes organizations throughout Washington, Oregon and California.
For more information on what to do if you find a sea turtle on the beach, please visit: http://usfwspacific.tumblr.com/post/96478074645/qa-why-your-help-is-needed-when-sea-turtles-wash
For further information on the protection of sea turtles, visit:
http://usfwspacific.tumblr.com/post/164836970160/why-save-sea-turtles
For more details on the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network, please visit:
http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/protected_species/marine_mammals/stranding_network.html
Public Affair contacts for additional information:
Tim Kuniholm
Seattle Aquarium
(206) 386-4345
t.kuniholm@seattleaquarium.org
Elizabeth Materna
USFWS
(503) 231-6912
Elizabeth_Materna@fws.gov
Michael Milstein
NOAA
(503) 231-6268
Michael.Milstein@noaa.gov
November 2, 2017
Discover Science with the Seattle Aquarium!
When: November 2017
Where: Seattle Aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59, Seattle, WA
What:
Science & Cocktails: Lightning Talks, November 8, 6–10pm
Join us for a fun evening at the Seattle Aquarium featuring fascinating, five-minute glimpses into the latest marine and ocean science from local scientists and science enthusiasts. From Falling for Blondie, a 12-Feet-Tall, Green-Eyed Beauty to How to Enjoy Sushi without Getting Infested by Parasites, there is sure to be a topic that catches your interest. After the main event, head to our Life on the Edge exhibit to chat with our presenters, enjoy dessert bites and sip a nightcap!
$25 general admission, $20 member admission; includes light hors d’oeuvres and dessert bites. Cash bar.
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.
Gills Club, November 12, 2–3:30pm
The Gills Club is Atlantic White Shark Conservancy's STEM-based education initiative dedicated to connecting youth with female scientists from around the world, sharing knowledge, and inspiring shark and ocean conservation. The Seattle Aquarium is your local Gills Club host meeting site! Meetings are held on select Sundays and open to Seattle Aquarium and Gills Club members, youth ages 6–12; must be accompanied by an adult, families welcome.
To learn more and register, visit SeattleAquarium.org/public-programs.
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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Contact:
Tim Kuniholm
(206) 386-4345
t.kuniholm@seattleaquarium.org
September 19, 2017
Seattle Aquarium welcomes Brian Skerry to SeaChange fundraiser
SEATTLE—On Tuesday, October 10, the Seattle Aquarium will hold its fifth annual fundraising breakfast benefiting conservation and research. Held at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel, this year’s SeaChange features Brian Skerry—internationally recognized National Geographic magazine photographer. Skerry will share his gripping portrait of the ocean as a place of beauty and mystery, a place in trouble and ultimately, a place of hope that will rebound with the proper attention and care. For almost two decades, Skerry has explored environments of extreme contrasts—from tropical coral reefs to diving beneath polar ice. In 2010, National Geographic named one of Brian’s images among their “50 greatest photographs of all time.”
“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.”
SeaChange information:
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Sheraton Seattle Hotel, 1400 6th Avenue
Suggested minimum donation: $150
RSVP deadline: September 29
Registration: SeattleAquarium.org/SeaChange
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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.
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