Hundreds of their kindred comrades had succumbed to changes in their environment that they could not adapt in time to. Far from their normal range sick and dying Magellanic Penguins were washing ashore on Brazilian beaches better known in song than for black and white flightless aquatic birds. To do its part in trying to help these forlorn avians the Aquarium of the Pacific took in a small group of these distressed penguins to give them medical treatment and a home. Yet despite their tragic back story these “Brazilians” and their antics have gotten this particular aquarium volunteer smiling and humming “The Penguin from Ipanema” during his Saturday encounters with them.

Aquarium of the Pacific President and CEO Jerry Schubel will speak at a TEDx conference hosted by the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California on June 9. TEDx is an independent offshoot of TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design), a nonprofit organization that hosts annual conferences bringing together innovative thinkers. TEDx is designed to give communities, organizations, and individuals the opportunity to stimulate dialogue through TED-like experiences at the local level.

A team of nineteen students and two faculty members are planning the conference with the aim of inspiring future designers to apply their skills for social change and to discover economic solutions that address global poverty and empower impoverished families. The one-day event, TEDxArtCenterCollegeofDesign, will be held on the college’s campus in Pasadena.

Dr. Schubel will give a presentation that focuses on the benefits of collaboration between scientists, artists, and designers in solving complex problems. The audience will comprise graduate and undergraduate art and design students, as well as faculty members and professionals from the local community. In addition, many talks recorded at TEDx events are featured on the TED website, which has a global reach.

For more information and to register to attend, visit http://www.artcenter.edu/tedx/.

Aquarium staff members transported some of the Magellanic Penguins and Betty the otter pup all in one cargo van on a road trip from the Bay Area to Long Beach.

There’s been quite a bit of hype in Long Beach around this year’s whale watching season and for good reason! We’ve had so many sightings of gray whales and orcas down here it’s unbelievable. Orcas are normally a very rare occurrence but have been making frequent appearances beginning in January. On May 9, the orcas gave us a once-in-a-lifetime sight. Read on to find out what our last two weeks have looked like on the water.

The Aquarium of the Pacific’s Seafood for the Future (SFF) program has partnered with Huntington Beach, California restaurant SlapFish, which opened to the public April 20. SlapFish will be donating proceeds from its Pounder Melt sandwich to SFF. The dish is made with wild Pacific albacore tuna from SFF partner distributor American Tuna.

“We want to change the way people think about and choose their seafood,” said Executive Chef Andrew Gruel, who, with Jethro Naude, owns SlapFish. “The idea is to get people to eat more seafood, but the right types of seafood, because sustainable tastes better.”

SFF has worked closely with SlapFish to ensure that the restaurant’s seafood menu is sourced responsibly. These restaurateurs are working to offer a new perspective on “boat-to-plate” dining, sourcing local and seasonal fare from such SFF partners as Carlsbad Aquafarm and the Newport Dory Fleet.

“We are thrilled to promote restaurant partners, like SlapFish, who truly want to build awareness about responsible seafood while providing great tasting dishes at a fair price. They have been completely transparent and solidified their commitment to improving the health of our fisheries and oceans by donating proceeds to the Seafood for the Future program to further enable our efforts to promote healthy and responsible seafood,” said Kim Thompson, Aquarium of the Pacific’s Seafood for the Future program manager.

Other menu items at SlapFish include a variety of daily and seasonally changing menu features such as The Lobsticle™, Shrimp Pops, Major Crunchy Fish Sandwich, Creamy Clam Chowder, Carlsbad Oysters, and the East Coast Style Maine Lobster Roll. SlapFish is located at 19696 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach CA 92648. For more information visit slapfishsocal.com.

SFF promotes transparency in the seafood system by providing a platform for discussion among members of the seafood industry. The program serves as a conduit of fact-based information on aquaculture and wild capture fisheries to purchasers, restaurants, and consumers. SFF also forms partnerships with concerned industry players to have the greatest impact on the seafood supply chain. Consumers can find responsibly sourced seafood at SFF’s partner restaurants and retailers. For a list, visit seafoodforthefuture.org.

A Magellanic Penguin chick was hatched at the Aquarium of the Pacific on May 6. The parents are Patsy and Noodles, who will remain off exhibit while they are caring for their chick. The rest of the Aquarium’s Magellanic Penguins will be making their public debut on Thursday, May 17 in the newly unveiled June Keyes Penguin Habitat.

It takes between thirty-eight and forty-three days of incubation before a Magellanic Penguin egg will hatch. The chicks are hatched with their eyes closed, and the eyes open about a week later. The penguin parents are raising the chick in their nest, which is out of view at the new exhibit. Magellanic Penguin couples take turns incubating the eggs on the nest and feeding and raising the chicks after they hatch. The Aquarium’s chick will fledge, or replace its downy newborn feathers with water-tight adult feathers, in about ninety days. At that point, Aquarium visitors may be able to spot the new arrival on exhibit.

Magellanic Penguins are a temperate species native to the coasts of Argentina and Chile in South America.

With the opening of the new June Keyes Penguin Habitat, the Aquarium of the Pacific will be celebrating all things penguin with new shows, programs, and experiences.

A new multimedia show on penguins is now playing daily in the Great Hall. It features sound, lights, and video projected on eight screens. This new show surrounds Aquarium guests in an immersive experience that transports them into the world of penguins.

A new film about penguins is showing daily in the Ocean Theater. Viewers travel across the Southern Hemisphere to see where penguins live in the wild. See penguins in action as they raise their chicks, swim in the ocean in search of food, and cross great distances on foot and “tobogganing” on their bellies.

The Aquarium has also added a penguin encounter to its offerings, allowing guests to get an up-close look at a Magellanic Penguin for an additional charge.

More than a dozen Magellanic Penguins are now on view in the June Keyes Penguin Habitat at the Aquarium. These are the first penguins in the Aquarium’s collection, and these temperate species birds have already made themselves comfortable in their new home. A penguin chick hatched at the Aquarium on May 6 and the parents are raising the new baby behind the scenes at the new exhibit.

The June Keyes Penguin Habitat is a new permanent exhibit at the Aquarium. For more information about its features and the penguins that live there, click here. To hear about the latest antics of our penguins, follow our very own Avery the penguin on Twitter. To watch them 24/7, visit our live webcams. Click here for the view above the water and here for the view below the water in the exhibit.

The Aquarium provided care for a green sea turtle that was found last month inside Shoreline Marina in Long Beach, California. As an institution permitted by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to rehabilitate these animals, the Aquarium was selected to provide veterinary care and housing for the turtle.

“It is extremely rewarding to be able to help this amazing animal. All sea turtles are either threatened or endangered so it is very important that we do everything we can to help them,” said Dr. Lance Adams, veterinarian at the Aquarium of the Pacific.

The sea turtle arrived at the Aquarium on April 19. As part of its assessment, the turtle received a physical exam, blood test, and radiographs. Aquarium veterinary staff members also monitored its feeding and behavior. “We are happy to report that the sea turtle is eating well, swimming normally, and appears to be thriving,” Dr. Adams said. With the NMFS, the Aquarium determined that the sea turtle was ready to be released back into the wild on May 11.

According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) is endangered because of the major threats of habitat loss and degradation, harvesting of turtle eggs and turtles for food, and accidental mortality as bycatch from commercial and recreational fishing.

Additionally, sea turtles sometimes mistake plastic bags drifting in the ocean for sea jellies and eat them, which can be fatal. People can help sea turtles by picking up trash in the streets and on beaches and by choosing sustainable seafood.

When I first started as a marine mammal volunteer at the Aquarium a few weeks before its grand opening in 1998, a young female harbor seal named Shelby was one of the first animals I was introduced to. I had the joy of spending the next fourteen years watching her grow up to become a beautiful adult seal. A couple of weeks ago, just a few days after her sweet sixteen birthday, Shelby the harbor seal gave birth to a bouncing baby seal!

The Aquarium’s third annual Urban Ocean Festival was held on May 5 and 6 in celebration of Southern California’s unique and vibrant coast. Visitors had the opportunity to taste samples of sustainable seafood, help paint urban ocean-themed murals, and enjoy the winning entries in the Urban Ocean Art, Poetry, and Trashin’ Fashion contests.

The festival weekend also kicked off the Aquarium’s summer series of urban ocean cruises. On the Urban Ocean: World Port and Sealife Cruise, passengers get to see parts of the Los Angeles/Long Beach port complex not usually seen by the public and learn about the ways industry interacts with nature and wildlife in this segment of the ocean. Additional cruises are scheduled throughout the summer.

The festival featured an exhibit of the winning entries in the Urban Ocean Art Contest

Second place winners:

• Jenny Cao, “Foster” (mixed media/sculpture/3D category)
• Cameron McIntyre, “Wet Bag” (photography/digital category)
• Esther Shaw, “Long Beach Waterfront” (painting/drawing category)

First place winners:

• Anna Erneholm, “Aqua” (mixed media/sculpture/3D category)
• Dominique Ovalle, “Tasman” (painting/drawing category)
• John Trevino, “Jenn” (photography/digital category)

The Grand Prize winner was John Trevino. His winning photo, “Jenn,” was taken off the coast of Palos Verdes. Trevino suited up in SCUBA gear and took his camera into a kelp forest to shoot underwater images of his models dressed in their street clothes. He used only natural light and the aid of an assistant, who shuttled the models to and from the beach by paddleboard.

The winner in the Trashin’ Fashion Contest was Angelina Johnson, who created a gown from the pages of fashion magazines.

Listed below are the winners in the Urban Ocean Poetry Contest:

High School level:

• Third place: Macey Rafter, “Our Ocean”
• Second place: Maury Long, “Similarities in Differences”
• First place: Reuben Chavez, “A Vast Change”

Young Adult level:

• Third place: Jacqueline Pham, “Medusa Sonata”
• Second place: Terex Davis, “The Ocean”
• First place: Kelley Gillaspy, “Ocean Dreams”

Adults level:

• Third place: Alex Lowe, “Born from the Storm”
• Second place: Taylor Parker, “Jupiter Overhead”
• First place: Scott Russell, “Past Point Fermin and the Palos Ever Less Verde”

Seniors level:

• Third place: Richard Leach, “Salt Air and the Seal”
• Second place: Larry Colker, “The Mammals Who Returned to the Sea”
• First place: Rick Stepp-Bolling, “Seasons”

The Aquarium is also seeking input from the public about priorities for the future of the ocean. This input will be used in an upcoming Aquatic Forum bringing together ocean experts and other shareholders. Share your ideas by posting on the Aquarium’s Facebook and Twitter pages. For more information and instructions for contributing input, click here.

The public has the opportunity to contribute input to an upcoming Aquatic Forum in July to help shape the future of Southern California’s urban ocean. The Aquarium’s Aquatic Forums provide a venue for stakeholders to explore complex and pressing issues related to the ocean and environment. Public input is being gathered via the Aquarium’s Twitter feed and Facebook page, as well as via e-mail and mail, and will be incorporated into the forum.

The Aquarium will be leading a discussion among ocean experts, policymakers, and a diverse group of stakeholders to develop potential scenarios for the Southern California urban ocean in the year 2050. These future scenarios will be based on the interplay of various actions by humans with changes in the oceanography of the Southern California Bight. Predetermined factors like population growth and sea level rise will be taken into account, as will driving forces like climate change, environmentalism, and the economy. The forum will also examine the critical uncertainties, like decisions made by government, which would affect the ocean and its use by humans and marine life.

The waters off Southern California’s shores are one of the world’s best examples of an urban ocean—a segment of the World Ocean used extensively and intensively by humans. This area is also one of the regions of the Pacific Ocean most intensively used by marine life, from dolphins to one of the largest and most diverse assemblages of whales to rich, productive kelp forests and the marine animals that inhabit them.

Please let us know what you think are the most important driving forces, predetermined elements, and qualities you want for the Southern California Urban Ocean in 2050. Some of the qualities that have been proposed include:

• A rich mosaic of healthy, productive coastal and marine ecosystems
• Clean beaches and coastal waters
• A robust and diverse ocean economy that does not compromise environmental quality
• A strong ocean ethic
• Healthy coastal communities—in all dimensions (including economic)
• Diverse coastal recreation opportunities—both active and passive
• A balance of recreational and commercial uses
• A model for ecosystem-based management
• A robust and rich portfolio of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) educational programs—informal and formal—that nurture ocean literacy
• Public access
• Well-managed fisheries—both recreational and commercial

Send us your thoughts by adding a comment below or via the Aquarium’s Facebook or Twitter, e-mail lbrown@lbaop.org, or mail at Aquarium of the Pacific, attention: Urban Ocean Forum, 320 Golden Shore, Suite 100, Long Beach, CA 90802.

The Aquarium will unveil its newest animal exhibit, the June Keyes Penguin Habitat, on May 17. This exhibit will be home to more than a dozen Magellanic Penguins, a temperate penguin species native to South America. These are the first penguins in the Aquarium’s collection.

Visitors to the new June Keyes Penguin Habitat will be able to get up close with Magellanic Penguins and learn what can be done to help their counterparts in the wild. This new permanent exhibit is located outdoors on the second floor near the Aquarium’s ray pool.

The exhibit includes a crawl-in space, allowing visitors to feel as if they are in the exhibit with the animals. Exhibit panels and interactive touch screens will provide information about penguins and issues that are affecting their survival in the wild. The habitat features a rocky area, a beach, and a pool for swimming. Visitors will be able to view the penguins both above and below the water.

The exhibit also includes nesting areas resembling the burrows that Magellanic Penguins use for laying eggs and rearing their chicks. Life-sized models of penguins representing other species will also be a part of the exhibit area.

Aquarium members can preview the new exhibit and see the penguins during preview events May 14, 15, and 16. For more information, click here. The exhibit opens to the public on May 17.

A female harbor seal pup was born at the Aquarium Thursday, April 26. The pup is currently in the Seals and Sea Lions Habitat with her parents. The pup was born to two of the Aquarium’s harbor seals, Shelby and Troy. Shelby came to the Aquarium in 1998. Troy, the Aquarium’s only male harbor seal, came to the Aquarium in 2007.

Most seals give birth to young starting at four to five years of age. Shelby is sixteen years old, and this is her first pup. The newborn seal weighs approximately 20 pounds.

Aquarium staff members closely monitor the health and well-being of all of the Aquarium’s animals on a continuous basis. Shelby’s pregnancy was discovered during a recent exam by Aquarium Veterinarian Dr. Lance Adams. Husbandry staff members determined that keeping Shelby on exhibit in her normal surroundings would be the best option for keeping her comfortable during the pregnancy.

The pup appears to be healthy and behaving normally. Harbor seal pups can swim immediately after birth. Staff members are currently allowing the mother and pup to bond and will continue to monitor the animals.

“Since Shelby is a first-time mother, she does not have experience rearing young. The Aquarium’s marine mammal experts will be watching Shelby’s parenting skills to ensure the pup is receiving the proper nutrition while Shelby and her pup begin to bond. The staff is cautiously optimistic, as seal pups are at the highest risk during the first few weeks of life,” said Dudley Wigdahl, the Aquarium’s curator of marine mammals.

The female otter pup was found separated from her mother in Northern California and arrived at the Aquarium in March. Aquarium staff members have been working around the clock to care for and feed the pup. She will remain behind the scenes until she is large enough to join the Aquarium’s other otters on public exhibit.

White’s support was instrumental in the Aquarium’s 2011 year-end fundraising campaign. With her support, the Aquarium raised more money at year-end than it had in the previous five years. The Aquarium was also fortunate to attract a challenge grant contributor. Due to both White’s kindness and the generosity of the anonymous donor, the Aquarium was able to double each dollar raised.

The Aquarium of the Pacific may have been closed while celebrity racers were speeding past the dolphin fountain outside, but there was a lot going on inside as the facility did its annual spring cleaning.

Luke Richmond is one of the Aquarium’s education associates. He also narrates the Aquarium’s whale watch and urban ocean cruises, something he’s been doing for about two years. I spoke with him to learn more about his background and the urban ocean.

On April 19 the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a press event at the Aquarium of the Pacific in which representatives of the federal agency presented the President’s Environmental Youth Award to six students from Oak Park High School, which is located about fifteen miles inland from Malibu, California. The students were commended for their efforts to raise awareness about ship strikes on migrating whales in the Santa Barbara Channel. The award winners included eleventh graders Rebecca Gordon, Kathleen McKeegan, and Kayla Thadwick, and twelfth graders Sam Hirsch, Justin Orens, and Jacob Wyner.

The Oak Park students began work on this project in 2009. Ship strikes occur when large container ships hit migrating whales, often seriously injuring and sometimes killing them. To educate the public and policymakers about this issue, the students developed a lesson plan for middle and high school students about whale migration in the Santa Barbara Channel, ship strikes, and other threats to whales. They researched petitions to move shipping lanes and reduce ship speed and planned a Week of Whale series of events in their school district. They also organized a community whale watching trip and authored a whale activity book that they used while visiting elementary school students in their school district. In the end, all of the district’s 4,200 students were involved in the project.

“The urban ocean off Southern California is home to one of the largest and most diverse assemblages of whales on Earth. On behalf of the Aquarium of the Pacific, we commend the Environmental Protection Agency for highlighting whales and working with the next generation to further ocean stewardship. We would like to thank Administrator Jackson and her office for all of their work in protecting our urban ocean and whales in our waters for generations to come,” said David Bader, director of education, Aquarium of the Pacific.

Through the Aquarium’s blue whale conservation research program, Aquarium staff members collect data for use in whale studies, recording sightings of blue whales off the coast of Long Beach and surrounding cities. The results of these studies may contribute to decisions made about shipping lanes in the local area.

We’ve been hearing over the last month that a blue whale would pop up in one area for a day or so, and then a couple of days later they’re somewhere else. At one point there were even five recorded feeding on some krill. Now it’s our turn! We had our first blue whale sightings just this last week! And to top it off, orcas AGAIN!

Hundreds of students from area schools visited the Aquarium of the Pacific on April 13 thanks to a donation from SAVOR…Long Beach. The corporation donated to the Aquarium’s scholarship program for the tenth consecutive year, allowing children to visit during the Grand Prix of Long Beach, when the Aquarium is closed to the general public. Another school visit funded through the scholarship program will take place in June.

Nearly 400 students from five Los Angeles schools have the opportunity to visit the Aquarium to partake in ocean educational programs under the scholarship. The students explored the Aquarium with the entire facility all to themselves. Since 2003 more than 12,000 students have taken part in the SAVOR…Long Beach/Grand Prix scholarship program with more than $135,000 awarded in scholarship funds.

In 2011 the Aquarium officially dedicated its outdoor classroom in recognition of SAVOR…Long Beach’s continued commitment to sustainability and education. The SAVOR Watershed Classroom serves thousands of students each year. SAVOR…Long Beach, the food and beverage division of special event venue management company SMG, currently provides food and beverage services as well as catering and special event services to more than 100 facilities around the world, including the Aquarium of the Pacific.

Not yet named but temporarily known by her case number, Otter 581 arrived at the Aquarium of the Pacific a few weeks ago. In this week’s blog I’d like to share a few images of her during her first full day at the Aquarium of the Pacific.