New Projects and Exhibits Abstracts
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A History of Monterey Bay Aquarium Jon Hoech, Monterey Bay Aquarium Watch Video (Login required) . Full Abstract
The Monterey Bay Aquarium, open to the public in 1984, is built along the Monterey Bay in California. It is located on historic Cannery Row, once home to a booming sardine industry, and rests on the site of the former Hovden Sardine Cannery. Initially serving to inspire conservation of the local and near- shore marine communities of the central California coast, our mission has expanded to inspire conservation of our world’s oceans. Over the years the exhibitions at the Monterey Bay Aquarium have continued to evolve and change, and the current status of the facility reflects years of growing effort to support state-of-the-art live exhibitions, research, conservation and advocacy program. |
Mini Aquariums Coast to Coast: Catch-and-Release Public Aquarium Model Melanie Knight & Ruby Banwait, Petty Harbour Mini Aquarium Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Public aquariums often seek cost-effective and sustainable methods of obtaining and maintaining invertebrate populations to support the industry’s mission of conservation. In addition, recent limitations of available healthy wild stocks make acquiring and maintaining echinoderm collections challenging. For over 30 years, many species of echinoderms have been successfully and efficiently reared in research labs using culture methods that can easily be adapted by public aquariums to create a sustainable and cost-effective in-house stock. The methods to produce and rear echinoderms from gamete to adult will be reviewed and applications for public aquariums will be described. |
Exploring Explorer’s Reef:
Or, how to design, create, and implement an interactive experience for up to 60,000 guest visits a day! Mike Price, SeaWorld San Diego Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
At SeaWorld San Diego connecting guests to the wonders of the marine environment is fundamental to the purpose of the park. We believe a direct connection inspires people to take an active part in protecting ocean health and conserving marine habitats. In support of this goal, in March of 2014, SeaWorld San Diego opened Explorer’s Reef, a massive, 3-acre transformation of the marine park’s arrival experience into a “world beneath the waves”. Explorer’s Reef features touch pools that allow guest interaction with bamboo sharks, cleaner fish, rays, and various reef fishes within minutes of their arrival. The four pools are divided by species, with two bamboo shark pools, a cleaner fish pool, and a ray pool. A state-of-the-art life support system provides an environment that maximizes the health and wellbeing of the animals and serves the uniqueness of interactive pools. The biggest challenge was determining how to deliver an interactive attraction that could handle more than 60,000 visits on peak days. Success came using a combination of interactive guidelines, cross-departmental team development and an openness to flexible adjustments as needed. Visitor response to Explorer’s Reef was an overwhelmingly positive. Guest Satisfaction scores set some of the highest recorded in the park’s history. Ancillary benefits of the attraction were increased visitor time at adjacent merchandise opportunities and increased length of stay in the park. Explorer’s Reef is unique opportunity to inspire millions to connect and care for the natural world while achieving both animal care and business goals. |
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Cold, Deep and Dark:
Designing, Constructing and Stocking a Native California Reef Exhibit Margarita Upton and Nick Yim, Steinhart Aquarium, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
In 2012, the Steinhart Aquarium determined that it wanted to add more medium sized exhibits—between 2000 and 10,000 gallons—to its collection. In 2013, the opportunity arose to renovate an existing space which resulted in the replacement of several small temperate exhibits with a single 2500 gallon temperate display. The theme selected was a living California coast deep rocky reef, inspired by the reefs typically found at 120-200 feet in the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary; an underwater plateau located approximately 50 miles northwest of San Francisco. The waters off the California coast are known for their rich productivity, which yields an incredible density of invertebrate and fish life that we intended to replicate. The goal in designing the display and associated systems was to be able to sustain a living, temperate, non-photosynthetic reef tank in a closed system. One of the biggest challenges in planning this exhibit was to design a life support system that would allow us to mimic the high productivity, thereby allowing us to be able to feed a dense population of non-photosynthetic invertebrates and fish, while also maintaining adequate water quality. The other main challenge we faced was how we would safely collect animals and re-create the proposed habitat, without compromising the safety of the animals or divers. This presentation will outline the process from exhibit design through collection and LSS construction to the final product. Opened in June 2014, as it continues to grow and develop over the coming years, we hope this exhibit will help our guests realize and appreciate that there are beautiful living coral reefs just offshore of California. |