MEMBER MAGAZINE FALL 2010 3 4 6 10 12 Director’s Note Ocean Policy Open Sea What’s New Member Activities SHMONTEREY BAY RAQUAE RIUM LIN ES Sea otters are charming animals that need our help. Direct or’sNote Julie Packard Executive Director I’ve spent most of my adult life trying to raise the profile of the oceans and their importance in our lives. So it’s been a cruel irony to at last see the oceans in the headlines every day, through the nightmare of the largest environmental disaster in American history. The catastrophe in the Gulf of For more than 25 years, our top These remarkable animals are Mexico began just before the 40th priority has been to create and main - important in their own right, and as anniversary of Earth Day, and for tain the best aquarium in the world, indicators for the well-being of the most people it was a somber re - as a source of inspiration for millions ecosystems of which they are a part. minder of the devastating impact of visitors. As you’ll read in this When we help them, we contribute humans are having on the oceans. issue, we’ll begin significant renova - to the health of our coastal and off - Sadly, for the people and wildlife in tions to our Outer Bay wing in Sep - shore waters. the region, the aftereffects will last tember. When it reopens next This fall, we’ll ask you to support for decades. summer, we’ll engage visitors with our new Open Sea exhibits and fur - It’s clear that all players were new experiences and animals and ther our critical research that is es - grossly underprepared to prevent tell compelling stories about the sential for saving the animals we and respond to a disaster of this magnificent animals that live in the love and the oceans that sustain us magnitude. But amid the finger-point - Open Sea. all. I hope you’ll participate. ing, someone’s missing: We, the public. But inspiration alone is not In the face of the tragedy in the Why haven’t we learned from past enough. We must understand the Gulf, there’s much to do, on many for whatever we lose experience? Why can’t we muster threats facing ocean wildlife and fronts. Working together, I’m confi - the political will to approve policies ecosystems, and take action to ad - dent we can address the challenges that our oceans and coasts deserve? dress those threats. and make a difference for the (like a you or a me) The damage to the Gulf has re - That’s why, from the very begin - oceans. Thank you again for your newed my resolve to be sure the ning, rigorous scientific research has enduring support. Monterey Bay Aquarium truly makes been central to our conservation it’s always ourselves a difference for the future of the work. We have been — and remain — oceans. I can’t thank you enough for a leader in conducting research that the support you provide to help will help save charismatic animals we find in the sea. make this vision a reality. like California’s threatened sea ot - Because of you, I feel energized ters, ocean-roaming great white – e.e. cummings and hopeful about the future. sharks and bluefin tuna. www.montereybayaquarium.org 3 Taking Action for the Oce ans Striped surfperch - Embiotoca lateralis Mysteries of the Deep Big Challenges, Big Solutions from offshore oil and gas leasing Research notes from MBARI Because we know so little by Michael Sutton and other sources to protect The striped surf - by Kim Fulton–Bennett about deep-sea animals, the living resources that are perch’s bright colors human activities could wipe In early June, Julie Packard put at risk by drilling operations. and oval body may Since 1996 the Aquarium’s Outer out entire species before we and I met with key members of Legislation to create the invest - mimic a typical Bay exhibit has given visitors a even know they exist. Animals Congress and the Obama Ad - ment fund, and to give greater tropical fish, but it is glimpse of life in the open sea. that reproduce quickly, such as ministration during Capitol Hill protection to ecologically found in colder sub - It has also helped people under - jellies and squids, might end up Ocean Week — an annual series sensitive waters, is now tropical and temper - stand the need to protect the replacing animals that mature of events that put a spotlight moving through Congress. ate waters along magnificent and graceful animals late and bear fewer young. on ocean issues. rocky coasts and in that inhabit this expansive The distinctive blue coloration Because of growing kelp beds, and occa - world. But not even the In order to detect such also shows up in a series of We were encouraged threats to the oceans sionally in sandy surf Outer Bay exhibit can changes in the deep sea, spots and stripes on its head. to hear unanimous, bi - worldwide from the near rocks. show ocean life in all researchers must first Bright blue stripes – even partisan commitment carbon pollution associ - its depth. have some idea of more striking set against a to take meaningful ac - ated with global climate what’s down there. copper-colored body – run tion to protect our change — warming seas, The vast majority of Scientists also need from head to tail. oceans. Real reform is within ocean acidification and rising animals in the ocean basic information on reach, and the Aquarium is sea levels chief among them — live far below the surface. In fact, what deep-sea animals eat and well-positioned to advocate for it is clearly time to commit to the “deep pelagic zone” – the how they reproduce. Robison thoughtful, effective policies a future based not on fossil dark waters between the ocean suggests that, as a precaution - that address the major threats fuels but renewable energy. surface and seafloor – may ary measure, we should create facing our oceans today. The environment will benefit, harbor more animals than any biological preserves in the deep we’ll have new sources of other habitat on Earth. sea, just as we are doing in We have long worked to win ap - green jobs, and we will no coastal waters. proval for a set of critical policy longer jeopardize places like In a recent scientific report, recommendations offered by the Arctic and the deep sea. MBARI marine biologist Bruce In the long term, marine biodi - two national ocean commissions Robison points out that many versity is more than just a scien - — recommendations that have We must also invest in science, ocean threats – rising ocean tific buzzword. It’s a key measure languished for a decade but to better understand the deep temperatures, increasing acidity, of the health and stability of the that now have the attention of ocean and how to protect decreasing oxygen, and chemi - oceans. Robison puts it this way: decision-makers. For too long, marine life. cal pollution – affect deep-sea “Protecting the stability of the we have managed our oceans animals just as they affect ecosystem that provides a major with little regard for We’ve learned, at a animals near the sea surface. portion of the world’s food supply preserving the living tremendous cost, that is obviously in our systems so essential the risks and negative The diversity and sheer best interest.” to our survival. That impacts are far too great. numbers of deep-sea must change. The Gulf oil catastrophe animals suggests they The Gulf oil disaster is a has focused national at - are too important to be perfect illustration of A larger mouth than most There was important tention on the health of ignored. According to the challenges facing The surfperch fam - surfperch lets it eat larger prey, progress in July, when President our oceans as never before. In Robison, “The animals in these animals. In June, ily is unique in that including mollusks, crustaceans, Obama signed an executive the midst of this human and this huge habitat make up es - we sent one of our autonomous their eggs are fertil - brittle stars, worms and shrimp. order establishing a first-ever ecological tragedy, we have an sential links in the oceanic food underwater vehicles to help sci - ized internally and National Ocean Policy — one unprecedented opportunity to web. They also provide food for entists investigate the spill's im - mature over the that makes protection and make a difference. important commercial species pacts on deep-ocean life. We’ll winter months until restoration of our coasts and like tuna and salmon, as well report back on this in future the fry are born oceans the top priority for all This is a decisive moment as for whales, turtles, and issues of Shorelines . alive in late spring. federal agencies that manage for our oceans. Congress and giant squid." While the young marine resources. the Obama Administration are benefit from the preparing to act. With your help protection of the We are also supporting creation and support, we’ll get closer to mother at this criti - of an Ocean Investment Fund our goal of a future with cal stage, overfishing similar to one that already exists healthy oceans. of pregnant females in California, to use revenues could affect the population. Michael Sutton is vice president and director Kim Fulton-Bennett is a communications associate for of our Center for the Future of the Oceans . the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). 4 www.montereybayaquarium.org www.montereybayaquarium.org 5 We first introduced the mystery and wonder of the open ocean to visitors on a grand scale with the debut of our award-winning Outer Bay galleries in 1996.