FALL 2017 Mighty Mangroves Focus on Sustainability Reducing This issue affects every part of the Plastic Pollution ocean, as well as lakes and rivers. THE AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC has joined with eighteen other aquariums across the country to raise awareness of the threats plastic pollution in our ocean, rivers, and streams pose to aquatic life and ecosystem health. As part of this campaign, the participating aquariums have pledged to eliminate plastic bags and straws at their facilities and significantly re- duce or eliminate plastic beverage bottles. Plastic is found in almost every in the long term. However, plastic ab- aquatic area on Earth—from the ocean, sorbs toxins in marine environments and to lakes, to rivers. According to a recent when ingested by fish and other marine study, over half of all marine mammals animals, these toxins may travel up the are impacted by plastic in their lifetimes. food chain. Aquatic animals ingest plastic, mistak- Through our choices we can make Plastic drinking ing it for food, or can become entangled a difference. By using alternatives to straws are among single-use disposable plastics in our ev- the top items in plastic trash. It is estimated that about collected at beach 8.8 million tons of plastic enter the eryday lives and asking companies that clean-ups. ocean each year. manufacture plastics to make changes, we can help reduce the amount of plas- You can make a difference tic in our environment. Reduce your consumption of single-use plastics by by looking for ways to reduce carrying a reusable water bottle with your consumption of single- you, using reusable shopping bags, and asking for beverages without a straw use disposable plastic. when dining out. As this campaign begins, you will Because plastic is not biodegradable, notice some changes in your visitor ex- it remains in our environment perma- perience at the Aquarium. Shoppers in nently, simply breaking down into small- the Aquarium’s gift stores have been er and smaller pieces. At this time, it is taking their purchases home in paper unknown how this will affect the health bags since 2011, when a citywide ban on of our environment and human health plastic bags was enacted in Long Beach. The Aquarium switched from plastic to compostable drinking straws as of July 10, 2017, and will significantly reduce or eliminate plastic beverage bottles by De- cember 1, 2020, transitioning to foun- tain drinks in its dining facilities. The Aquarium’s water quality lab has been particularly effective in reduc- ing single-use plastics. Technicians use cleaning processes that allow them to reuse items that are normally used once in labs and thrown away. This has result- ed in a reduction of an estimated 502 pounds of plastic since 2013. Reusable This is an example of the kind of cre- water bottles, ative thinking needed to transition away shopping bags, and other non- from single-use disposable plastic prod- disposable items ucts. The Aquarium will continue to seek can make a out alternatives and solutions to the difference. problem of plastic pollution. Refill your water bottle at the Aquarium. 2 | Pacific Currents | Fall 2017 Letter from the CEO Dear Members, 6 27 ONE OF THE AQUARIUM’S important func- tions is serving as a gathering place for people to connect with ocean issues and to In This Issue examine our relationship with our planet. The Aquarium regularly hosts forums that bring experts and stakeholders together to 2 Focus on Sustainability explore these issues and to look for ways to The Aquarium has joined eighteen other aquariums across move us toward a more sustainable future. the country in a campaign to educate the public about In November the Aquarium will host a plastic in the ocean. two-day forum called Sato-umi in the An- 4 Animal Updates thropocene. This is the second of two forums co-sponsored by the The Aquarium’s tenth penguin chick has joined the colony. American Honda Motor Company. Sato-umi is a Japanese term Also, two Black-Necked Stilts hatched in June. that encompasses the relationship between coastal and marine ar- eas and humans and how humans manage these areas for sustain- 6 Mighty Mangroves ability. Forum speakers will discuss the theory and application of Mangroves are critically important ecosystems for both sato-umi in the Anthropocene, the current geological era denoted marine life and people around the world—but they are by the dominating global influence of humans and our activities on rapidly disappearing. the planet. Speakers will include experts from Stanford Universi- 27 Conservation Corner ty, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Sustainable seafood can help protect mangrove forests. the University of California, Santa Barbara’s Bren School of Envi- Learn how consumer choices can help boost economies ronmental Science and Management, and the National Marine Pro- and support mangrove conservation. tected Areas Center. Also, Avis Kuuipoleialoha Poai, an expert in Native Hawaiian Law from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, will introduce ahupua’a, the Hawaiian analog to sato-umi. After presentations are made, a panel will explore how sato-umi might be applied in Southern California. Panelists will include ex- perts from the University of Southern California’s School of Policy, 3 Letter from the CEO 21 Aquarium News Planning, and Development; Duke University; the California Council on Science and Technology; and the University of California, Davis’ 10 Programs & Events 24 Fundraising Policy Institute for Energy, Environment, and the Economy. After the 16 Education Programs 26 Accolades forum, the Aquarium will release a report on its findings. To read re- 18 Kids Corner ports from past forums, visit aquariumofpacific.org/mcri/forums/. We also provide opportunities for the general public to get in- volved through our lectures and through our Aquatic Academy. The fall Aquatic Academy course will explore the role the World Ocean Pacific Currents is published for members of the Aquarium of the Pacific. Please send plays in modulating Earth’s climate and how the World Ocean and your comments to our editorial staff at [email protected]. its ecosystems are responding to climate change. Participants will Our Mission: To instill a sense of wonder, Our Vision: To create an aquarium dedi- learn from experts about the implications of those changes for respect, and stewardship for the Pacific cated to conserving and building natural Ocean, its inhabitants, and ecosystems. capital (nature and nature's services) by the future. Speakers will include scientists from NASA’s Jet Pro- building social capital (the interactions pulsion Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, NOAA, between and among peoples). and the University of California, Irvine. For more information, visit Pacific Currents Staff: Editor/Writer: Claire Atkinson | Copy Editor: Cecile Fisher | aquariumofpacific.org/events/info/aquatic_academy/ and to register Designer: Andrew Reitsma | Contributing Artist: Alice Hsieh | Contributing Writer: call (562) 590-3100. Lindsay Yates. As you may have noticed on recent visits, the construction for Aquarium Hours: Open daily from 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. except December 25. the new Pacific Visions wing is well underway, and the locations Membership Office Hours: 8:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. daily of some facilities have been shifted to accommodate normal visitor Phone Numbers (562 area code): activities. We thank you for your ongoing support during construc- General Information .................... 590-3100 tion and hope you can excuse the change in scenery while we work Membership .....................................437-3474 Development ....................................951-1605 on this important addition to serve you better in the future. Lost & Found ......................................951-1733 Private Event Info ...........................951-1663 Sincerely, Gift Store ............................... 951-1SEA (1732) The Aquarium of the Pacific is a non- Jerry R. Schubel profit 501(c)3 institution. To provide exciting and innovative exhibits and educational programs, we rely heavily Cover: Mangrove in Sumatra, Indonesia on the generous donations of individu- CREDIT : ISTOCK.COM/DAVORLOVINCIC als, foundations, and corporations. Fall 2017 | Pacific Currents | 3 Animal Updates Look for the inch-long, brown- colored tadpoles in the water at the bottom of the REITSMA ANDREW Look for exhibit. Tadpoles in FROGS Exhibit The lifecycle exhibit is located on the left side as you enter the FROGS area. THE TRICOLOR POISON DART FROGS (Epipedobates tricolor) on display in the FROGS: Dazzling and Disappearing exhibit have successfully repro- Aquarium staff duced, resulting in tadpoles. Native to Ecuador, Tricolor Poison Dart expect tadpoles to be Frogs are found on lowland forest floors and in wetlands. visible in this exhibit These frogs produce a clutch of about ten eggs, which the male cares throughout the year. for. After the eggs hatch the male will carry the tadpoles on his back to be deposited in water. Tenth Penguin Born at the Aquarium The new chick is now in the June Keyes Penguin Habitat with the rest of the penguins. A MAGELLANIC PENGUIN CHICK HATCHED at the Aquarium in late May and went on public view in the June Keyes Penguin Habitat in August. Parents Roxy and Floyd cared for the baby penguin until it was ready to go to its behind-the-scenes nurs- ery to learn to take whole fish from keepers for feedings and to swim in shallow pools. This year’s chick represents the fifth generation of Aquar- ium-born penguins and is the tenth to hatch here. Two pen- guins hatched in 2016: Fisher and Astaire. One penguin hatched in 2015 (Lily), four hatched in 2014 (Paddles, Jayde, The chick Mattson, and Skipper) and two hatched in 2013 (Heidi and hatched in May to Roxy and Floyd, Anderson). also the parents of Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) are a tem- Skipper, Lily, Heidi, perate species native to the coasts of Argentina and Chile in and Anderson.