1 Noaa /Aslc #18902 1
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1 NOAA /ASLC #18902 1 Alaska SeaLife Center Family At the end of the year, the Alaska SeaLife Center w as caring for 202 different species. This brings our grand total to 3,723 individuals. Birds Mammals 13 species, 142 individuals 4 species, 15 individuals --Aviary Birds-- 5 Steller Sea Lions 9 Tufted Puffins 3 Northern Sea Otters 15 Horned Puffins 3 Spotted Seals 2 Black Oystercatchers 4 Ringed Seals 3 Rhinoceros Auklets 4 King Eiders 4 Long-tailed Ducks Fish 2 Harlequin Ducks 62 species, 952 individuals 4 Pigeon Guillemots 2 Smews Invertebrates 14 Red-legged Kittiwakes 123 species, 2,614 individuals 10 Common Murres --Research Birds-- 14 Spectacled Eiders 59 Steller’s Eiders 2 2 From the President and CEO No one was prepared for what 2020 was going to were released at the same time, something never bring. It was the year of the pivot and a year of done at the Center before. extreme uncertainty. In an unprecedented fashion, we closed our doors for two months. Though the If we had a theme for 2020, it would be resiliency. world went into lockdown, the Alaska SeaLife Staff pulled together by cross training, minimizing Center still had animals to feed, a facility to costs, and provided mental support to each other maintain, and animals to rescue and rehabilitate. to get us through uncertain times. I couldn’t be Life behind inside the Center still went on but was prouder of this team. And we were awestruck by certainly different. When we closed our doors in the support of the people of Alaska. Upon the spring of 2020, we were faced with our reopening, we were overjoyed to see Alaskans visit greatest challenge to date – survival. us more than ever. We launched a major fundraising campaign on July Looking back, I realize we began and ended 2020 13, and the contributions far exceeded our the same way: hopeful. In 2020, we were hopeful expectations, securing financial stability for the for a prosperous and productive year. As we begin ASLC through the summer of 2021. Individuals, 2021, we are hopeful that the anticipated new businesses, and foundations stepped up in the normal will bring great opportunities to further our grandest way possible, and we won’t ever be able mission. The Alaska SeaLife Center remains to say thank you enough. committed to promoting understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems by Throughout 2020, we found it important to generating and sharing scientific knowledge. On celebrate any success that came our way, big or behalf of the board, staff, volunteers, and small. One of our successes was the birth of Mist, a members of the Alaska SeaLife Center, I thank you female Steller sea lion born to parents Pilot and for your support of the Alaska SeaLife Center now Mara. Another success was our Wildlife Response more than ever. Program, which relied on volunteers for what would be a very busy stranding season. The team successfully rescued, rehabilitated, and released back into the wild six seals. Five of these seals Tara L. Riemer, Ph.D. President and CEO 3 2020 Highlights ALASKA MARINE GALA The Alaska Marine Gala was one of the last “normal” events for the Alaska SeaLife Center before the pandemic hit. Conservationist and speaker Stephanie Arne helped us host over 700 guests at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage for this record-breaking fundraiser, raising over $250,000. ································ ····················································································································· COVID-19 Definitely one of the most noteworthy events of 2020 was the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 16, 2020, the Alaska SeaLife Center closed its doors for two months as the country went into lockdown. While some staff worked from home, other staff ramped up safety precautions, split into teams working alternate days, and continued their important work caring for our animals. ······························································································································································ ZIPPY One of our most interesting wildlife responses of the year was an adult male sea otter we named “Zippy.” Zippy was spotted in the spring of 2020 in Resurrection Bay with a plastic zip tie embedded around his paw. After months of observing Zippy near Seward, he was brought into the Center in June with a serious bone infection from the zip tie. After extensive care by our veterinary team, Zippy was released back into the Bay in July. He has been spotted several times and appears to be thriving. We share this compelling story not only because it was an amazing success for our Wildlife Response Program, but also to emphasize the importance of being responsible stewards of Alaska’s oceans by reducing and properly disposing of plastic waste. Tie photo credit: Raven Song Photography, photos authorized by USFWS #MA73418B-1 4 2020 Highlights, continued MIST We welcomed our newest Steller sea lion, a baby girl named Mist, in June, 2020. Proud parents are ASLC residents Mara and Pilot. We were able to offer a specialized tour to see Mist and mom Mara up close for a limited time in the summer. Mist is a playful, independent pup who loves interacting with guests in our underwater viewing area. ····················································································································································· EDUCATION REBOOT When COVID hit, ASLC’s Education Department changed overnight as the country went into lockdown. In-person education programs were cancelled, so the education staff went virtual. The Department immediately got to work providing free content for viewers to watch at home via the internet. They provided tours of the facility, conducted live Q&A sessions, and live- streamed views of animals alongside soothing music, all to help provide content to our followers who were unexpectedly confined to their homes. In October, the team launched a fee-based Virtual Visit program, a twice-a-week program with changing topics like Seabird Superpowers, Awesome Aquarium Animals, and Mighty Marine Mammals. ····················································································································································································································· REHAB It was a record breaking year for the Wildlife Response Program, which rescued, rehabilitated, and released six harbor seals this summer. One seal was released in Juneau on August 20th, and the other five seals were released at the same time in Kenai on August 27th! Additionally, we admitted one ringed seal and five sea otters into the program. While the ringed seal and one otter did not make it due to health complications, one otter was released, one was transported to SeaWorld San Diego, and two are currently in our care at the Center. Photos authorized by NOAA SA-AKR 2019-01 5 2020 Highlights, continued SCIENCE The Chiswell Project, funded by grants from NOAA entitled, “Long-Term Monitoring of Trends in Steller Sea Lion Behavior, Diet, Vital Rates, and Demography within the Endangered, Western Distinct Population Segment,” is now in its 23rd year. This project is not only ASLC’s longest ongoing research study, but is also overseen by the longest working cohesive team – John Maniscalco and Pamela Parker, who have been working together on this research for more than 20 years. Over the past two decades, this project has trained more than 50 interns and early career scientists. Data associated with this study from both remote video observations and sampling of neonatal pups has contributed to three Bachelor’s Honors Theses, six Master’s Theses, and two Ph.D. Theses. To date, a total of 24 peer- reviewed scientific publications have been produced by data collected on this project. Seabird-related remote monitoring studies have also spun off from this work, supporting one Master’s Thesis. Photos authorized by NOAA-NMFS #22293 ···················································································································· ALASKA ANIMAL RESCUE On April 22, 2020, Nat Geo WILD premiered a six-episode series featuring ASLC alongside two other Alaskan animal care facilities as they cared for animals in need. ASLC was also included in filming during 2020 for a second season set to debut in the spring of 2021. 6 Ocean Leadership Awards The Ocean Leadership Awards, established in 2010, recognize individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to ocean sciences, education, and resource management in Alaska. 2020 Award Winners Ocean Ambassador Award Walter J. and Ermalee Hickel Fran Ulmer Lifetime Achievement Award Molly McCammon Stewardship and Sustainability Award Alaska Wildland Adventures Marine Research Award Alaska Beluga Whale Commission Marine Science Outreach Award -and- Dr. Switgard Duesterloh Dr. Carin Ashjian Program Round-Ups Science Publications 12 Active Research Projects 20 Research Presentations 22 Wildlife Response Species Live Admissions Sea Otters 5 Harbor Seals 6 Ringed Seal 1 7 Investment and North Pacific Other 5% Marine Research Fiscal Agent Fees Institute 2% Financial Summary 6% As of September 30, 2020 (audited) Visitor 19% Revenues 2020 Visitor $1,774,220 Grants & Contracts $2,986,998 Contributions 37% Grants & Contracts 31% Contributions $3,547,700 Fiscal Agent Fees $564,528 Investment and Other $479,148 Visitor Grants & Contracts North Pacific Marine $221,313 Contributions Research Institute ______________________________________________ Fiscal Agent