🌕 Something fishy under the moon...
🌊 Just like the moon controls the tides, some fish are known to sync their spawning with lunar phases. Coincidence? Or cosmic connection? 🐟✨
DITL of a sustainability program manager at the Monterey Bay Aquarium
A trash panda at the Aquarium?! 🦝
Yep! And they're leading the charge for a plastic-free future! Meet Claudia, our senior sustainability program manager (and part-time raccoon impersonator). They’re making sure we’re walking the talk when it comes to ocean conservation.
Here's a little peek behind the scenes:
Watch the full video here:
Because building a world without harmful plastic takes all of us! 💙 🌎
Meet Makana, the Laysan albatross at Monterey Bay Aquarium!
💙Makana was rescued after sustaining injuries that left her unable to fly.
💙After being rescued and rehabilitated in our care, Makana now serves as an ambassador for her threatened species.
💙Makana not only wows guests with her beauty but also educates them about the devastating impact of single-use plastics on ocean birds.
💙Studies show that nearly 98% of Laysan albatross chicks were found with plastic debris in their stomachs.
💙Every year, millions of tons of plastic end up in the ocean, harming marine life. Seabirds like Makana often mistake plastic for food, leading to injury or death.
💙Choosing to reduce our plastic consumption helps protect ocean ecosystems and the species that depend on them. 💙That’s why we’re joining hundreds of conservation organizations, nations, and businesses around the world to advocate for a Global Plastics Treaty to protect wildlife, our health, and the future of our planet.
Makana is a powerful reminder that our choices make a difference, and together we can make a world without plastic that’s healthier for all. Join Makana’s mission and take action today to combat plastic pollution and learn more about the Global Plastics Treaty by signing up for our ocean action emails: https://mbayaq.co/46wN913
Educator programs at the Aquarium 📚
🌊 The future of education matters—and so does joy, curiosity, and community. Educator programs at the Monterey Bay Aquarium help K–12 educators make waves in the classroom by diving into equity and innovative teaching practices. Check out what teachers had to say about our DECO program that integrates Next Generation Science Standards, maker pedagogy, and future-ready skills. Because shaping the next generation should be as fun and inspiring as it is impactful. 💡🌱
Learn more about our educator programs at the Aquarium!
Why, I otter… 🦦
The Monterey Bay Aquarium Sea Otter Program supports the recovery of the wild southern sea otter population found along the California coast. Our staff and volunteers are committed to the conservation of this endangered keystone species, helping to ensure healthy, thriving coastal ecosystems.
We sat down recently with Allie and Alex from our Sea Otter Program team. As they shared about their roles rescuing and rehabilitating wild otters, we challenged them to explain their work using only the 1,000 most commonly used English words… and that’s when things got seariously fun!
What other words do you think are on the list?
🌟It’s Opal’s next big opportunity to shine!
Since her dazzling debut on exhibit this spring, Opal quickly settled right into her new home and bonded with her raftmates. 💙
Now, Opal is ready to tackle her next big learning milestone. She’s taking a break from our exhibit to spend some time behind the scenes and observe as her raftmate Selka rears an adoptive pup. This is Opal’s next big step in (hopefully!) becoming a surrogate mother one day, just like our other exhibit otters.
Opal is our youngest exhibit otter at just over one year of age. This critical time with Selka and other female otters will expose Opal to social dynamics similar to what she would experience in a raft of wild sea otters. 🦦🦦🦦
Our sea otter surrogacy program is the first of its kind—an innovative approach to rescuing, rearing, and returning sea otter pups to the wild.
🏳️🌈 Join the Monterey Bay Aquarium as we sea-lebrate Pride! 🏳️⚧️
Our staff and volunteers gathered in early June to raise the Progress Pride flag in front of the Aquarium. We’ll continue the fun and education with a spot in the Monterey Pride Parade and tabling at the festival on Saturday, June 28! Swim on over to our website for more details.
We envision a future where the ocean flourishes and people thrive in a just and equitable world. To find lasting solutions in support of environmental justice, we need and value diverse perspectives and voices.
Everything you love can thrive if we work together, and the ocean needs all of us in all our brilliant colors to protect it! 🌈
Join us TODAY for a Livestream at 3:30 p.m. with our Director of Guest Experience Interpretive Programs and our bilingual content creators, as we chat about inclusive learning environments!
We'll talk about our bilingual programs and how we're working to reach all audiences and inspire conservation of the ocean. Sea you there! 🩵 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-X1hoatIkI
Underwater Explorers is running now until September 1! 🤿🎉
Since 2002, these summer programs have given kids an up-close and personal surface scuba experience in our Great Tide Pool, inspiring them to connect with marine life and become future ocean leaders.
Listen to what these kids have to say about their Underwater Explorers experience and register today using the link below!🤿 https://mbayaq.co/3HJ1oG1
Seal yourself away from stress 🦭🎶
Time to channel your inner harbor seal—wherever you are!
Whether you’re lounging at home, soaking up the sun, or just imagining the ocean breeze, let yourself relax and play like a seal gliding through kelp forests alongside your favorite flippered friends.
In our latest Krill Waves Radio, you’ll see these cuties lounging, swimming, and vibing in seal colonies. All paired perfectly with mellow lo-fi beats. 🎶
Tune in, unwind, study, or just enjoy and catch some serious seal serenity: https://youtu.be/r4fsBII2ZlU
Happy Veterinary Appreciation Day! 🐟🦈🐧🦀🐙
Today we shellebrate the fintastic humans behind the scenes who ensure the health and well-being of all the animals in our care.
From leopard sharks to sea otters—and all in between—our veterinary staff provides expert, compassionate care every single day.
Not only are they heroes for our aquatic residents, but they’re also training the next generation of vet professionals to keep this important work going for years to come.
⚠️🌊 Ocean wins big at UN Ocean Conference!
After a week in Nice, France with global leaders, we’re celebrating these key takeaways for ocean conservation!
🌎Plastics treaty: 95 countries endorsed a strong call for a legally binding global plastics treaty to reduce plastic production, eliminate chemicals of concern, promote sustainable design, and support developing countries.
🌊Deep-sea mining: 37 countries backed a precautionary pause or moratorium on deep-sea mining to safeguard one of Earth’s last great frontiers—the deep ocean.
🦀Ocean action panels: More than 2,000 scientists convened to champion sustainable fisheries and blue foods as solutions for poverty eradication, food security, and ocean health while calling for global action against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
🪸Coral reefs: Philanthropic partners and governments pledged $25 million to protect remaining coral reefs and 11 countries committing to protecting climate-resilient coral reefs.
🐚Marine protection: Over 20 countries pledged new marine protected areas–including the world’s largest in the French Polynesia–and renewed support for the 30x30 Ocean Action Plan which aims to chart a clear path to increase global ocean protection from 8% to 30% of the ocean by 2030.
🚢Business action: Companies from 25 countries, with over $600 billion in revenue, committed to integrating ocean risks into business strategies, reporting on marine impacts, investing in ocean-positive solutions, and supporting a just transition for ocean-dependent communities.
📈These actions signal a rising tide of ambition and cooperation for a healthier, more resilient ocean future. And it’s the voices of everyday people that fuel this ambition. There’s wonder in ocean life and caring for it helps us all!
Where Art Meets Ocean Action
The @unitednations Ocean Conference and murals are wrapping up today! We appreciate the hard work of local artists @jenmillerw and @otom_art as they brought the vision of our ocean conservation work to life with these murals.
Partnering with @pangeaseed led to these exciting collaborations where the world of science and art collide.
Check back with us Monday for the latest conservation updates made at UNOC and don’t miss the big reveal of these stunning ocean-inspired masterpieces.
✨ The opalescent nudibranch is ready for its closeup!
To the human eye, these sea slugs are one of the prettiest species of nudibranch. They’re outfitted in shimmering colors, like the orange stinging appendages on their back called cerata. 🧡
Some experts believe that the same bright colors that appeal to human admirers are an adaptation that warns predators against snacking on this sluggish stunner. There’s wonder in ocean life, and caring for the ocean helps us all. Right now, marine animals like the opalescent nudibranch need you in all your brilliant colors to protect them. 🌈 So remember to take care of the ocean, and take care of yourself, too! 🎶Tune into Krill Waves Radio and unwind with 2 hours of soothing lo-fi beats, paired with footage of opalescent nudibranchs and other colorful cuties!
We’re celebrating a year of being a part of Museums for All
A national initiative that gives everyone the chance to connect with culture, science, and nature.
If you receive SNAP benefits as an adult, you can visit the Aquarium for free and bring up to three guests. Experience the beauty and wonder of the ocean up close.
Because ocean conservation—and inspiration—should be for everyone. 💙
How do proposed staffing cuts to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife affect the ocean you love?
“California’s wildlife and ocean health depend on a strong, well-resourced California Department of Fish and Wildlife. At the Monterey Bay Aquarium, we’ve worked closely with CDFW on marine protected areas, permitting, and protecting ocean ecosystems and wildlife. These proposed staffing cuts would undermine critical science, habitat management, permitting, and enforcement needs. We urge the California legislature and Governor Newsom to protect CDFW’s capacity—and thank Senator Blakespear and Assemblymember Damon Connolly for standing up for our wildlife and ecosystems.”
–Amy Wolfrum, director of California policy and government affairs
There’s wonder in ocean life and caring for it helps us all.
DITL of an event specialist at the Aquarium
Have you ever wondered what happens at the Aquarium after hours? 🤔
Meet Sabrina, an event specialist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium! She, along with her amazing team, is the magic behind the scenes, turning ordinary events into unforgettable experiences.
With an eye for detail, a calm presence, and a love as deep as the sea, Sabrina helps craft events that inspire guests to care for the ocean, leaving them with memories that will last a lifetime!
Be our guest! This is your exclusive ticket to a day in her fins… we mean, shoes!
Learn more about corporate events at the Aquarium.