Monterey Bay Aquarium newsletter/release

Sea Notes
July 2006

1. EXHIBIT NEWS: NEW RED OCTOPUS, PUFFADDER SHYSHARK EGG CASE,
SURFPERCH BABIES

Look for a new red octopus in the Kelp Lab. The barnacles and rock
scallops that were temporarily residing in the octopus tank have
been moved to the nearby nudibranch tank.

Check out the puffadder shyshark egg case on exhibit next to the
touch pool in “Sharks: Myth and Mystery.” It was laid in the
African cat shark exhibit. We’re not exactly sure when, and the
gestation period for this species is unknown. Puffadder shysharks
are related to swell sharks.

A pregnant shiner surfperch in the slough pipefish exhibit has
given birth. The babies are born tail first and are miniature
versions of the adults –- 3 to 6 cm in size. A female shiner
surfperch can have up to 36 babies at a time.

Visit What’s New on our web site to learn about other new arrivals
in our exhibits. http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/news/


2. ON THE WEB: “AQUARIUM OF THE AIR” PODCASTS

You can hear about hot topics in ocean science through our new
"Aquarium of the Air" audio stories, starting with “Going to
extremes in a deep sea submarine.” Listen online, download or
subscribe—we'll add new stories twice a month. This is a new
feature for us, part of "Oceans 2006: A Year of Exploring."
We’d love to hear what you think of it and to get your ideas
for future podcasts! http://www.mbayaq.org/news/audio_stories.asp


3. AQUARIUM NEWS: TAKE ACTION EXHIBIT

We’ve opened a new exhibit to build support for creating a network
of marine protected areas off California’s central coast. Check
out our Take Action exhibit next time you visit; it’s in the
Ocean Travelers gallery, just past the Outer Bay exhibit. If
you won’t be visiting soon, but want to encourage California
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to support the strongest possible
protection for sea otters and other marine life in California’s
coastal waters, you can join our Ocean Action Team online
right now: http://www.mbayaq.org/oa/.


4. PROMOTIONS & EVENTS: LAST CHANCE TO SEE “SHARKS,” MBARI
OPEN HOUSE

Last Chance to See “Sharks”
Daily through September 4
This summer is your last chance to see the award-winning
“Sharks: Myth and Mystery” special exhibition, which closes
September 4. The first exhibition ever to put such a variety of
live sharks and rays under one roof, it explores how people
around the world celebrate these mysterious animals through art,
dance, stories and other traditions. The hands-on activities are
a hit with families – from the shark and ray pup touch pool to the
craft room.


MBARI Open House
July 15, Saturday
Don’t miss this annual event, where you can meet deep sea scientists
and biologists and check out all the cool projects under way at the
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). Kids can build
their own mini-remotely operated vehicles, and there will be many
other hands-on learning activities. In addition, all three MBARI
research ships will be at the dock, and the remotely operated
vehicles Tiburon and Ventana and autonomous underwater vehicle
Dorado will be on display. There will be tours of the R/V Western
Flyer, the largest of the research ships, and talks and videos in
the MBARI research building.
You can find details at http://www.mbari.org/about/openhouse.html

Visit Special Promotions and Events for more information.
http://www.mbayaq.org/vi/vi_aquarium/vi_aq_promotions.asp

Check our Event calendar for details and more events.
http://www.mbayaq.org/vi/vi_aquarium/vi_aq_calendar.asp


5. CONSERVATION IN ACTION: TALE OF A SHARK TAG, OCEAN VOYAGER

Five-year-old Calvin Wisner found more than anemones as he
explored the Sonoma Coast tide pools of Sea Ranch with his family
last winter. The young explorer spotted an odd dark object,
man-made and about the size of a handheld microphone

"I thought it was a part of a motor boat," Calvin recalled. It
turned out to be something much more important: a data tag that
had been placed on an adult white shark off the Farallon Islands
near San Francisco on November 30, 2004. The tag had recorded
six months of information about the shark’s migrations before
its battery failed in June, 2005, near Hawaii. While researchers
agreed that the shark carried the tag back to California, the
jury is out as to how it detached and lodged in the tide pool
where Calvin spotted it the day after Christmas. Research
scientists with the Tagging of Pacific Pelagics project were
delighted to get it back--and to reward Calvin with $500 for
his keen eyes and curiosity.

Calvin's discovery adds to the growing picture white shark researchers
are piecing together of how these top predators use the Eastern
Pacific. This is the third record of a white shark traveling from
the Farallons to waters offshore of the Hawaiian Islands.
In fact, TOPP scientists are beginning to that suspect Hawaii
is a regular way station for white sharks (though what they do
there remains a mystery). To learn more, visit
http://www.toppcensus.org/web/FeatureDetails.aspx?id=75&WG=10

You can also learn about an array of threats facing the oceans,
and simple steps to make a difference, at Ocean Voyager, a new
online information series created by Mother Jones magazine. Our
Seafood Watch program is highlighted as one of the simple actions
that will make a difference for healthy oceans.
To learn more, visit http://www.oceanvoyager.org/.


6. FREE OFFERS: SHARK POSTER, BLACK SEA TURTLE WALLPAPER

This month’s Sea Notes specials include a free shark poster and
black sea turtle wallpaper that you can download.
http://www.mbayaq.org/vi/vi_seanotes/vi_seanotes_specials.asp


*******
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a non-profit institution. Our
mission is to inspire conservation of the oceans. You can support
our many education programs and marine research projects by:

- Becoming a member or making an online donation.
http://www.mbayaq.org/md/

- Sending a conservation-oriented electronic postcard to friends.
http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/efc_se/se_vwl_help.asp

We welcome your thoughts and comments.
(equarist@mbayaq.org)

Monterey Bay Aquarium, 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940

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