What's New

MBARI Open House

The Monterey Bay Research Institute’s annual open house will feature science and technology exhibits, deep-sea videos, research presentations, robotic submarines, children's activities, ocean career information, and much more. MBARI staff, scientists, and engineers will share their excitement about the institute's work. MBARI is located in Moss Landing.

Six Words: Why You Love the Oceans Contest

Tell us why you love the oceans in six words and you could win an Aquarium prize package including six things to love about Monterey.

Evenings by the Bay

This summer join us for an Evening by the Bay. The Aquarium will stay open until 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays from July 3 through September 5. In addition to all your favorite exhibits, enjoy live music from Monterey Jazz Festival musicians.

Aquarium to Sponsor Blue Ocean Film Festival

The Blue Ocean Film Festival & Conservation Summit will take place in the Monterey area this summer. The event includes more than 60 award-winning ocean films, as well as art exhibits and speakers. As Presenting Sponsor, we're pleased to offer Aquarium members a 20% discount on all Festival packages and tickets.

Turtle Tales

The Aquarium recently acquired 10 juvenile green sea turtles, five of which are now happily settled in our special exhibition, Hot Pink Flamingos: Stories of Hope in a Changing Sea. The turtles were part of a “clutch” of 82 born at SeaWorld San Diego in October 2009.

A Tale of Twenty-Thousand Sardines

Sharks, tunas and sturgeon may be some of the Aquarium’s favorite fishes, but for many, the humble sardine holds a special fascination.
Ever wonder where our 20,000 sardines all come from?

A Look Inside Our Jellyfish “Laboratory”

What does it take to grow the stunning spotted jellyfish in our Hot Pink Flamingos special exhibition? About four months of constant care and vigilance, that’s what. Behind the scenes, Aquarist Tommy Knowles works painstakingly to grow the jellies you see on display.

Whither the White Shark?

Last November we released a great white shark that had been with us for more than two months. That shark, and more than 180 others that have been tagged in the Aquarium’s White Shark Program, have provided invaluable information on where white sharks are traveling and how we might better protect them.

Sustainable Seafood Recipe from Lynne Rossetto Kasper

Each month we bring you a delicious (and sustainable) seafood recipe created by one of the country's best chefs. This month's recipe for Sicilian Sweet-and-Sour Seared Tuna is from Lynne Rossetto Kasper, award-winning cookbook author and host of the popular program, The Splendid Table ^®), which can be heard on more than 200 public radio stations nationwide.

Updated Seafood Watch Pocket Guides Now Available

Now more than ever, when it comes to seafood, your choices make a difference. To help, we update our Seafood Watch recommendations every six months. For July 2010 our changes include new recommendations for two of the most popular seafood items consumed in the U.S.—canned tuna and wild Pacific salmon.

The Unfolding Oil Spill Disaster

The news from the Gulf of Mexico remains grim. What does it all mean for the health of our oceans? We've got information and links about this unfolding catastrophe, and news from the Aquarium's Executive Director, Julie Packard.

Stop Shark Finning!

Millions of sharks die each year so that their fins can be used in shark fin soup. Support the Shark Conservation Act of 2009 and send a letter to your Senators today!

Read the Latest on HuffingtonPost.com

Executive Director Julie Packard writes monthly about ocean conservation for HuffingtonPost.com, on topics from sustainable seafood to climate change.

Anthology of Deep-Sea Squids

Swordtail, piglet and octopus squids are just a few of the other-worldly animals featured in this deep-sea footage from the Monterey Bay Research Institute's remotely operated vehicles.

Seafood Watch Honored by TreeHugger.com

The Aquarium's Seafood Watch program earned Treehugger.com's "Best of Green: Science and Technology" award for our iPhone app. "Quickly searchable information at your fingertips that helps save species...what's not to like about that?" says Treehugger. Thanks to everyone who voted!

Fodor's Names Aquarium "Best of the West for Families"

Travel authority Fodor's has included the Aquarium in its list of "Best of the West for Families: 15 Fun Things to Do with Kids." "Take day trip from San Francisco to visit this magnificent aquarium," says the article. "The beauty of the exhibits here is that they are all designed to give a sense of what it's like to be in the water with the animals."

Meet Julie Packard

“The oceans are changing, and there’s no time to lose in reversing the trends we've set in motion in recent decades,” says Julie Packard, executive director of the Aquarium. Visit our new page to find out more about Julie and how she’s helping fulfill our mission of inspiring conservation of the oceans.