Monterey Bay Aquarium Annual Review

17 Pages·2017·2.11 MB·English

Inspiring New Generations
of Ocean Leaders
ANNUAL REVIEW 2016
2016
You helped make these
milestones possible. Thank you.
We opened ¡Viva Baja! Life on the Edge to share with visitors
the unique and fragile ecosystems of Baja California.
We welcomed 2.1 million visitors—making this the third
consecutive year we have hosted 2 million people.
We convened a first-ever international “Bluefin Futures Symposium” to bring the plight
of these fish center stage, and helped tag a record 3,000 Pacific bluefin tuna off Japan.
Encouraging new research revealed that sea otters we raised and released
into Elkhorn Slough have helped restore this vital wetland.
Construction began on our Center for Ocean Education and Leadership to expand
our ocean science programs and reach thousands more students and teachers.
Millions of California voters trusted our support of Proposition 67 and approved a
statewide law to ban single-use carryout plastic bags—the first in the nation.
Black sea nettle
Chrysaora achlyos
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’m proud of society’s success in solving the envi- Construction is well under way, so
the many ways ronmental challenges of this century we can welcome the first students
the Aquarium is will depend on our ability to give early in 2019. Thanks to our generous
having an impact young people the knowledge, skills donors, notably the S.D. Bechtel, Jr.
on the health of and motivation to create effective Foundation, and Gordon and Betty
the ocean, from solutions for the future. Moore, we are closer than ever to
our leadership in Today, we face a crisis in science raising the necessary funds for the
JJUULLIIEE PPAACCKKAARRDD STEPHEN C. NEAL California and and environmental education. Center and the staff who will bring
EExxeeccuuttiivvee DDiirreeccttoorr Chairman nationally to Schools and teachers struggle to its mission to life.
tackle the challenges of global climate meet the needs of growing student I’m so grateful to all of you who
In 2016, your generosity helped us make a difference for our ocean planet, now change and ocean plastic pollution, populations with diverse languages supported our vision by joining us
to the global reach of our sustainable and cultures, and a declining focus at Hewlett Packard Enterprise head-
and for decades to come. Together, we’re poised to accomplish even more, with
seafood work. on science learning. Outside of quarters when we honored Gordon
We are building strong relationships school, kids spend less time outdoors, Moore with our second David Packard
new experiences for visitors, innovative education programs and through the
with policy and business leaders, and which means fewer opportunities to Award. Thanks to Event Chair Meg
growing global reach of our conservation and science work. we are making a difference. experience nature and make the Whitman and her generous co-chairs,
This is also evidenced by the strong connections that are vital precursors we raised nearly $4 million to support
support we’re receiving as we move to caring for the environment. the Center.
to complete our Center for Ocean Informal learning institutions like On behalf of the Board of Trustees,
U
nique among ocean conservation Because of your partnership in our aquaculture practices. In Southeast Education and Leadership—a new the Aquarium have such a powerful my deepest thanks.
organizations, we inspire 2 million vision and our work, I’m confident Asia, we’re working with seafood center of excellence in ecosystem- role to play in meeting needs that
people each year when they we’ll make significant progress on producers to improve the sustainability based science education for students, schools can’t provide. That’s what the
visit our living exhibits. We reach issues that matter for the ocean. of shrimp aquaculture and fisheries. teachers and emerging teen leaders. new Center for Ocean Education and
far beyond our walls as well, engaging Our most ambitious investment in In the U.S., we championed rules for The vision behind the Center stems Leadership will allow us to do.
over 3 million followers through social the future is our new Center for Ocean imported seafood that will reward from our clear understanding that
media channels. Thanks to the powerful Education and Leadership. Please responsible fishing fleets.
impact of an Aquarium visit, the accept my deepest thanks for your We led creation of a new alliance
energy and engagement I see in our wonderful support of this important of U.S. public aquariums to advance
online audience and the Aquarium’s project that will allow us to better awareness—and mobilize action—on
growing stature as a trusted source of serve California’s students, teachers critical ocean conservation issues,
science-based conservation solutions, and emerging teen leaders. We’re also focusing first on plastic pollution. B O A R D O F T R U S T E E S
I’m very optimistic about the future preparing to expand our veterinary And, our research team crafted a new
As of December 2016
of the ocean. facilities, so we can continue to vision to take our impact to the next
Last year, your donations enabled provide the highest level of care for level, from strengthening our voice
creation of a new special exhibition, our animals, and contribute even at policy forums like the U.N. climate Stephen C. Neal, Chairman M.R.C. Greenwood
¡Viva Baja! Life on the Edge, where more to the recovery of threatened talks to creating an Ocean Memory
Peter S. Bing, Chairman Emeritus William Landreth
we celebrate the stunning diversity and endangered species. Lab where we’ll analyze marine life
Julie Packard, Vice Chairman and Executive Director Joan Lane
of wildlife in Baja California. It was The global reach and influence of samples to measure changes in ocean
one of many notable achievements our Seafood Watch team grows with health over the past century. Susan Bell Michael A. Mantell
made possible with your help—from each passing year—and was recognized You are the driving force behind Meg Caldwell Connie Martinez
the passage of a statewide ban on when the State Department invited this critical work. I’m excited about
Samantha Campbell Pietro Parravano
single-use plastic bags in California, to us to present at its “Our Ocean” our growing impact and so grateful
a first-ever gathering of international conference in Washington, D.C. for your unwavering support for the Caroline Getty Christopher Scholin
experts to map a path for recovery of Today, we’re engaged more deeply Aquarium, and our mission to inspire Juan Govea Mark Wan
global bluefin tuna populations. than ever with business, government conservation of the ocean. Thank you.
Gideon Yu
We have so much more planned and conservation partners to shift to
this year, and in the years to come. more sustainable global fishing and
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You are Driving Our Impact as a Global Conservation Leader
From Monterey Bay to the Sea of Japan, our international research and conservation work remains focused on one urgent goal—ensuring the
health of the global ocean. Your support enables us to study and protect marine wildlife from sea otters to white sharks, as well as collaborate
on solutions to ocean plastic pollution, and champion sustainable fisheries and aquaculture around the world.
Sea Otters Ocean Plastic Pollution Climate Change White Sharks Pacific Bluefin Tuna Fisheries and Aquaculture
Our work with We played a Our new director Our research We partnered Our Seafood
southern sea otters leading role in of science, Kyle Van team continues to with Stanford Watch program
validates why a the successful Houtan, was a voice employ advanced University to represented the
healthy population of Proposition 67 for the ocean at the technologies to convene the global sustainable
these iconic marine campaign to up- U.N. Climate Change track and analyze first-ever seafood movement
mammals is critical to hold California’s Conference (COP22) the movement international at the third “Our
maintaining thriving statewide ban in Morocco, where and behavior “Bluefin Futures Ocean” conference
coastal habitats. on single-use he underscored how of white sharks Symposium,” in Washington, D.C.,
plastic grocery carbon emissions are along the coasts connecting hosted by Secretary
For more than 30 years, we have worked bags. Hundreds of thousands of affecting ocean health—and human survival. of California and Baja, Mexico. the world’s leading bluefin tuna of State John Kerry. Leaders from around
to understand how sea otters affect coastal people embraced the messages of scientists and managers with expert the world—government, industry and
ecosystems. We’ve long understood their support we shared through social In California, which continues to lead Working with engineers at the stakeholders from academia, industry nonprofit leaders, and emerging young
vital role in restoring and maintaining kelp media and other channels, helping the way nationally in enacting laws to Monterey Bay Aquarium Research and nonprofits to chart a course for voices—attended this significant ocean
forests; now, our researchers have docu- to pass this important legislation. address climate change and mitigate its Institute, we developed a prototype recovery of these remarkable and conservation event.
mented a similar effect in coastal wetlands impacts, we supported key legislation “shark cam” that we will deploy to threatened fish.
—especially Elkhorn Slough. The data we Julie Packard was one of three that addresses greenhouse gas emissions. capture underwater video footage of Our major business partners Target,
collect can be used to support policies that authors for the “Yes on Proposition We worked locally with public officials to these mysterious animals when they In collaboration with colleagues and Aramark, Blue Apron and Hello Fresh are
protect and restore coastal habitats on 67” ballot argument in the official develop mitigation plans for sea level rise travel far offshore from California. commercial fishermen in Japan, we making progress toward achieving their
which sea otters depend for their recovery. Voter Information Guide, and was and other unavoidable impacts. tagged over 3,000 Pacific bluefin sustainable seafood commitments. And,
honored by Governor Jerry Brown for We collaborated with colleagues in tuna in the Sea of Japan—an we partnered with the U.S. Agency for
Toward that goal, in 2016 we completed a her leadership in this campaign and We are telling the climate change story to Baja to assess genetic variation in unprecedented effort to understand International Development to improve
three-year study of sea otters in Elkhorn her longstanding commitment to our visitors and online audiences—including juvenile white sharks using teeth from what lies behind the dramatic decline traceability of seafood imports entering
Slough. We and our partners are analyzing protect the ocean. We deployed through our new “Journey to Baja” “shark mummies,” identified a new in their population. Our policy team the North American market.
the more than 41,000 data points we col- volunteers on college campuses, auditorium program and through a new nursery area on Baja’s Pacific coast, worked with fisheries agencies and
lected on such behaviors as diving, foraging created a new web page about ocean web page that raises awareness of this and documented high bycatch of parliamentary leaders on new Seafood Watch joined international seafood
and feeding. Over 10 scientific papers will plastic pollution, produced a podcast critical issue for ocean health. We have newborns in gillnets there. approaches to manage bluefin tuna rating organizations to create the Global
result from this collaboration, affirming the series that explored the issues and coordinated a network of climate change on Japanese spawning grounds. Seafood Ratings Alliance to coordinate
vital role played by sea otter recovery and solutions, and created engaging interpreters who work at aquariums, zoos rating programs in the U.S. and around the
range expansion in supporting a resilient online videos to support the and science centers nationwide to further world as a way to accelerate the movement
California coast. “Yes on 67” campaign. raise awareness about practical actions toward seafood sustainability.
people can take, individually and
We regularly collaborate with other biologists We also hosted the inaugural Aquarium collectively, to make a difference
to study population dynamics not only of the Plastic Pollution Symposium, where for the ocean and for us all.
southern sea otters that live off California, but over 100 colleagues from aquariums
also the northern sea otters off Alaska and across the United States and Canada
Canada. This helps us to better understand discussed how to work together in a
these ecosystem engineers, and how the conservation partnership over the next
two populations are connected. two years to reduce plastic pollution
in our ocean, rivers and lakes.
Our Conservation Research Helps Sea Otters and Their Habitats
For over 30 years, donor support has allowed us to rescue and care for hundreds of injured, sick and stranded sea otters, while
advancing our understanding about the threats they face in the wild. With your help, we saw important advances in 2016.
Genome Sequencing
We’re collaborating with UCLA
scientists to sequence the first-ever
Ecosystem Engineers
sea otter genome, using a blood
Our surrogate-raised pups— sample from one of our resident sea
and their offspring—make up the otters. This first genome will provide
majority of sea otters in Elkhorn a template for the sequencing of an
Slough, where this keystone additional 60 genomes from across
species has helped restore this the sea otter range, and represents
productive coastal wetland. a huge technical and computational
We’re now exploring the potential effort. Understanding the genetic
benefits of introducing surrogate- diversity of the southern sea otter
reared otters into other portions population will inform recovery plans.
of their historical range.
A Birth Seen Around the World
The birth of a wild sea otter pup in the
Great Tide Pool gave us an unprecedented
opportunity to share our conservation
mission in real time. While hundreds of
Canadian Cousins
people witnessed the birth live at the
Aquarium, thousands around the world
Our researchers studied how northern sea
watched the first-ever live stream of a
otters on British Columbia’s Central Coast
sea otter birth on Periscope. Over 14
contribute to the health of local ecosystems.
million people eventually saw archived
They gained insights that will inform our
footage of the momentous event as social
work with California’s threatened sea
media fans and international news
otter population, and deepened their
outlets shared the good news.
understanding of the many ways the
two populations are connected.
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Seafood Watch Steps Up its International Role
Through its own initiatives and a partnership with the USAID Oceans program, Seafood Watch is helping seafood producers in the Asia-Pacific region Seafood Watch scientists often work in the field, researching our rigorous scientific reports or to develop a tool to help identify the risk of human rights abuses.
improve their practices so they can gain access to the U.S. market and, ultimately, bring more sustainable choices to consumers. Increasingly, we’re invited to share our work at international forums—including the State Department’s “Our Ocean” conference in Washington, D.C.
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ince 1999, our sustainable its goal of having all of its fresh Netherlands and the United Kingdom We also helped to establish a new improve the traceability of seafood chose Seafood Watch as the only
seafood initiative Seafood and frozen seafood both sustainable who develop sustainable seafood collaborative through which producers products entering the North American sustainable seafood NGO invited to
Watch has empowered and traceable. standards in their countries. At a from Southeast Asia can improve the market from the Asia-Pacific region, present at its international “Our
consumers and businesses meeting in Monterey, they agreed sustainability of the region’s shrimp the world’s largest seafood exporter Ocean” conference, hosted by
to support ocean-friendly In 2016, longtime partner Aramark to collaborate in new ways that will aquaculture and fisheries. We’ll and home to rich marine ecosystems. Secretary of State John Kerry.
fisheries and aquaculture through committed to serving sustainably expand the reach and effectiveness continue to work with this group, The end goal: make the region a
their purchasing decisions. Now, sourced skipjack and albacore tuna in of all of our programs. and with business and government global model for sustainability and “I encourage all of us—NGOs, govern-
Seafood Watch is assuming an the U.S. The company also has sustain- partners, to upgrade environmental good labor practices. ments, the seafood industry—to work
international leadership role in able seafood programs underway in Seafood Watch is actively working sustainability and labor practices in cooperatively from all of our angles to
the movement. Canada, Germany and the United to improve aquaculture practices in the region. Ultimately, we want to We made significant progress on our scale up and embrace the opportunity
Kingdom. We also now count among Southeast Asia—the source of most make it easier for U.S. consumers Human Rights Risk Tool, which we before us,” Jennifer Dianto Kemmerly,
More than 68,000 business locations our official partners food delivery shrimp imported to the U.S. We to find sustainable seafood choices plan to launch this year. The tool will director of global fisheries and
worldwide use Seafood Watch guide- services Blue Apron and Hello Fresh. created a special protocol to give at their local stores. help businesses identify where there aquaculture for Seafood Watch, told
lines to inform their purchasing shrimp farmers in this region a flexible may be human rights issues in their dignitaries gathered in Washington,
decisions, either as a direct Aquarium The Seafood Watch team further way to meet our standards and Our work in Asia earned us a seafood supply chain and take steps D.C. “We are at a critical point where
partner or through one of our many advanced the sustainability move- secure access to a U.S. market that partnership with the U.S. Agency for to mitigate them. the global market and governments
conservation partners. This includes ment internationally by bringing increasingly demands sustainably International Development Oceans need to work together to ensure
large retailers like Target, which is together colleagues from Canada, produced seafood. and Fisheries Partnership (USAID Our positive impact was affirmed in sustainable, legal fisheries to maintain
now 97 percent of the way toward South Africa, Japan, Brazil, the Oceans). Together, we will work to October when the State Department ocean and human health.”
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Our Exhibits and Animals (Real and Imaginary) Inspire Visitors
Our living exhibits transport visitors into a magical underwater world, and have inspired others to take journeys of their own. They’re the
heart of what we do. Our impact begins when people come face to face with ocean wildlife—real and even imagined.
Finding Dory Breeding Breakthroughs Cracking the Comb Jelly Code Welcome, Selka Happy 10th, Makana! Pokémon Phenomenon
Years before We bred Pacific For the first Selka, the newest As the only The Aquarium
its release, we seahorses for time ever, our member of our Laysan albatross became home
schooled staff at the first time at staff cultured Sea Otter exhibit, at any zoo or to some unusual
Pixar Animation the Aquarium the elusive is a rescued aquarium in the animals when
Studios in marine to ensure a comb jelly. California sea United States, the viral mobile
animal biology healthy exhibit Figuring out otter that lived Makana’s a game “Pokémon
and behavior for population for how to raise in the wild, valued ambas- Go” engaged
Finding Dory, ¡Viva Baja! comb jellies survived a sador for her visitors who
Disney Pixar’s and we shared in-house is a shark bite, and species and for were glued to
2016 summer our secrets— big deal in the contributed all seabirds and their phones
blockbuster. We were also an inspiration and seahorse babies—with other scientific world. It allows aquariums to important research into under- marine life that face deadly threats more than usual, searching for cute
for the design of and operations at the aquariums and zoos to protect wild to exhibit these animals year-round standing her species. Now she’s on from ocean plastic pollution. Visitors cartoon creatures inside our exhibits
fictional Marine Life Institute, and for populations. We also became the for public education without collect- track to become another surrogate learn Makana’s story—and how they —and even in our cafe! Blending
the look and function of bird feathers first aquarium in North America ing from the wild—and may also mother for stranded pups. can reduce their reliance on single-use digital and real worlds together,
in the accompanying Oscar-winning to exhibit and raise striped pyjama help improve our picture of how plastics—during her popular the game was the first success
animated short, Piper. squid (pictured below), and sent our life on Earth began. daily program. story for the use of augmented
home-grown squidlings to other reality technology.
institutions, spreading the
pyjama party far and wide.
Striped pyjama squid
Sepioloidea lineolata
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Green moray eel Desert spiny lizard Pacific seahorse
Gymnothorax sp. SOcepliospthoortueus tmhias gsips.ter Hippocampus ingens
¡Viva Baja! Highlights Conservation Connections with Our Southern Neighbor
¡Viva Baja! Life on the Edge invites visitors to explore the unique and fragile coastal habitats of Baja California while watching flashy fishes,
colorful crustaceans and riveting desert reptiles—a first for us. Our newest special exhibition, which opened in March 2016, shows how
we all are connected to this special place (only a few hundred miles south of Monterey) whose future hangs in a delicate balance. Our
companion auditorium program, “Journey to Baja,” tells the uplifting success story of how acting to protect ocean animals from threats,
including climate change, helps build a better future for us all. Your support of these exhibits and programs allows us to share how the
Thank you.
Aquarium and other conservation organizations are working to protect the unique wildlife of Baja California and beyond.
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Empowering Future Ocean Stewards through Innovative Science Education
Our commitment to engaging children with science remains as strong today as when we opened our doors. With generous support
from our donors, we’ve hosted over 2.3 million students and teachers—free of charge—in a suite of education and leadership programs.
We’re now poised to dramatically expand the reach of our programs and serve thousands of additional students and teachers. With your
help, we have begun construction of our state-of-the-art Center for Ocean Education and Leadership, which will open its doors in 2019.
School Programs Home School Days Teacher Programs Teen Programs Teaching with Tech Summits and STEM
In 2016 we Over 9,200 Through in-person A total of 225 We continued Over 300
welcomed nearly family members and virtual work- teens participated utilizing technol- students and
85,000 school- participated shops, conference in our suite of ogy to advance teachers attended
aged children on in one of six presentations and programs designed our mission in our fifth Ocean
complimentary Home School other professional for middle and high new ways as Plastic Pollution
field trips. Of Days offered development school students. we hosted 326 Summit last
those, over 31,000 during the events, we shared teachers and spring, presenting
participated in a year. Under a ecosystem-based Mentored by students in on- results of their
staff-led program theme of “Life approaches to Teen Conservation site professional year-long projects.
in either our auditorium or Discovery on the Edge,” we guided families to science education with nearly 2,000 Leader alumni, over 100 teen volunteers development workshops and off-site Participants were inspired by two teens
Labs. Our bilingual education staff encounter animals that live where teachers. We hosted hundreds of provided superlative on-site visitor experi- virtual field trips. from Bali whose “Bye Bye Plastic Bags”
served 1,500 preschool students visiting the ocean meets the shore, and to educators for our annual Ocean Plastic ences for Aquarium summer guests, and movement succeeded in banning single-
from 43 Head Start centers in Monterey learn about unique adaptations and Pollution Summit, and brought secondary created humorous and hopeful posts A total of 85 preschool to 12th grade use plastic bags from that island province.
and Santa Cruz counties. behaviors that allow them to survive school teachers to the site of the former about the ocean for Instagram, Snapchat teachers attended the “Connecting Their campaign sparked similar initiatives
waves, tides and exposure to air. San Clemente Dam on Carmel River, and Facebook. Conservation and Technology” by teens around the world. The fall kick-
where they explored restored habitats one-day workshop, which covered off event was attended by 91 preschool
along the riverbanks. Elementary teachers In our Young Women in Science program, topics such as integrating coding to 12th grade students and teachers.
collaborated to design schoolyard habitat 63 middle school girls immersed them- into lessons, helping students create Keynoter Marcus Eriksen of 5 Gyres set
projects that they later created with selves in the life history of sea otters, virtual reality tours and programming the tone for the inspirational weekend.
their students. while 39 alumnae in the Ocean Guardians microcontrollers for use in data
camp focused on the impacts of plastic collection projects. We created a uniquely Aquarium STEM
Our staff welcomed 95 Head Start waste on marine food webs, and used (Science, Technology, Engineering,
teachers, staff and administrators for social media to inspire others to find We also hosted a hands-on, virtual Math) challenge at the San Francisco
professional development sessions as alternatives to single-use plastic. field trip experience that introduced Bay Area Maker Faire. Using a variety
part of our Splash Zone partnership. 241 middle and high school students of materials and their imaginations,
Through our Watsonville Area Teens to the habitats of Monterey Bay and visitors designed a wave machine that
Conserving Habitats program, 70 the animals that live there. would create enough water motion to
students representing all three high
keep kelp fronds moving. This spin-off
schools in Pajaro Valley Unified School
design of our own kelp forest piston
District collaborated to learn about local
won the Faire’s “Best in Class” award
ecosystems and the environmental
for educational projects.
challenges they face—and what teens
Bat star
can do to make a difference.
Patiria miniata
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Gordon Moore accepted the David Packard Award from Aquarium Board Chairman Stephen C. Neal and Executive Director Julie Packard (top, left). Marcia McNutt, National Academy of Sciences president, delivered the keynote address (top, left). Intel CEO Brian Krzanich, Brandee Krzanich and
Gordon Moore with HPE President & CEO Meg Whitman (bottom, left). Charlotte Shultz, Marc Tessier-Lavigne, Griffith Harsh, Meg Whitman, John Doerr (top, right). The event benefitted our new Center for Ocean Education and Leadership (bottom, right).
George Shultz (our 2014 David Packard Award Honoree), and Julie Packard (bottom, right).
We Honored Intel Co-Founder Gordon Moore with the David Packard Award
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ome of the nation’s most iconic technology companies and industry leaders joined us in May 2016 as we honored Intel co-founder
Gordon Moore with our second David Packard Award. Chaired by Meg Whitman and held at Hewlett Packard Enterprise
headquarters in Palo Alto, the event raised nearly $4 million to support our new Center for Ocean Education and Leadership.
We celebrated with 400 guests, including inaugural award recipient and former U.S. Secretary of State George P. Shultz. Co-chair
Bill Gates provided an inspiring video message to Gordon, whom we recognized as an innovator, entrepreneur and ocean conservationist.
“It is so important that we use the technology available to us to learn about our ocean, which have such a huge impact on the future
health of our entire planet,” said Meg Whitman in her welcoming remarks. “I am deeply grateful to all of you for supporting the
Monterey Bay Aquarium and its work to understand and protect our ocean.”
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