Uncategorized Archives - Seattle Aquarium

Helping hands: lending expertise to marine mammal rehabilitation in California

Posted on May 29, 2025May 29, 2025 by Emma Leiser

This spring, a toxic algal bloom has sickened hundreds of California sea lions, elephant seals and other marine animals along the Southern California coast. The team at the nonprofit Marine Mammal Care Center (MMCC) in Los Angeles has been hard at work, rescuing and rehabilitating animals who have become too sick to survive on their own. And they recently called on our own Senior Veterinary Technician Lindy McMorran to assist in their life-saving efforts.

Senior Veterinary Technician Lindy McMorran on the beach after releasing a rehabilitated California sea lion back to the ocean.

Demoic acid—even the name sounds like a villain

The cause of all the illness? Demoic acid, a neurotoxin that’s produced by a harmful algae called Pseudo-nitzschia. In the right conditions, the algae can multiply quickly, causing a bloom and excess toxins that fish ingest, eventually accumulating enough to sicken the marine mammals who eat them. Without human intervention, demoic acid poisoning in marine mammals can result in seizures, unusual behaviors and, ultimately, death.

Such blooms have become relatively common and they’re on the increase—this is the fourth year in a row that the experts at the MMCC have needed to respond to poisoned animals on Southern California shorelines. Adding to the concern, this year’s bloom started earlier than the previous ones; the MMCC has already had more patients (meaning marine mammals) come through their hospital in 2025 than in all of 2024. Scientists suspect that climate change and warming seas are the root cause of the increase in the harmful blooms.

California sea lion patients in care at the MMCC.

The MMCC (and Lindy!) to the rescue

The best hope for animals with demoic acid poisoning is to flush the toxin from their systems. But first the animals must be rescued from the beach and brought to an authorized rehabilitation facility, such as the MMCC’s hospital.

“Animals might stay for as little as a few weeks to multiple months,” says Lindy. Recovery time depends on a number of factors, including the animal’s species, weight, age, severity of symptoms and more. “If they’re older or have higher exposure to demoic acid, it’s tougher on them,” Lindy adds.

An ideal skill set to help during the crisis

Lindy is uniquely qualified to assist in these efforts. As a veterinary technician, she’s been trained to work with a variety of animals but she’s concentrated her work on marine animals in particular. Before joining us at the Aquarium, she did a sea turtle rehabilitation internship in Florida and helped with marine mammal rehabilitation in Northern California. She also volunteered with SR3, a local organization focused on marine animal rescue and rehabilitation. And, impressively, she was the second person in the continental U.S. to earn a new credential, Certified Aquatic Veterinary Technician, from the World Aquarium Veterinary Medical Association (WAVMA), in 2023. (Check out our web story to learn more!)

Lindy at the Seattle Aquarium’s sea otter habitat.

A day in the Lindy life

“There was no day that was the same,” says Lindy, speaking about her week with the MMCC. “I assisted with exit exams and medical procedures, processed lab samples, did a lot of cleaning—whatever was needed, I was happy to help. It allowed the team to catch their breath a bit and that was wonderful to see.”

“By the time I arrived on May 12, they were already admitting fewer patients than in the previous few weeks and were working on releasing patients who had been rehabilitated,” she continues. “What was impactful was seeing the shift. On my first day, we had over 80 patients; by the last day, it was more like 50.”

“We typically see about 300 patients per year, and that’s what we budget for. By April we had already over 400 patients. MMCC’s capacity is stretched when these mass strandings occur, and without the support of our network of partners we would struggle to care for our patients. Organizations like the Seattle Aquarium stepped up for us in a time of need and we are so grateful for their help.”

—Dave Bader, Chief Operations & Education Officer, Marine Mammal Care Center

Releasing recovered animals—the very best part

Lindy was also able to assist with releases, one of the most rewarding aspects of her time with the MMCC. Animals who have received a clean bill of health are brought to a beach in crates and, after a team member opens the door, what happens next is up to the individual. “Each animal has their own exit,” comments Lindy. “Some stay, some bolt to the water, some exit and then need to take a nap on the beach,” she laughs. “It’s a great reminder that they’re all unique animals.”

“Due to the hard work and dedication of MMCC’s staff and volunteers, we were able to release about 25 animals while I was there,” she concludes. “I was grateful for the opportunity to provide a little help during a challenging time.”

Lindy McMorran assists with the release of a California sea lion. Herding boards are used to help direct animals toward the water, protecting the animals and any nearby people.

A cautionary tale

“Algal blooms happen all the time,” says Lindy, “And the kind of thing that’s taking place in Southern California could also happen in the Pacific Northwest.” As we noted at the top of this story, climate change and warming ocean waters are thought to be behind the increase in harmful algal blooms.

The good news is that each of us can make a difference for ocean health. A few ideas: Contact your legislators to urge support for legislation that protects the ocean and its inhabitants. Use public transportation, fly less and limit your use of single-use plastics. Looking for other ideas? Check out our act for the ocean webpage or ask one of our friendly interpreters on your next visit to the Aquarium!

Kelp, that’s all folks—the 2025 legislative session is over! Here’s our recap.

Posted on May 26, 2025May 26, 2025 by Emma Leiser

This session had a lot of long days, fast-moving advocacy efforts, and even some trips to Olympia. Check out what happened—in the imagined voices of some of our marine friends!

“I’m thrilled to announce that Washington has a new state symbol: me!”

“On April 16, Governor Ferguson signed HB 1631, officially designating bull kelp forests—aka me—as the marine forest of Washington. He also declared April 16, 2025, to be Bull Kelp Day and named one of the Aquarium’s Youth Ocean Advocates, who worked with Puget Sound Restoration Fund to come up with the idea for this bill, Washingtonian for a day!

Thanks to Representative Nance, who I’ve heard was a great ‘kelp’ and champion, this bill is a key step in acknowledging the importance of bull kelp forests and the critical role we play in the health of the Salish Sea.”

—Bull kelp forest

It’s critical to emphasize the importance of bull kelp right now because approximately 80% of bull kelp forests have disappeared, particularly in south and central Puget Sound. Check out our web story to learn more!

“That’s a ‘WRAP’ on plastic!”

“Jellyfish are some of my favorite snacks and let me tell you, if you think cold fries are a bummer, there’s nothing worse than chomping on a plastic bag. Or trying to lay my eggs in sand mixed with tiny pieces of plastic trash.

For the last five years, the ‘turtley’ awesome humans at the Seattle Aquarium have been working with rad environmental champions Representative Berry, Senator Lovelett and other partners to advocate for a bill that would help reduce plastic and other packaging materials. Previous versions of the bill, the WRAP Act and the ReWRAP Act, didn’t make it over the finish line—but the latest one, the Recycling Reform Act (SB 5284), finally passed the legislature!

This bill will ensure curbside recycling services for all Washingtonians—including the 11 jurisdictions currently without—and incentivize producers to use packaging that’s more recyclable, reusable or compostable. This is a big step in reducing plastic pollution so I, my friends and our families can swim, dive and snack safely. Truly time for a shell-ebration!”

—Sea turtle

In addition to sea turtles, hundreds of marine species—including whales, salmon and seals—ingest plastic pellets or become entangled in plastic. The Recycling Reform Act is an important step in reducing the amount of plastic that ends up in the ocean.

“You might’ve heard the phrase, ‘just keep swimming,’ but do you ever think about what you’re swimming in?”

“I sure do. To keep myself and my fellow salmon healthy, it’s important that the waterways we’re swimming, eating and reproducing in are clean and free of pollutants and toxics. And I hate to talk dirty about Washington, but hundreds of sewage spills occur across the state every year. I couldn’t read a spill alert—but even you humans aren’t getting notified, since information isn’t typically available when a spill has occurred.

That’s why I’m sending my best fishes, er, wishes, to the Aquarium’s policy team for helping to pass HB 1670, championed by Rep. Hunt and Sen. Slatter. As a result, there will be a public-facing website so humans can look up information about sewage spills to help improve transparency around human and environmental health. Now can someone teach me how to read?”

—Salmon

Salmon play a critical role in the health and functioning of their ecosystems. Even though their populations are relatively small, they impact the wellbeing of many other species and can serve as an indicator of the overall health of their habitats.

“You probably know that orcas like me breathe air, just like humans, but did you know that air pollution is bad for us, too?”

“And, while most things aren’t as black and white as I am, this issue is. Polluted air can lead to respiratory issues, which can lead to other health conditions. That’s why I’m so excited that the Aquarium has been supporting the CURB Act (HB 1303), which is led by Front & Centered and Rep. Mena. While it didn’t pass this session, we’re going to keep trying!

Unlike my tail, supporting this bill is no ‘fluke.’ This legislation would require environmental justice impact statements to evaluate environmental and public health risks as well as cumulative impacts on overburdened communities. People from such communities typically live about 2.5 years less than others. Some air pollutants are incredibly persistent and aren’t broken down easily, so they can accumulate and persist as they move through the food chain. Yep, you’re right; this is concerning for apex predators like me. That’s why this bill is important to the health of Puget Sound and everyone who depends on clean air—including marine mammals like yours truly!”

—Orca

Along with clean air and water, orcas need plenty of salmon to thrive. Learn more about the threats they face and how you can take action to make a difference on our Helping orcas webpage!

“Just like my sea turtle friends, sometimes I mistake human-made materials for food or natural materials.”

“I’m thrifty and I always have been. Finding different materials to help build my nest is a great way to create a cozy, safe home for my babies. I’m also thrifty when it comes to finding food, often looking for it on the beach as well as in the water. But it can be hard to tell what’s natural and what isn’t.

My feathers are all I need to look and feel good, so I can’t relate to the human need to buy so many clothes. But I do know that fashion waste, particularly fast fashion waste, is a big problem. It’s estimated that 100 billion pieces of clothing are manufactured each year and 35% of the materials in the fashion industry supply chain end up as waste¹, often in oceans and washed up on beaches.

HB 1107, championed by Rep. Mena, didn’t pass but will hopefully be reintroduced next session. It would require manufacturers to be more transparent about the impacts of their clothing—from chemicals in the materials to how unwanted and excess waste is managed.”

—Seabird

Despite their name, oysters aren’t the favorite food of black oystercatchers. They’re more often found eating mussels, chitons and limpets. Learn more on our webpage—then come see this beautiful species in person at the Aquarium!

Thanks to our imaginary marine pals for sharing their thoughts about the 2025 state legislative session. Interested in learning more about the Aquarium’s policy work—and opportunities to raise your voice in support of the marine environment? Visit our Influencing policy webpage.

¹ https://justoneocean.org/portfolio/the-fashion-industrys-impact-on-the-ocean

Quiz: Which Aquarium otter is your alter ego?

Posted on May 21, 2025May 21, 2025 by Emma Leiser

Kelp—It needs somebody (preferably a Youth Ocean Advocate!)

Posted on March 21, 2025March 21, 2025 by Emma Leiser

Kelp forests play an integral role in Puget Sound’s ecosystem. Washington state is home to 22 species of kelp—more than anywhere else in the world apart from Japan. Bull kelp is the most prolific species, easily identifiable from its size: the stalk, called a “stipe,” can reach up to 100 feet (30 meters) tall.

Underwater forests formed by bull kelp are important parts of the West Coast’s ecosystem, and they are hotspots of biodiversity. They provide food and shelter for other species, including many with whom we humans interact and benefit, like salmon and pinto abalone.

Bull kelp is not only beautiful—It provides food and shelter to many beloved local marine species. Join our Youth Ocean Advocates and partners in their quest to make bull kelp forests the official marine forest of Washington state.

A bill to help bull kelp

A Seattle Aquarium Youth Ocean Advocate, Sebastian, developed the idea for House Bill 1631 in consultation with the Puget Sound Restoration Fund. This bill, championed and sponsored by State Representative Greg Nance (23rd district) and currently under consideration in the state legislature, would designate bull kelp forests the official marine forest of Washington. State symbol bills are a fun way to raise awareness about features of our state—often flora and fauna—that are important to Washingtonians.

It’s critical to emphasize the importance of bull kelp right now because approximately 80% of bull kelp forests have disappeared, particularly in the south and central Puget Sound. While we’re still learning more about the threats to bull kelp (as well as other kelp and eelgrass species), warming water temperatures, ocean acidification and nearshore development have significantly contributed to its decline.

Sebastian was inspired to educate more people about the importance of bull kelp forests.

"These underwater ‘forests’ are so special to me because their lives hold up countless other lives, from humans like us, to salmon, orcas, pinto abalone and many more."

—Sebastian, Seattle Aquarium Youth Ocean Advocate

“But unfortunately, bull kelp (like other amazing species) is in dire need of help,” Sebastian says. It’s true—most people don’t know about the critical importance bull kelp forests play in the health of the Salish Sea. Bull kelp forests provide resting and foraging grounds for migrating salmon and even help sea otter moms avoid losing their pups, as they tether the pups to the bull kelp while they forage for food.

Left to right: Jodie Toft of Puget Sound Restoration Fund, Youth Ocean Advocate Sebastian and Miguela Marzolf of the Aquarium.

“Part of something that magnifies our shared connection”

HB 1631 has helped Mik, another Youth Ocean Advocate, learn more about bull kelp and the marine environment. “Bull kelp has opened new doors and shed light on the interesting aspects of food chains and biodiversity that I did not know about before,” Mik says. “Throughout the past few months of working on this with amazing people, I’ve become more and more immersed in a world of marine consciousness and government action than I had before. Bull kelp may be overlooked by many, but it’s allowed me to meet new people and learn more about local waters. It’s easy to tell how much staff and volunteers at the Seattle Aquarium care about Puget Sound, and I’m lucky to be a part of something that magnifies our shared connection.”

Youth Ocean Advocate Ellen claims she used to “take bull kelp forests for granted.”

“They’re very inconspicuous,” she says, “always pictured in the background of images showing sea otters playing or colorful schools of fish.” Ellen hopes that HB 1631 will help bring bull kelp forests into the public’s attention.

"I got involved in advocating for bull kelp forests to be made a Washington state symbol because I believe that the importance of kelp must be recognized—but more than that, that the entire bull kelp forest ecosystem must be valued and considered with the same regard as our forests on land."

—Ellen, Seattle Aquarium Youth Ocean Advocate

Sebastian, Mik and Ellen hope that, as working on the bill has helped them learn new concepts, making bull kelp an official state symbol will help educate more of the public about its importance in maintaining a healthy and productive Salish Sea.

Bull kelp forests support wild populations of sea otters and other beloved local species.

Support Sebastian, Mik, Ellen—and kelp

Want to give these amazing efforts a boost? You can support the bill by contacting your state representatives via the legislative hotline at (800) 562-6000 and urging them to vote yes on HB 1631.

Farewell to Barney

Posted on March 14, 2025March 14, 2025 by Emma Leiser

It’s a very sad day at the Seattle Aquarium as we say goodbye to Barney the harbor seal. As we shared last September, in a story commemorating his birthday, Barney was quite old: At 39, he was roughly the equivalent of a 100-year-old human—and one of the oldest known harbor seals in human care.

Beloved by many, Barney will be deeply missed and remembered always with love.

Director of Animal Health Dr. Caitlin Hadfield and members of our veterinary and animal care teams had been working closely with Barney for years, making sure he was as happy and comfortable as possible. Just like many elderly humans, he developed some age-related health issues over time but overall had been doing well.

Recently, however, he showed an acute decline. Based on his prognosis and how he was feeling—his quality of life—the team made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize him on the morning of March 14. “We know that many in the community will join the Aquarium’s staff and volunteers in mourning this loss. Barney will be remembered and missed,” says Aquarium President and CEO Bob Davidson.

Barney getting ready to tuck into his 39th birthday ice treat on September 14, 2024.

Barney was the first harbor seal to be born here at the Aquarium, in 1985. He shaped many caregivers over his long life and was cherished by all, particularly for his easygoing and inquisitive nature. “I knew Barney for 19 years and my appreciation of him only grew as time passed,” comments Animal Care Specialist Cheryl Becker. Dr. Caitlin Hadfield, who had worked with Barney since joining the Aquarium in 2017, notes, “Barney had great trust in his human caregivers and his home. He had a number of health concerns over the last few years and we learned a lot from each other. I’m proud of the care the animal care staff provided, and that we were able to help ensure that his end of life was peaceful.”

Barney will be remembered as a wonderful, one-of-a-kind ambassador for the Seattle Aquarium. “He inspired a stronger curiosity about the ocean in millions of people—a curiosity that inspired action for conservation of our marine environment,” says Bob Davidson.

Even at his advanced age, Barney clearly relished his favorite foods.

“In my childhood bedroom is a box filled with my most precious memories. Paramount among them is a series of photos of me as a child at the Seattle Aquarium, including one where I’m smiling beside a harbor seal who happens to be Barney! In many ways, subtle and overt, he played a role in shaping who I am. Choosing a career in animal care, grounding my purpose in life to bring people’s focus and empathy to conservation, staying committed to being silly in my age and, of course, only eating what I want. In the two decades since the photos were taken, I had the immense pleasure of playing a small role in caring for Barney. Thank you, Barney, for watching me grow, encouraging me to learn, allowing me to try to pay it all back in fish—thank you Barney, thank you.”

——Cyren Guerrero, Life Sciences/Operations relief

Barney was a beloved icon here at the Aquarium and, over his nearly 40 years, touched the hearts of countless visitors, volunteers and staff. Says Supervisor of Birds and Mammals Mariko Bushcamp, “Barney and I were the same age and I knew him for nearly half my life.” She speaks for all of us when she adds, “You’ll leave a big hole—but thank you for all the memories, Barn.”

Barney enjoying a moment in the sun.

Quiz: Discover your advocacy style and learn about bills in the 2025 legislative session

Posted on February 25, 2025February 25, 2025 by Emma Leiser

Get to know some of the Aquarium’s cutest “couples”

Posted on February 5, 2025February 4, 2025 by Emma Leiser

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, making this the perfect time to introduce you to a few of the species in our care that form bonded—sometimes even lifelong!—pairs.

But before you get too starry-eyed…not surprisingly, relationships in the animal kingdom are quite different from human relationships. Animals may pair up for a moment, a season or a lifetime. Even when they mate for life, it’s not as romantic as it sounds.

Animals that choose to mate year after year do so for practical reasons: they’re busy establishing territory, incubating eggs and/or caring for young. Spending time and energy attracting a new mate every year would minimize reproductive time—so, in a sense, animals that form lifetime partnerships are just being practical.

That said, isn’t it fun to celebrate romance (even if it doesn’t follow the strictest definition of the word?). Please join us in saluting some species at the Aquarium that form twosomes—and be sure to blow them a kiss during your next visit!

Birds of a feather bonding together: tufted puffins

Tufted puffins tend to be monogamous and often form lifetime partnerships after they begin breeding at approximately three years of age. The parents-to-be return to the same burrow each year and prepare their home for the arrival of a chick. Females usually lay just one egg, which both parents take turns incubating until the chick hatches about six weeks later. Here at the Aquarium, over the years, we’ve witnessed the same shared incubation and feeding behaviors with the tufted puffins in our care.

“Billing” is the term for a courtship behavior commonly seen during the breeding season, in which puffins exchange taps on one another’s bills.

Fast fact: During the summer breeding season, tufted puffins display an ornamental bill plate, as well as brilliant orange legs, a white “face mask” and distinctive golden tufts above the eyes. In the winter, the color of their legs becomes dull, their brilliant white “mask” is replaced with dark feathers, their tufts disappear and their bill plate falls off.

Plenty of (yelloweye rock)fish in the sea

They may not be seen together year-round, but two large yelloweye rockfish in the Window on Washington Waters habitat often form a cozy twosome during winter and early spring. When that happens, they’re frequently seen swimming circles around each other (during which time the male turns very dark in color) in a fishy courtship dance.

Is this a look of love from a yelloweye rockfish? Only the intended mate knows for sure!

Fast fact: Rockfish have very long life spans compared to many of the world’s fish species—individuals of some rockfish species can live for 100 years or more! Those life spans mean that many don’t begin breeding until they’re about 20 years old. When they do breed, they don’t lay eggs like most fish species: instead, they give birth to live young.

Not a lone wolf (eel)

Wolf eels may mate for life or change partners from year to year. Regardless, both male and female care for eggs as they develop. The female lays her eggs—up to 10,000 of them!—in a den, then both parents guard them for the 13–16 weeks it takes for them to mature and hatch. The parents-to-be may even wrap their bodies around the egg mass to keep it safe from predators. During this period, only one parent at a time goes out to feed.

The Window on Washington Waters habitat here at the Aquarium is home to three wolf eels: two males and a female. If you’re lucky, you may see two of them hanging out together in a den!

Fast fact: Unlike the moray eels in our care in The Reef habitat at our new Ocean Pavilion, wolf eels aren’t true eels. They’re actually just long, skinny fish! But, like moray eels, adult wolf eels prefer enclosed spaces. Once they choose a den, they back their bodies into it, then stick their heads out to watch for prey.

Check out our website to learn more about tufted puffins, rockfish and wolf eels. Even better, come see them in person at the Seattle Aquarium! And don’t miss the warm and bright Ocean Pavilion—a virtual trip to the tropics is the perfect antidote to a chilly, wet day here in the Pacific Northwest. Plan a visit today!

Marine ink-spiration: Tattoos of the Seattle Aquarium, part 3—tropical edition

Posted on January 29, 2025January 29, 2025 by Emma Leiser

Last year, we shared two web stories about Seattle Aquarium team members who show their passion for marine life with a variety of incredible tattoos (check out part 1 and part 2 if you haven’t already!).

Now, to continue celebrating the recent opening of our Ocean Pavilion, we bring you our next installment, featuring some of the people who work with the tropical animals in our care—and their amazing tattoos.

We hope you enjoy hearing from these four outstanding folks and learning the stories behind their ink!

“When I got this tattoo, I just wanted to showcase the ridiculousness of the idea that sharks are man-eaters. It was foretelling my future and I didn't even know it.”

—Amber Ginther (she/her), supervisor of tropical fish and invertebrates

Working with sharks so closely, I get to see how great they are—just so majestic and inspiring. The love that I’ve developed for them is really understanding their gentle nature and that, like any other animal, they’re just trying to live life. To me, they have a really calming presence. The way they move through the water, how they’re alert to their surroundings. And their playfulness. I wish people knew how gentle they are. And that there’s really no reason to fear them.

Sharks, in some of their social systems—especially great hammerheads—are very matriarchal. The females hold the dominant role in the school. At least that’s what we’ve noticed with sharks in human care. Maybe the world should take note.

I’m a descendant from the Southern Tewa tribe and Mescalero Apache tribe and recently did a project on Indigenous science, how it evolved, and how we can incorporate it to see things from an animal’s perspective. I think that’s the way we do better at animal care, through deep empathy. And part of Indigenous science is really conjuring that empathy.

As an Indigenous person, I connect personally with the Aquarium’s mission. A lot of Indigenous people are trying to keep their traditions alive, traditions that have disappeared over time because of colonization. I think that’s why conservation is so important to me—it’s more than just conserving an animal or land, it’s about conserving tradition and the traditional knowledge that has helped us manage lands since time immemorial.

We’re conserving these things not to conserve the past or the memory, but to help the future move forward without them completely disappearing. I feel very close with the mission at the Aquarium—in my own personal mission of recapturing traditional ways of being.

—Amber Ginther (she/her), supervisor of tropical fish and invertebrates

“I’ve always had a curiosity and love for the ocean. I grew up in a landlocked state so it wasn't something that I could just go and see.”

—Makayla Taylor (she/her), aquarist

I remember going to an aquarium for the first time as a kid. I was enamored with everything—watching people feed the fish and the sharks and thinking, “Wow, I want to do that.”

I did an internship here at the Aquarium in 2020, then got a part-time job at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. That’s where I first encountered spotted eagle rays—two of them are actually here now. It’s really cool that it worked out like that because I’ve known them for almost five years and gotten to work with them quite extensively.

A lot of people don’t know that spotted eagle rays are identified by their head spots: Each pattern is unique. For my tattoo, I worked with the artist to make sure that the spots are in the same pattern as one of the eagle rays that I worked with closely at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.

The best parts of my job are definitely feeding and training. Seeing the animals make those connections and feel more comfortable with us, building that relationship of trust. Because they’re so intelligent, training them for their feeds and different veterinary procedures has been an incredible journey. The three spotted eagle rays in our care have pretty different personalities. One of them is rambunctious. One is more even. And the juvenile is a healthy mix of the other two.

But they all love clams. We feed them the whole clam—shell and everything. They’ve got these crushing plates, kind of like a row of teeth, on the top and bottom. They use them like a nutcracker, basically, and just crunch up the clams. They need crunchy food to help them shed their teeth, so they crush the shells and eat the clam inside. They love it.

—Makayla Taylor (she/her), aquarist
Tattoo by Jasmine, @inkedbyjasmine

“Just because we live here, it doesn't mean that animals on the other side of the ocean aren't affected by our actions. It's important to view it all as one system.”

—Casey Zinkievich (she/her), aquarist

My dad took me fishing when I was little and the first time I saw a bass, I thought it was the coolest thing ever. From there, I just got really into fish. Not even pretty, tropical ones—weird, ugly freshwater fish that you see in lakes and rivers. That’s why I was so into it when my first job was with freshwater biology even though I specialized in marine biology.

I was hired by the Missouri conservation department and they had a side project for critically endangered pallid sturgeon. Learning about them and then actually seeing them blew me away. They’re so weird and ancient-looking that you wouldn’t really expect them to have personalities, but they definitely do.

It’s not tropical versus temperate or freshwater versus marine: I’m equal opportunity—I love all fish. I work with tropical fish now but I’ll always have a special place in my heart for sturgeon.

The reason I started to care about these creatures was because my dad took me fishing when I was a kid and I understood that these animals are important. We need to take care of them. Maybe not everyone gets that opportunity or would be inspired by seeing a bass. But when you come to the Aquarium and see these amazing animals that you might never get to see in the wild, it really makes you appreciate them and want to protect them. And it’s my job to make sure they have the best life possible, so when people come to the Aquarium, they can be inspired by happy, healthy animals that are thriving.

—Casey Zinkievich (she/her), aquarist

“The biggest thing we can do is educate people. Showing them these animals and their habitats so they know it's not scary and dangerous. It's just this other world that we share a planet with.”

—Charmaine von Kriegenbergh (she/her), associate curator of tropical fish and invertebrates

When I was little, we were watching an episode of Reading Rainbow where LeVar Burton talks to a marine biologist. I asked my mom, “What does that mean?” She told me and I said, “Great, I’m going to do that.” In college, I got a bachelor’s in biological sciences with a marine biology emphasis.

The bowmouth guitarfish on my arm is in honor of Rhina, the one we have here. I was her primary aquarist and developed her training plan—I just fell in love with her. It’s my first tattoo of an animal that I’ve worked with.

Bowmouth guitarfish are unique animals and the first thing we learned was that they are incredibly messy. Their diet is 60 to 80% crustaceans—shrimp and Dungeness crab in the shell, Pacific spiny lobster with the carapace—and they can digest it, but a lot gets pooped out with big chunks of shell. Rhina also leaves a trail of shells in her wake while she’s eating. She’s just really messy.

The day she moved into the Ocean Pavilion, I was snorkeling and helped guide her out of the acclimation pool and into The Reef habitat. I was sobbing underwater, seeing her swim out. It was such an exciting moment and I was so proud of the team, how everyone worked together to accomplish it so smoothly.

I think giving our guests the opportunity to really connect with the animals in our care is the biggest impact we can make. Going to aquariums as a kid and getting the opportunity to see and learn about animals that I never would have seen otherwise is what made me love them. It’s why I wanted to get into this this field.

—Charmaine von Kriegenbergh (she/her), associate curator of tropical fish and invertebrates
Tattoo by Tasi Tautolo, @tasitoss
Zebra shark, tiger shark, hammerhead shark and manta ray tattoos by Alexandra Grace, @alexandrastabs

Want to learn more about spotted eagle rays, bowmouth guitarfish and sturgeon? Visit the Seattle Aquarium to see them in person—who knows, you may even spot one of the team members featured here! Plan a visit today.

Shark and ray populations halved in just 50 years, but solutions offer hope

Posted on January 24, 2025January 24, 2025 by Emma Leiser

This year, the Seattle Aquarium welcomed beautiful sharks and rays to the warm waters of our Ocean Pavilion expansion. These animals came from other accredited zoos and aquariums or were diverted from the commercial fish trade. But in the ocean, large fishes like these are disappearing, mainly due to human activity.

Sharks and rays, along with deepwater chimaeras, are part of a class of fishes known as Chondrichthyes. Though they have lived on Earth for hundreds of millions of years, today about one-third of these species face extinction.

But marine scientists will not let these important fishes sink quietly into oblivion.

A team of researchers, including the Seattle Aquarium’s species recovery program manager Riley Pollom, spent years studying patterns of their decline and developing an aquatic Red List Index to study the threat of their extinction.

“Sharks and rays are one of the oldest evolutionary lineages on the planet. They’re part of our global heritage. And if we lose any of those species, we’re losing millions of years of evolutionary adaptation.”

—Riley Pollom, species recovery program manager, Seattle Aquarium

Sinking population numbers

The study comes at a crucial time. Since 1970, Chondrichthyan populations have decreased by over 50%, according to the team’s analysis, which was published in the journal Science last month. Sharks and rays are threatened primarily by overfishing, being targeted or accidently caught as bycatch. Other threats include pollution, habitat loss and climate change.

Declines in shark and ray populations tend to begin close to land—like in rivers, estuaries and coastal waters—before spreading outward, to the upper part of the open ocean and finally to the deep sea.

This worrying trend spells trouble for their ecosystems. These large fishes play important roles in their habitats, including predation, foraging and moving nutrients around different parts of the ocean. Without them, food webs can break down and the effects ripple through the ecosystem.

Lending a hand to our finned friends

Tools like the Red List Index can help governments and other organizations track population losses and determine whether their policies and actions are making meaningful strides for conservation and population recovery.

Governments can help species recover by creating and enforcing sustainable fisheries management measures. Fisheries management refers to setting, enforcing and monitoring strict limits on how many animals can be caught, where and when they can be caught, and other important rules. Some countries have seen progress in species recovery, but more work remains to be done.

“A first step for species recovery is fisheries management. But there are some species, like Indo-Pacific leopard sharks, that are so depleted that they need an extra helping hand to replenish their wild populations.”

—Riley Pollom, species recovery program manager, Seattle Aquarium

One method of helping populations recover is by directly introducing more sharks to their wild home waters. That’s the idea behind ReShark, a global coalition—of which the Seattle Aquarium is a founding member—that works to restore wild shark populations, starting with the Indo-Pacific leopard shark.

Accredited aquariums help sharks already in human care reproduce, and transport the eggs to nurseries in the Indo-Pacific. Once hatched, the sharks are reared, tagged and released into marine protected areas, where fisheries are effectively restricted. Right now, the Seattle Aquarium serves as the North American hub for these egg transports. Once fully mature, the Indo-Pacific leopard shark in our care will help directly contribute eggs to this effort.

We can do our part by voting for politicians who support marine-friendly practices and pressuring those in office to do more to help the ocean and its inhabitants. Choosing sustainable seafood is also a great way to protect sharks, rays and other fishes. The Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch is a helpful guide for making ocean-friendly dining choices.

The densest fur of any animal on Earth: All about sea otters

Posted on December 30, 2024December 30, 2024 by Emma Leiser

How many hairs do you have on your head? Most humans have about 100,000, give or take a few. But sea otters have anywhere between 500,000 and 1,000,000 hairs per square inch of skin—meaning that one inch of a sea otter’s fur has between five and 10 times the number of hairs you have on your entire head!

Would you like fries and a shake with your 160 burgers?

Sea otters need their thick fur to keep warm because, unlike marine mammals such as harbor seals, they don’t have a blubber layer. Instead, they rely on their fur and extra-high metabolisms to do the job.

Those metabolisms require a lot of fuel, which leads us to another amazing sea otter fact: they eat about 25% of their body weight every day. (Think of your body weight. That’s how many quarter-pound burgers you’d need to eat, each and every day, to keep up with a sea otter! Put another way, a person weighing 160 pounds would need to eat roughly 40 pounds of food a day—can you imagine?)

Imagine eating 25% of your body weight every single day! Sea otters make it look pretty fun, don’t they?

Ecosystem superstars

Unfortunately, that dense fur is the reason that sea otters in the Pacific Northwest were hunted to extinction at the turn of the 19th century. The good news is that they’re now protected from hunting. And, after a repopulation effort in the 1960s, when many otters were collected from Alaska and re-released off the coast of Washington, they’ve made a recovery in our state.

That’s not just a good thing for the otters, it’s good for the entire ecosystem. Sea otters are what’s called a keystone species, which means they help hold the entire ecosystem together, and without them, the ecosystem would change drastically—and not in a good way. For instance, sea otters in the wild eat a lot of sea urchins. Sea urchins eat kelp, among other things. Without otters eating the urchins, there would be less kelp. And kelp forests provide a critical habitat for all kinds of animals, including endangered orcas, salmon and pinto abalone.

Bonus reading: Our research team monitors populations of key species, including sea otters; learn more on our marine populations webpage.

Check out this video of researchers, including folks from the Seattle Aquarium team, monitoring the sea otter population and ecosystem health on a spectacularly beautiful day along Washington’s outer coast.

Come say hello to Sekiu and Mishka!

We have two female sea otters in our care at the Seattle Aquarium: Sekiu, who was born right here in 2012; and Mishka, who came to us in 2015 after being caught in a fishing net as a young pup and being deemed non-releasable by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. (Another fast fact: every bird and mammal in our care was either born in a zoo or aquarium or rescued and deemed non-releasable—you can read more on our animal wellbeing page).

Want to learn more about sea otters? Explore our sea otter webpage. Better yet, plan a visit to the Seattle Aquarium to see Sekiu and Mishka in person! You can also make a difference for them, and for sea otters everywhere, by taking action on behalf of the marine environment. Even small changes can help the otters, their habitat and the one world ocean we all depend on. Explore our take action page to get started!

Mishka and Sekiu enjoying some well-earned relaxation after a day full of playing, eating and grooming.