History Concept The concept of the Alaska SeaLife Center began over 25 years ago, with the initial vision by Seward community leaders to enhance the existing University of Alaska's Seward Marine Center research facilities. Members of both the local and scientific communities identified a need and expressed their support for an expanded research and public education facility in Seward. The concept remained a dream for years with periodic efforts to lobby the University and the Alaska Legislature for funding. Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS) On March 24, 1989, the supertanker Exxon Valdez spilled 11 million gallons of oil into Prince William Sound, damaging nearly 1,500 miles of Alaska's pristine shoreline and causing widespread harm to the region's wildlife, economy, and ecosystems. Thousands of marine birds, mammals, and fish were destroyed in the days and weeks following the spill. The Exxon Valdez disaster drew dramatic attention to the need for improved facilities to treat injured wildlife, as well as to enhance Alaska's collective research infrastructure. In particular, the disaster brought to light the lack of reliable baseline information on the affected animals and their habitat before the spill. This greatly hindered the capability of scientists to understand the extent of damages and the recovery process. In light of the potential long-term effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, scientists identified a need to establish the capability to conduct research and monitoring on a long-term basis. Formation of SAAMS In February 1990, responding to the needs brought to light by EVOS, a group of concerned citizens and researchers formed the Seward Association for the Advancement of Marine Science (SAAMS), a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation for "educational, social, and cultural purposes including marine research, public education, and providing education and scientific programs." The goal of SAAMS is to create a world-class marine research, wildlife rehabilitation, and public education institution adjacent to the existing University of Alaska Seward Marine Center on Resurrection Bay in Seward, Alaska. That goal advanced by the completion of the Alaska SeaLife Center in 1998. Capital Funding In 1993, the Alaska Legislature appropriated $12.5 million from the EVOS criminal settlement funds as a state grant to the City of Seward to develop the Alaska SeaLife Center as a "marine mammal rehabilitation center and as a center for education and research related to the natural resources injured by EVOS." The City of Seward entered into an agreement under which SAAMS agreed to assume all obligations and responsibilities of the City with respect to administering the State Grant. Following receipt of the first installment of the State Grant funds, SAAMS requested additional funding from the EVOS Trustee Council, the governing body for the EVOS Civil Settlement funds. In November 1994, the Trustee Council authorized $24.956 million to support the development of research facilities at the Center. The Trustee Council subsequently appropriated an additional $1.247 million for a fish pass and research equipment enhancements at the Center. In May 1996, the City of Seward issued $1.75 million in Revenue Bonds to finance $13 million of the cost of constructing the Alaska SeaLife Center. These bonds were retired in March 2001, utilizing a $14 million appropriation to the Center authorized by U.S. Senator Ted Stevens. Finally, a private fundraising campaign raised approximately $6 million for the start-up of the Center. Over $1 million of the campaign was raised within Seward, a town with 3,000 residents. Construction Ground breaking for the Center took place in May 1995. This was followed by Phase I construction which consisted of site preparations, utility relocations, sheet pile cofferdam and breakwater installation, and construction of the seawater intake and outfall reservoirs and lines. The Phase I contract was completed on time in December 1995. Phase II construction commenced in June 1996, and consisted of the main building, life support systems, laboratories, animal habitats, exhibits, and landscaping. Grand Opening occurred on May 2, 1998. Business Model With a mission of bringing visitors in close contact with cutting-edge marine research, the Center’s design includes a public aquarium with exhibit tanks for displaying research animals as well as other North Pacific mammals, birds, fish, and invertebrates. The facility also features a full veterinary suite with quarantine pools for orphaned, diseased, or injured wild animals brought to the Center for rehabilitation, and for resident animals that need medical treatment. Looking to the Future The Alaska SeaLife Center will continue its focus on marine research. As our world, and more specifically the North Pacific, faces dramatic changes caused by environmental factors and human components, the Alaska SeaLife Center will continue to be instrumental in understanding and developing ways to maintain marine ecosystems.

Seward, AK – September 16, 2014– The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) is proud to announce the release of a female Pacific harbor seal pup on Friday, September 19, 2014 at 3:30 p.m.  We cordially invite the public and media to observe this exciting and memorable event. What: Harbor Seal Release When: Friday, September 19, 2014 at 3:30 p.m. Where: Public Access Boat Launch at Lowell Point Beach in Seward, AK  If Lowell Point road is not accessible, please monitor our Facebook page for alternate location. ASLC’s Wildlife Response Team rescued the pup, named “Gobi,” on July 3 after it was observed on the beach in front of Resurrection Bay Seafoods on Lowell Point Road in Seward.  Staff observed the area for 24 hours to determine if the mother would return.  At the time, the seal pup was a newborn and would not have survived on its own without Response Team aid.  After authorization for the rescue from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Gobi was brought into the Center where she received immediate veterinary care and treatment for wounds on her head and chin.  Throughout the summer, Gobi learned to swim, hunt for fish, and socialize with other seals. After a final veterinary exam, the female pup met weight criteria and staff determined she was ready for release. As President & CEO, Dr. Tara Riemer explains, “Our staff are feeling exceptionally rewarded to have rescued and rehabilitated a marine mammal found down the road from our facility, and to have our community be able to witness the release is very special.” The Alaska SeaLife Center is the only permanent marine rehabilitation center in Alaska, responding to wildlife such as seals, walrus, and sea otters. The Center’s Wildlife Response Program responds to harbor seals with the authorization of NOAA. Once a seal is admitted to the Center, it is closely monitored by the veterinary and animal care staff at ASLC. Dr. Riemer describes the program funding, “We have no federal or state funding to care for marine mammals, and we rely on donations to keep this program going. We especially thank Shell Exploration and Production, ConocoPhillips Alaska, and BP Alaska for their generous contributions to the Center in support of wildlife rescue and oil spill response readiness.” The Alaska SeaLife Center is a private non-profit research institution and visitor attraction, which generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems.  The Alaska SeaLife Center is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. For additional information, visit www.alaskasealife.org. The Alaska SeaLife Center operates a 24-hour hotline for the public to report stranded marine mammals or birds,and encourages people whohave found a stranded or sick marine animal to avoid touching or approaching the animal.  Call first!  1-888-774-SEAL

Seward, Alaska (December 11, 2014) - The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) is excited to announce it is currently home to a male bearded seal.  Siku, named after the Inuit word for “sea ice,” is the first of his kind to reside at the Alaska SeaLife Center – in fact the first bearded seal to reside in a North American facility. Visitors to the Center can observe Siku during daylight hours from the viewing windows next to the Discovery Touch Pool now until the end of January 2015. Siku will then be transferred to the University of California, Santa Cruz, Long Marine Laboratory to participate in a long-term study on the hearing sensitivity of arctic seals.                                     Researchers at Long Marine Lab are examining the cognitive and sensory systems of marine mammals above and below the water’s surface. Siku will join a project studying the hearing perception of three arctic seal species: spotted, ringed, and bearded seals.  Photo courtesy of Taylor Paul Little data exists about the auditory systems of these three species. In particular, there is currently no information on the hearing capabilities of bearded seals. The psychoacoustic study of these species will provide researchers basic information about their auditory system and how common industry noise from oil and gas exploration may affect their hearing.  “We are working cooperatively with spotted, ringed, and bearded seals to learn more about how these unique animals perceive the world around them,” UC Santa Cruz Associate Research Scientist Dr. Colleen Reichmuth said. “This project will teach us about the sensory biology of ice-living seals, and will inform best management practices for these species in areas increasingly influenced by human activity.”Approval for the project was granted by the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Ice Seal Commission, which work together to co-manage Alaskan ice seal populations. “We are honored to partner with UC Santa Cruz in this important research project, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with this particular species,” Alaska SeaLife Center President and CEO Dr. Tara Riemer said. “No facility in North America has ever been home to a bearded seal, and we are excited that Alaskans have this opportunity to see such a special animal.” About the ASLC Opened in 1998, the Alaska SeaLife Center operates as a private, non-profit research institution and public aquarium, with wildlife response and education programs. It generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems. The ASLC is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. To learn more, visit www.alaskasealife.org. About the UC Santa Cruz Long Marine Lab Long Marine Laboratory is world renowned for innovative research in marine mammal physiology and ecology, marine invertebrate ecology, and marine toxicology. Researchers and staff at the lab have developed specially designed tanks and equipment that are used for studying marine mammal diving physiology, bioacoustics, and cognition. Long Marine Lab and other facilities are located at the UC Santa Cruz Coastal Science Campus on a seaside bluff a short distance from the main campus. For more information about UC Santa Cruz, visit www.ucsc.edu.  

Seward, AK – September 1, 2015 – This summer, two ice seals from the Bering Sea received much-needed medical care from the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response team. As the only permanent marine rehabilitation center in Alaska, the Center’s Wildlife Response team has spent 17 years building a recognized expertise on caring for seals that have been found distressed. Every summer, the ASLC’s Wildlife Response program rehabilitates 6-12 harbor seals and may see ice seals every other year. This summer, two ice seals were admitted within one month of each other.   The Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response team admitted a two week-old spotted seal pup from Nome on June 19, 2015. The male pup weighed 8.6 kg (19 pounds) on arrival and was initially fed a formula that contains all of the nutrients and calories needed to help seal pups grow. The pup has now graduated to a diet of herring, capelin, and pollock. His most recent weight was 15.6 kg (34 pounds).     On July 16, a male ringed seal from the Stebbins area was also admitted. Veterinary staff believe the ringed seal is about one year-old and was experiencing a challenging molt when it was spotted by a concerned local hunter. The seal was brought in with wounds and signs of dehydration. His weight when admitted was 11.8 kg (26 pounds), and he was tube-fed fluids until he was rehydrated. Since he is a yearling, he has been on a diet of herring, capelin, pollock, and clams since arrival.      Both ice seals are currently in good condition. NOAA has determined that ice seals rehabilitated outside of their usual range are not releasable; therefore, the ringed seal and spotted seal admitted this summer will be cared for at ASLC until a long-term placement facility is identified. This week, visitors to the Alaska SeaLife Center may spy a spotted seal swimming with one of the harbor seals in an outdoor holding pool, which can be viewed from the overlook near the Discovery Touch Pool.    Ringed and spotted seals are classified as “ice seals” because they spend the majority of their lives on or near sea ice. The other two ice seal species in Alaska are the bearded seal and ribbon seal. For these species, Bering and Arctic sea ice provides habitat for birthing and rearing pups. Ice seals are difficult to study because they tend not to live in congregated packs and they are difficult to access in their natural habitat. They are so adept at living with sea ice that they can create camouflaging snow dens and difficult-to-find breathing holes that typically protect them from predators above the ice.    Ice seals rescued by the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response program provide important information to researchers about these elusive species. Sea ice habitats are diminishing in the Arctic due to climate change, making ongoing research about ice seals a high priority. Over the past year, the ASLC response team has also designed Mobile Treatment and Rehabilitation Enclosures (MTRE) that will be staged along the Arctic coast, so that their expertise in rehabilitating ice seals can be immediately engaged should there be a catastrophic event.    The Alaska SeaLife Center is a private non-profit research institution and visitor attraction, which generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems.  The Alaska SeaLife Center is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. For additional information, visit www.alaskasealife.org.   The Alaska SeaLife Center operates a 24-hour hotline for the public to report stranded marine mammals or birds, and encourages people who have found a stranded or sick marine animal to avoid touching or approaching the animal.  Call first!  1-888-774-SEAL  

Seward, Alaska (June 2, 2016) – Healthy oceans are vital for marine wildlife, and Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) will join people around the world on Wednesday, June 8—World Oceans Day—to bring renewed focus to that message and the day’s theme: Healthy oceans, healthy planet. To celebrate this event, ASLC will open its new underwater viewing exhibit, Nose 2 Nose: imagination and science will take you everywhere, provide fun activities for the whole family, and offer membership specials on June 8 and every Saturday in June. World Oceans Day activities for all ages will be available on June 8 from 9:00am to 5:00pm and include an opportunity to shake wings with Tuffy the Puffin (11:00am, 1:00pm, & 3:00pm), embark on the Ocean Quest game to actively explore exhibits, culminating in a tasty reward, and post a World Oceans Day pledge selfie to the ASLC Facebook page. Alaska author Barbara Brovelli-Moon will also join ASLC to celebrate the day and will be in the gift shop from 10:00am to 2:00pm to sign her fun, educational activity books, “Marine Mammals of Alaska for Children” and “Land Mammals of Alaska: A Field Guide for Children.” Additionally, a number of fun, multi-sensory activities will be available throughout the new Nose 2 Nose marine life exhibit on a daily basis, during regular ASLC hours. Nose 2 Nose enhances the underwater viewing area with a new Octopus Grotto where visitors can walk (or crawl) inside, see amazing fish models handcrafted by Alaska taxidermist Tom Kaiser, and learn more about resident octopuses and other marine dwellers. The exhibit also offers an array of interpretive installations and fun activities for the entire family. In addition to seeing eye-to-eye with octopuses, sea lions, seals, and a number of fish and bird species, Nose 2 Nose visitors will be invited to: •    Accept the Sea Ice Challenge, and hop from floe to floe •    Create an underwater symphony •    Make like a seal and try the Seal Hop, a Native Youth Olympics sport •    Become a marine real estate agent Crawl through the octopus cave, meet a pinniped friend, and discover sea stars, sea lions, fish, diving birds, and more in Alaska SeaLife Center’s new Nose 2 Nose exhibit. .. Visitors will also not want to miss the wild sea lion cam. Pupping season has begun on Chiswell Island and visitors will want to check the Nose 2 Nose gallery monitor for any new pups that may be ready for their close up! The new exhibit Coastal Impressions: A Photographic Journey Along Alaska’s Gulf Coast will be open for visitors to explore, as well. On loan from the Nature Conservancy, this beautiful photography display is part of the Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council’s (CIRCAC) ShoreZone mapping project, and features select stunning large format images taken during the inventory of Alaska’s coastal biological and geological habitats. Sponsored by CIRCAC and developed in partnership with Auke Bay Laboratories of the National Marine Fisheries Service’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center and the Alaska ShoreZone Program, this exhibit not only provides vital biological and geographical information on Alaska, but also allows visitors a window to areas of the state that few are fortunate enough to see. In addition to exploring exhibits and activities, visitors will want to be sure to set their watches for the marine animal feedings scheduled on June 8! •    Sea lion feeding (second floor, sea lion habitat)         9:00am & 2:30pm •    Seal feeding (second floor, seal habitat)                     9:45am & 4:30pm •    Bird broadcast feeding (second/first floors, aviary)    11:45am, 3:00pm, & 4:00pm There is still more on the docket! Fascinating and informative presentations by ASLC staff will continue to be available daily in the galleries throughout June and July, including: •    Bird keeper presentation (second floor, aviary)                                               10:00am •    Pinniped presentation (first floor, Arctic Theater)                                            12:00pm •    ASLC Wildlife Response Program presentation (first floor, Arctic Theater)    3:30pm Additionally, Sea Otter Encounter, Puffin Encounter, Marine Mammal Encounter, and Octopus Encounter tours, as well as Behind the Scenes tours, continue to be available daily throughout the summer. Reservations are recommended for all encounters and tours (1-888-378-2525) and age restrictions apply. Alaska SeaLife Center hours through September 4, 2016, are: Friday – Saturday – Sunday                                8:00am – 9:00pm Monday – Tuesday – Wednesday – Thursday     9:00am – 9:00pm About the ASLC Opened in 1998, the Alaska SeaLife Center operates as a private, non-profit research institution and public aquarium. It generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems. The ASLC is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. To learn more, visit www.alaskasealife.org.   High resolution photos and more information available from media@alaskasealife.org, 907-224-6334.  

Seward, Alaska (October 31, 2016)– The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) is pleased to announce it has received a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to work with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to create and sustain a nationwide network of animal care professionals to respond to oil spills and other disasters. “We are honored to lead this unprecedented effort to create a vital national resource for wildlife response in the event of oil spills and other disasters,” said Tara Riemer, ASLC President and CEO. “By sharing the expertise and knowledge of the Alaska SeaLife Center with animal care professionals at AZA accredited zoos and aquariums, we will significantly enhance disaster preparedness across the United States. We are very grateful to the Institute of Museum and Library Services for recognizing this need and supporting this ground-breaking effort.” The Alaska SeaLife Center has nearly twenty years of experience in wildlife response. Under the three-year $455,119 grant, ASLC will work with the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center (WHC) of the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, to develop and deliver training courses, a mutual aid framework, and searchable database to facilitate rapid identification and deployment of appropriately trained specialists from the AZA community. “Disasters do happen, and we have a responsibility to prepare as thoroughly as possible to support wildlife and the animals in our care,” said ASLC Operations Director Chip Arnold, the project director. “We look forward to collaborating with our AZA colleagues to ensure the nation’s most highly trained veterinary and wildlife care staff are prepared to respond to disasters where and when the need is greatest.” Obstacles faced by animal care professionals in previous disasters will also be addressed, including provision of federally required Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, or HAZWOPER, certification, and training on the nationally recognized Incident Command System that manages responses to oil spills and other disasters. Updates and refresher certification programs for those previously trained will also be provided, and a train-the-trainer program will be implemented to broaden the network’s reach and support its sustainability. In addition to supporting wildlife response, the trainings will support preservation of animal collections at zoos and aquariums in the event of natural disasters. “Disaster preparedness is a priority for zoo and aquarium collections and wildlife,” said Steve Olson, Federal Relations, Association of Zoos and Aquariums. “Bringing the cutting edge expertise of the Alaska SeaLife Center to the AZA community is vitally important to our mission and the public.”   About ASLC: Opened in 1998, the Alaska SeaLife Center operates as a 501(c)(3), non-profit research institution and public aquarium. It generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems. The ASLC is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. To learn more, visit www.alaskasealife.org.   About WHC: The mission of the WHC is to advance the health of wildlife in balance with people and the environment. Through our projects and programs, we focus on critical issues involving free-ranging and captive terrestrial and aquatic wild animals. As key components of the One Health Institute and the School of Veterinary Medicine, we provide broad-based service, training and research activities as they relate to wildlife health and conservation. To learn more, visit http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/whc/. About IMLS: The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov. About AZA: The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. AZA represents more than 230 institutions in the United States and overseas, which collectively draw more than 183 million visitors every year. These institutions meet the highest standards in animal care and provide a fun, safe, and educational family experience. In addition, they dedicate millions of dollars to support scientific research, conservation, and education programs. To learn more visit www.aza.org. 

Seward, Alaska (October 7, 2019)– The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) is pleased to welcome six new members to its Board of Directors. The new board members will serve three year terms. Kate Consenstein is the principal and owner of Rising Tide Communications in Anchorage, Alaska. She specializes in public relations, campaign development, strategic communications, branding, integrated messaging, content creation, social media, and freelance writing.  Kate is a graduate from the University of Alaska Anchorage and spends her free time cooking, fishing, and traveling. Joshua Kindred is the Regional Solicitor for the Alaska Region for the U.S. Department of the Interior. Prior to that, Joshua was the Assistant District Attorney for the State of Alaska and Environmental Counsel for the Alaska Oil and Gas Association. He is a graduate of the University of Alaska Anchorage and the Willamette University College of Law. Joshua lives in Anchorage with his wife Talitha and two children. Scott Meszaros is the City Manager for the City of Seward, Alaska. He is a career public management sector employee with 26 years of service. He has extensive experience with land use and rapidly growing communities. Scott is a Certified Public Manager from the International City Managers Association and a Certified Municipal Clerk from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks. He is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys bowhunting, camping, backpacking, and fishing. He and his wife Stacey of 24 years have three grown children. Roslyn Mitchell is a Senior Account Manager for Matson, Alaska. She brings over 20 years of experience in the field of Transportation and Logistics. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management from Alaska Pacific University. In her free time, Roslyn enjoys boating on Prince William Sound, kayaking, and hiking with her husband Mark. Brian Pinkston is the founder and President of Bright Road Wealth Management in Anchorage, Alaska. He has worked in the financial industry for over 22 years. He is a Certified Financial Planner, a Chartered Financial Analyst, and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas A&M University and a Master of Business Administration from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University. He enjoys traveling and outdoor activities such as competition swimming, SCUBA diving, hiking, and camping. Darryl Schaefermeyer returns to the Board of Directors after a 23 year hiatus during which he served as General Manager and Operations Director for the Alaska SeaLife Center.  Darryl previously worked as a staff assistant to the late United States Senator Ted Stevens and was also the City Manager for the City of Seward. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Brigham Young University. Darryl lives in Seward with his wife Karla and many of their children and grandchildren. “Kate, Joshua, Scott, Roslyn, Brian, and Darryl add to the considerable depth of experience, skill, and community engagement of the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Board of Directors. We are fortunate they are joining the team and bringing with them fresh insights, ideas, and enthusiasm for our mission of sustaining Alaska’s marine ecosystems,” said Alaska SeaLife Center Board Chair Wendy Lindskoog. About ASLC: Opened in 1998, the Alaska SeaLife Center operates as a 501(c)(3), non-profit research institution and public aquarium. It generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems. The ASLC is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. To learn more, visit www.alaskasealife.org.      See full press release here. 

Seward, Alaska (July 13, 2020) - The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) announces an urgent public information and fundraising campaign to raise $2 million in funding by September 30. Uniquely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, ASLC will not be able to maintain operations of the Center through the winter due to a lack of summer visitor revenues. ASLC is preparing to do everything possible to change course, including marshaling a combination of public support and funding opportunities. Due to being closed for two months, the lack of summer visitors, and travel restrictions caused by COVID-19, ASLC expects annual visitor revenues to be reduced by 70%. The Center is completely dependent on summer visitors, typically seeing 90% of guests between May and September. “Aquariums like ASLC are especially vulnerable during this difficult time because we can’t reduce operating costs like most businesses—we can’t just shut the doors, turn off the lights and furlough staff,” said President and CEO Tara Riemer. “We need to maintain good animal care, maintain the building, and keep seawater pumping throughout the building every minute of every day.” Closing ASLC would be a permanent decision. Animals would be sent to other facilities, staff  would be laid off, the keys of the building would be turned over to the City of Seward, and ASLC would turn off the seawater pumps that are the building’s life support. This action cannot be undone. “The Alaska SeaLife Center is important, not just to Alaskans but to the world. It’s a key part of Alaska’s tourism infrastructure,” said ASLC Board of Directors Chair Wendy Lindskoog. “Closure of the Center has terrible consequences—the loss of it would be staggering.” In addition to being a top destination for Alaska’s visitors, the Center is a home for invaluable research about the ocean, arctic and subarctic marine wildlife, climate change, and more. As an important part of Alaska’s science education system, the Center provides educational opportunities to students all around the state and around the world through distance programs. ASLC will launch a robust fundraising campaign, beginning now and running until September 30 in the hope of reversing course on this trajectory. The board of directors and staff of ASLC implore the world to help support the Center right now in their time of greatest need by visiting, becoming members, or making a donation to the Alaska SeaLife Center. ASLC will also take every opportunity to identify and secure sustaining funds. Though Alaska’s visitor industry has paused, life goes on at the Center, and so do the needs of the animals. We are thrilled to announce the birth of a female Steller sea lion pup on June 26. The newborn is the offspring of ASLC’s 11-year-old resident male, Pilot, and 17-year-old female, Mara. “Mara is proving to be a doting, attentive, and protective mom,” states Husbandry Director, Lisa Hartman. As newborn pups cannot swim for several weeks, the team will continue to monitor the pair in a behind the scenes enclosure with supervised water access for Mara. Mara, her pup, and the rest of the animals that reside at the Center continue to get top quality care, in fulfillment of Alaska SeaLife Center’s mission. -end- About ASLC: Opened in 1998, the Alaska SeaLife Center operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit research institution and public aquarium in Seward, Alaska. The Center generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems. The ASLC is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. To learn more, visit www.alaskasealife.org.

The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) is excited to announce the Rocky Coast Discovery Pool, a new exhibit opening Spring 2021. The team at ASLC began developing this new exhibit in 2017. Installing the new modern and interactive design required a complete demolition of the former touch pool, originally built in 1998.   The design for the new 1,100 gallon exhibit, equipped with six pools and three small feature tanks, was inspired by various Association of Zoos and Aquariums facilities in the United States. ASLC staff members visited twenty touch pools from coast to coast to learn about latest designs, program opportunities, and staffing efficiencies. “We wanted to make sure empathy was at the center of everything when it came to this new exhibit. From the design for staff and visitors, to accessibility and access, animal welfare and care, to best practices for exploring in the wild,” explains Senior Education Manager, Jeff Dillon.   Many team members contributed to ensuring the success of the visitor experience for the new space. Ricky Deel, the Center’s Lead Exhibit Designer, has played an especially critical role in merging everyone’s visions from visitors to researchers to staff members. “I've approached the exhibit by looking at the visitor experience as well as the needs and wishes of the staff that will work behind the new pools. I wanted to keep a natural flow in the shapes and patterns and keep a neutral earthy tone in the colors to allow guests to focus on what is in the touch pools and not so much as on what is around them,” describes Deel.   Orchestrating the transport of exhibit materials and maneuvering all the elements within the building has been a challenge, like figuring out how to get an eight foot diameter pool to the second floor of the Center. “Creativity has been a key characteristic of this endeavor, including using the Alaska Marine Highway to transport flooring from Juneau to Whittier, and a dynamic partnership between four organizations to design, fabricate, inspect, package, and ship six tanks from California through the notorious Inside Passage, known for rough winter seas and storms,” states Operations Director, Caryn Fosnaugh . The tanks for the touch pool will be shipped to Alaska on March 17, which has the team at ASLC preparing for a spring exhibit unveiling.   Funding for the development of the touch pool has been several years in the making. Early funds were secured from an anonymous foundation that allowed the team to hire an engineering firm to create the technical specifications and plans in 2017. Further financial support for the construction of this exhibit was secured in 2019 from these generous contributors: ConocoPhillips Alaska, First National Bank Alaska, Matson, Petro Marine Services, Shoreside Petroleum, and the Lindsey Family with Matson additionally donating a significant portion of tank transportation. The ASLC team is grateful to all the contributors of this exhibit build, both local and regional, whose support has made this enhanced visitor experience possible.

The Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) this week announced that the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) was granted continued accreditation by AZA’s independent Accreditation Commission. The ASLC was first accredited by the AZA in 2011 after meeting the highest standards in animal wellbeing, veterinary programs, conservation, education, and safety, and continues to uphold these high standards as an AZA-accredited aquarium. AZA is the independent accrediting organization for leading zoos and aquariums in America and the world, assuring the public that when they visit an AZA-accredited facility, it meets the highest standards for animal care and welfare. Less than 10 percent of the 2,800 wildlife exhibitors licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture under the Animal Welfare Act meet the more comprehensive standards of AZA accreditation. “The public expectations for animal care are constantly increasing, as are our own, which is why AZA’s accreditation standards are focused on providing the best animal care possible,” said Dan Ashe, President and CEO of AZA. “Our rigorous accreditation standards evolve based on modern animal research, ensuring a process the public can trust. We applaud and admire these exceptional zoos, aquariums, and related facilities on meeting the ‘gold standard’ for a modern zoological facility.” The Alaska SeaLife Center underwent a thorough review to make sure it has and will continue to meet ever-rising standards, which emphasize animal wellbeing, veterinary programs, conservation, education, and safety. AZA requires facilities to complete this rigorous accreditation process every five years as a condition of Association membership. “After several non-normal years, it’s a major accomplishment for our entire team to successfully undergo this meticulous inspection and accreditation process with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. We are currently the only AZA-accredited facility in the state of Alaska, and I am proud of the hard work our team puts in each and every day to meet and exceed the high standards set by the AZA for animal care, conservation, education, and safety," said Tara Riemer, President and CEO of the Alaska SeaLife Center. “When guests visit the Alaska SeaLife Center, they are supporting a world-class organization that is truly making a difference for marine wildlife in Alaska.” The AZA accreditation process includes a detailed application and a meticulous, on-site, multiple-day inspection by an independent team of expert zoological professionals. The inspecting team analyzes all aspects of the facility’s operation, including animal welfare and well-being; veterinary care; staff training; safety for visitors, staff, and animals; educational programs; conservation efforts; financial stability; risk management; governance; and guest services.   Detailed reports from the inspection team and the facility alike are then thoroughly evaluated by the Commission. Finally, top officials are interviewed by the Accreditation Commission at a formal hearing, after which accreditation is fully granted, provisionally granted for one year, or denied. Accreditation was fully granted to the Alaska SeaLife Center on September 19, 2022 via a virtual hearing.   About AZA Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, animal welfare, education, science, and recreation. AZA is the accrediting body for the top zoos and aquariums in the United States and 12 other countries. Look for the AZA accreditation logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. The AZA is a leader in saving species and your link to helping animals all over the world. To learn more, visit www.aza.org.   About ASLC Opened in 1998, the Alaska SeaLife Center operates as a 501(c)(3), non-profit research institution and public aquarium in Seward, Alaska. The Center generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems. The ASLC is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. To learn more, visit www.alaskasealife.org. 

Become a Member of the Alaska SeaLife Center and you will support research, education, and wildlife response programs Member Benefits Unlimited free admission to the Alaska SeaLife Center for a year from the day you register Guaranteed entry on arrival – No Reservations Needed Digital Membership cards 20% Discount on guest admission 20% Discount on Center tours and encounters 10% Discount on retail prices in the Discovery Gift Shop Exclusive email announcements on special events Reduced admission at other zoos and aquariums through the AZA Reciprocity Program     Choose the membership level that fits you best! Standard Memberships, Family Memberships, or Giving Circle Memberships Standard Memberships Individual $70 One named member Individual Plus $115 One named member and one guest per visit Dual $115 Two named members Dual Plus $160 Two named members and one guest per visit Trio $160 Three named members Join / Renew     Family Memberships* Family $175 Two named members and eligible children and/or grandchildren Family Plus $220 Two named members and eligible children and/or grandchildren and one guest per visit Family Trio $220 Three named members and eligible children and/or grandchildren Family Quad $265 Four named members and eligible children and/or grandchildren Join / Renew *Family levels include the primary member's dependent children ages 17 and younger (and/or grandchildren ages 17 and younger) Giving Circle Memberships SeaLife Associate $300-$499 Complimentary Family Membership Four one-time use guest passes Join / Renew SeaLife Advocate $500-$999 Complimentary Family Membership Eight one-time use guest passes Invitation to an annual virtual CEO update Join / Renew Steller Partner $1,000-$2,499 Complimentary Family Membership Eight one-time use guest passes Invitation to an annual virtual CEO update An exclusive VIP tour of the Center for four Join / Renew Steller Guardian $2,500-$4,999 Complimentary Family Membership Eight one-time use guest passes Invitation to an annual virtual CEO update An exclusive VIP tour of the Center for four Invitation to quarterly VIP virtual programs Join / Renew Steller Patron $5,000-$9,999 Complimentary Family Membership Eight one-time use guest passes Invitation to an annual virtual CEO update An exclusive VIP tour of the Center for four Invitation to quarterly VIP virtual programs Breakfast or lunch with the CEO Join / Renew Steller Champion $10,000+ Complimentary Family Membership Eight one-time use guest passes Invitation to an annual virtual CEO update An exclusive VIP tour of the Center for four Invitation to quarterly VIP virtual programs Breakfast or lunch with the CEO Keeper for a Day, a 5-hour program for one or two people with minimum age of 16 Join / Renew

Distance Learning Visit Alaska…  virtually! Our live, interactive videoconference programs expand your students' scientific experience with engaging multi-media presentations. Using inquiry-based learning, these 55-minute conferences incorporate live animals (whenever possible) and current research programs happening right here at the Alaska SeaLife Center! The materials for each program include a teacher's guide with specific background information and activity ideas, as well as supplies for the session's hands-on activities. Video Sample:  Marine Mammal Adaptations Registration To register for a Distance Learning program, Download the Distance Learning registration form and return it via e-mail. To accommodate shipping materials, reservations must be made at least 30 days in advance. See below for prices and time zone recommendations. Please email distancelearning@alaskasealife.org or call (907) 224-7900 for more information. Program Descriptions PROGRAM NAME GRADES DESCRIPTION Who Lives Where? Pre-K Meet Alaska’s wettest residents! Find out where Alaska’s marine animals live, what they eat, and how they move. Beaks, Bubbles, & Burrows K-3 Observe the diving seabirds in our avian habitat as we discuss the behaviors and adaptations of these intriguing animals. Marine Mammal Adaptations K-5 Discover how these mammals are able to thrive in Alaska's frigid waters by observing our own resident seals and sea lions. Terrific Alaskan Tidepool Travels 1-5 Take a walk through the Alaskan intertidal zone and meet our tough and mysterious local invertebrates. Eat or Be Eaten in Alaska 4-6 Discuss the complexity of food webs by exploring some of Alaska's most interesting animals and ecosystems. Living in the Ring of Fire 5-8 Verify plate tectonic theories by investigating geologic activities around the Pacific plate, specifically here in Alaska. Cephalopods: Squid Dissection 5-9 Get your hands into a "head-footed" animal as we learn more about cephalopods through dissection and discussion! (Please contact us about squid availability. Observation-only sessions are also an option.) Sea Lion Monitoring 6-12 Learn how scientists at the center study a wild population of endangered Steller sea lions hauled out on the Chiswell Islands. Practice remote video monitoring yourself! The Scoop on Poop 6-12 Roll up your sleeves and analyze sea lion scat as we learn more about the hands-on way some of our scientists study these animals' diets.   Prices Program costs include teacher guides, materials* for up to 30 students (additional students are $1 each) and postage. An additional $20.00 may be added to reservations made less than 30 days in advance.   PROGRAM NAME COST Beaks, Bubbles, & Burrows Marine Mammal Adaptations Terrific Alaskan Tidepool Travels Eat or Be Eaten in Alaska Living in the Ring of Fire Sea Lion Monitoring $190.00 The Scoop on Poop $220.00 Cephalopods: Squid Dissection (including squid) $240.00 (squid shipping within U.S. only; if you provide your own squid the program is $190.00)  * International programs: Shipping to countries outside the United States will require an additional fee.  Also, customs procedures may prevent the shipping of physical materials to countries outside of the U.S. - in these cases, we will send materials electronically. Time Zone Recommendations Our distance learning sessions are taught from the exhibits, which rely on natural light. As Alaska's sunrise/sunset times vary dramatically from season to season, the following table lists optimal time recommendations for booking your reservations. There can still be large fluctuations within a calendar month, so these times are only a guide. Additional times may be available - please contact us for more information.   NORTH AMERICAN TIME ZONES (includes daylight savings time) ALASKA PACIFIC MOUNTAIN CENTRAL EASTERN September 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM 9:30 AM - 7:00 PM 10:30 AM - 8:00 PM 11:30 AM - 9:00 PM October 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM 10:30 AM - 7:00 PM 11:30 AM - 8:00 PM 12:30 PM - 9:00 PM November 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM 11:00 AM - 6:30 PM 12:00 PM - 7:30 PM 1:00 PM - 8:30 PM December 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM January 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM February 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM 10:30 AM - 7:00 PM 11:30 AM -8:00 PM 12:30 PM - 9:00 PM March 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM April 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM May 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM June 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM July 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM August 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM Technical Requirements We use Zoom to connect.  Please contact us if you have questions about using other platforms. Customized Programs Do your students show exceptional enthusiasm for a particular lesson plan or subject?  With advance notice we can modify existing programs or create specialized programs to accommodate specific lesson goals, ages, or comprehension levels. Sessions are designed to be 55 minutes in length but can be adapted to fit your class period.    

      The CORaL Network Go to the CORaL Network Website The Community Organized Restoration and Learning (CORaL) Network strengthens existing resources across the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill-impacted region, ranging from Prince William Sound, Homer, and Kodiak Island. The CORaL Network empowers the region by fostering collaboration, sharing scientific, cultural, and Traditional Knowledge, and co-creating solutions that respond to community needs. Our efforts, funded by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council (EVOSTC), ensure that science outreach remains relevant, culturally responsive, and co-created with the communities we serve. The CORaL Network aims to engage youth in community-based science, coordinate science outreach between organizations, and sustain capacity-building activities such as learning opportunities and internships. We also seek to deepen understanding of Alaska Native knowledge, foster cultural competency, and build collaborative community relationships. Through these initiatives, the CORaL Network supports ongoing regional restoration efforts while addressing the unique needs of impacted communities. The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) is a proud partner of the CORaL Network alongside five other organizations that serve Southcentral Alaska: Alutiiq Museum Archaeological Repository (AMAR) in Kodiak, Chugach Regional Resources Commission (CRRC) in Seward, Prince William Sound Science Center (PWSSC) in Cordova, Alaska Sea Grant (ASG) in Valdez, and Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies (CACS) in Homer.     CORaL’s Programs and Initiatives: Community Coastal Experience: This annual program is an opportunity for adults ages 18 and up to explore career and internship pathways in marine science, archaeology, cultural history, and more. Over the span of four to five weeks, participants travel with program leaders to observe, learn, and practice new skills in Kachemak Bay, Seward, Cordova, and Kodiak. The program is spearheaded by CACS, but overall it is a colossal collaborative effort among partners, from program development, participant selection, and hosting in their respective locations. This level of collaboration also presents opportunities for co-learning between participants and host organizations. Collective Alaska Native Perspectives: Each year CRRC leads a Collective Alaska Native Perspectives series to build an understanding of Alaska Native true history, legal complexities, diverse cultural practices, and the way of life from the perspective of Alaska Native People. Participants are invited to explore opportunities to learn from other cultures and share experiences through panel participation with Alaska Native Elders and an all-Native Mentor panel.  Educational Programs: Many partners within the CORaL Network offer immersive educational opportunities that demonstrate the power of cross-sector collaboration between local schools, organizations, and scientists. Two examples of this include Ocean Science Week, led by CACS, and Ocean Sciences Festival, led by PWSSC. All CORaL partners participate in Ocean Science Week, collaborating in the process of program creation and presentation to create a diverse experience for students. These opportunities grow students’ awareness, expand their curiosity, and help them to begin building relationships with scientists and educators throughout the region. CORaL is also involved in the annual Seward Symposium and Stewards of the Bay monthly series led by ASLC, CRRC, and other local Seward agencies. AKSEA: The Alaska Knowledge, Science, and Education Alliance (AKSEA)aims to foster connections across the region and share knowledge from, and with, all our community members. It brings together traditional knowledge experts, researchers, graduate or recent graduate students, and school educators to co-create lessons focused on marine-related anchoring phenomenon in the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill region. Coastal Connections Camp: This camp-in-a-box program, facilitated by ASG as a CORaL community outreach activity, is a week-long summer program that includes outdoor exploration, hands-on science, art, team building, and personal resilience skills. ASG recruits members from the community hosting the camp, creating an opportunity for local involvement. CORaL partners also attend camp training, bringing the curriculum back to their own facilities. The camps are offered in collaboration with local entities. Historic Preservation: Spearheaded by AMAR, this set of resources promotes the value of archaeological sites and their preservation. When people know that ancestral sites and objects hold valuable information, they are more likely to respect sites and report findings to a local professional. Alutiiq/Sugpiaq Cultural Orientation: AMAR hosts a bi-monthly virtual, one-hour orientation to introduce the history and culture of the Alutiiq/Sugpiaq people who have lived in Kodiak for at least 7,500 years.   ASLC’s Key Contributions to the CORaL Network:   The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) serves as the grant administrator and principal investigator for the CORaL Network, playing a key role in advancing the network’s goals. ASLC facilitates partner meetings, manages communications, oversees budgeting and reporting, and conducts evaluations to ensure the success of the initiative. In addition, ASLC integrates cultural competencies into exhibits and educational programming, fostering collaboration on both scientific and cultural outreach efforts. As a founding partner of Stewards of the Bay, ASLC helps organize the annual Seward Science Symposium and the monthly Community Connections Series, which highlight the intersection of research, science, and culture. These events promote community pride and environmental stewardship, with a strong emphasis on Indigenous-led research. The ASLC also leads the production of videos for a cross-network media portal and kiosk library, showcasing the diverse and impactful work of the CORaL Network. Additionally, in 2023, the ASLC launched COMPASS (Community Pathways for Student Science), a 6-year program to establish a regional partnership that connects schools with citizen science opportunities. This project builds upon Dr. Tuula Hollmen’s successful SeeBird Project, a community science education initiative started in Seward. COMPASS allows students to actively engage in the scientific process, explore their local environment, and contribute to research in the Gulf of Alaska, strengthening the partnership between scientists, educators, and communities.   (Caption: CORaL Network partners gather for a photo during a shared meal at the CORaL Annual Meeting in Cordova, 2024)   SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER [Subscribe to email newsletter link]     Previous CORaL Network Newsletters: February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 March 2024 December 2023 November 2023

animatedcollapse.addDiv('A', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init() animatedcollapse.addDiv('B', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init()         Developing a research project proposal is hard work. In order to receive funding for their project, scientists must be able to explain what they hope to learn and why their proposed question is worth answering. For Antarctic research, scientists must have their project selected by the National Science Foundation (NSF), which coordinates all United States research in Antarctica. As you can imagine, it's a competitive application process! In 21st-century science, it's all about collaboration. The NSF knows that scientific discoveries are made when scientists with different skills team up to answer a question. Dr. Jo-Ann Mellish and her colleagues, Dr. Horning and Dr. Hindle, agree. This team of physiologists have worked together before and value the expertise each individual brings to the group. Without Dr. Horning's special knack for engineering instruments, Dr. Hindle's expertise in modeling data, or Dr. Mellish's skill at assessing animal health, this project would never have made it past the proposal stage. In addition to the benefit of varying skill-sets, working as a team gives scientists a chance to bounce ideas off one another. Talking about ideas leads to better research questions - and to successful collaborations like this one, carried out with support from the National Science Foundation (award #1043779). VIDEO: RESEARCH QUESTIONS Dr. Allyson Hindle explains the team's research questions for the Weddell seal project. (1:23) Video Transcript Dr. Allyson Hindle: “ My name is Allyson Hindle, and I’m a post doctoral researcher. I’m one of the Co-PI’s (Co-Principal Investigators) on this project. I work with a lot of the data on the back end. “One of the questions that we asked was whether changing sea ice conditions might have an impact on seals that depend on the ice. One of the first things that we needed to do, and really the central piece to this project is to look at how much it costs: How much energy does it cost a seal to stay warm in the water compared to on the ice? So in cold water, or in cold air. “I’m an animal physiologist, so I’m interested in the processes that help an animal function, the internal biology of the animal. All of those internal processes help animals do different things that are necessary for survival, like digesting food, staying warm (thermoregulation), contraction of their muscles so that they can swim, all those types of things. “I’m really interested in taking our data and trying to get as many numbers as I can for all of those biological, physiological processes, and then putting it together so that we can make some estimates and predictions about how these animals will live if the environment changes.” Understanding how changes in sea ice cover will impact polar seals hinges on a broader understanding of how different conditions change a seal's ability to thermoregulate. People have known for a long time that water and air have very different physical properties. One difference is in the way that water and air conduct heat. Scientists have calculated that water pulls heat away from a seal's body as much as 4.5 times faster than air. Brrrr! Knowing this, Dr. Hindle and the team believe that polar seals' ability to thermoregulate will be negatively affected if changing sea ice conditions alter the way these species budget the time they spend on ice and and in water. Further, the team hypothesizes that changes in sea ice will affect some animals more than others. They expect that larger animals with more blubber will have a greater buffer against environmental change, while smaller, leaner animals may face more challenges. VIDEO: RESEARCH METHODS Dr. Jo-Ann Mellish describes why McMurdo Sound's Weddell seals were the perfect population to study to test the team's hypotheses. (1:33) Video Transcript Dr. Jo-Ann Mellish: “Weddell seals were perfect for this project because we have an enormous size range to work with. We’ve got weaned pups all the way up to adult females. Not only do we have this body mass range, but during the breeding season we can also get animals that are in really good condition, so one size and really, really fat and those are our weaned pups. “We can get the same size animal that’s really, really lean and that’s our first year or second year juveniles, who are about the same size but they’ve just had their first year of foraging by themselves and they’re not quite as chunky. “Then we’ve got adult females who are enormous. Some of these females are back just to breed, they don’t have a pup that year so they are in ridiculously good health, they have more blubber than you can shake a stick at! Then you’ve got these other females that are the same frame size, but they just finished supporting a pup for the last four to six weeks. So there can be a 100 kilogram (220 pounds) difference in two animals of the same age and the same frame size. So we’ve got big and small, and lean and fat. We've got these four groups of animals that we can look at differences in how they forage, differences in how much energy they burn in a day, and differences in what kind of buffer they might have to adapt to a changing environment.“ In order to test their hypotheses, the team needed to develop a plan. Among the questions they needed to answer were: How would they determine which seals to study and what tools would they use to study the seals once they'd chosen them? These challenges had to be carefully considered before the team traveled to the ice. After all, once you board the plane for Antarctica, there’s no going back for something you forgot!       WHO IS STUDYING SEALS?   PHYSIOLOGIST (n) - a biologist who studies the processes that help living things function   COLLABORATION (n) - the action of working with others to do or create something   ENGINEER (v) - to design or build something   MODEL (n) - in science, a representation of data that makes something easier to quantify, predict, or understand   THERMOREGULATION (n) - the ability to maintain a constant body temperature under changing conditions   DATA (n) - values for something measured   HYPOTHESIZE (v) - to propose an anwer to a scientific question   BLUBBER (n) - an insulating fat possessed by many marine mammals    

          WELCOME, TEACHERS! The Alaska SeaLife Center and COSEE-Alaska are excited to present "Southern Exposure", a virtual field trip (VFT) to one of the most remote regions on Earth. Join Dr. Jo-Ann Mellish and her team as they travel to Antarctica's McMurdo Sound to investigate how changing sea ice conditions may impact ice-dependent polar seals, like Antarctica's Weddell seals. GRADE LEVEL: 5th-8th TIME NEEDED: Between one and four 1-hour class periods (teachers may choose to use all or part of the supplementary lessons) NUTSHELL: Students will learn about animal physiology while exploring how changing sea ice conditions may affect ice-dependent Weddell seals. LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After completing this virtual field trip, students will be able to: - Highlight two ways that habitat conditions in the Arctic and the Antarctic are different - Define the term energy budget and explain how living things earn (gain) and use energy to meet the requirements of life - Describe the relationship between the depth of a seal's blubber and the animal's mass BACKGROUND: VIDEO: RESEARCH PROJECT PROMO Use this short research promo video to get your class excited about Southern Exposure. (0:56) In this virtual field trip, students will meet Drs. Jo-Ann Mellish, Markus Horning, and Allyson Hindle - a team of animal physiologists collaborating on a project about Antarctica's Weddell seals. Your students will follow Dr. Mellish's research team into the field as they work to answer the questions "What is the 'cost of living' for a polar seal?" and "How will the lives of these seals be impacted as their habitats continue to change?" This VFT can be used in a number of ways. Individuals may navigate through the pages on their own. Self-guided exploration can be completed in about an hour. Alternately, teachers may facilitate a structured experience, working through each page of the VFT together as a class. Lesson plans (included in the right-hand column of this page) are available to supplement online content. For a thorough introduction to Weddell seals, we recommend that teachers check out the PolarTrec webinar The Life Science of Weddell Seals with Dr. Jennifer Burns of the University of Alaska Anchorage. Though not affiliated with this project, Dr. Burns' presentation gives teachers a nice overview of current behavioral and physiological research on Weddell seals in Antarctica (40 minutes). TO USE THIS VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP YOU WILL NEED: - Internet access, video-streaming capabilities - Access to Southern Exposure - Projection system (with audio) to display content or a computer lab (with headphones) - Corresponding lesson plans (arranged as PDFs in the right-hand column of this page) UNABLE TO RUN THE STREAMING VERSION? REQUEST A FREE COPY OF ALL MATERIALS ON CD BY EMAILING: education@alaskasealife.org ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Weddell seal specific Resources : Weddell Seal Science Project, YouTube Channel ARKive Weddell Seal Species Profile General information about Sea Ice: National Snow and Ice Data Center: Sea Ice Introduction National Snow and Ice Data Center: Arctic Vs. Antarctic NASA Earth Observatory: Sea Ice Education Resources Related to Climate Change: NOAA Education Resources: Climate Change Impacts   Contact Us: If you have any questions about this virtual field trip, please contact the Alaska SeaLife Center Education Department at education@alaskasealife.org or 907-224-6306. For more information on classes we offer, including our inquiry-based Distance Learning programs, visit our website at www.alaskasealife.org.       LESSON PLANS Use the .pdf links below to access classroom activities for each section of the virtual field trip. Lesson Plan One.pdf Lesson Plan Two.pdf Lesson Plan Three.pdf Glossary.pdf Guide to Standards Addressed All research was conducted under National Marine Fisheries Service Marine Mammal Protection Act authorization 15748 and Antarctic Conservation Act permit 2012-003.           

  animatedcollapse.addDiv('A', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init() animatedcollapse.addDiv('B', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init()         Thousands of individual animals died as a result the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Some died soon after contact with the oil. Others died more slowly as a result of the toxins. It is difficult to measure how animal populations continue to be affected by contact with oil after the cleanup. The long-term harm from chronic exposure to the chemicals in oil remains a problem in some areas, especially where oil can still be found under rocks. Since 1990, scientists have been gathering data about locations where oil continues to linger, as well as the movement of toxic chemicals throughout the Prince William Sound ecosystem. The Lingering Oil project is studying the recovery of harlequin duck and northern sea otter populations in Prince William Sound because there are long-term health concerns for both of these populations. The Gulf Watch Alaska team is collecting data by taking samples in both oiled and non-oiled sites in Prince William Sound. Click on the images below to learn more about these two species. Scientists use a variety of skills to capture ducks and otters in order to collect tissue samples. These methods are designed to safely capture the animals and then release them unharmed. According to Dr. Esler, “It might not be the greatest day for the animals, [but] their long-term survival is not compromised.” To capture harlequin ducks, the team uses a floating mist net. This net sits above the water like an invisible wall. As the ducks come in for a landing, they are trapped in the net. Researchers can then safely remove the ducks and take them to the veterinarian for sampling. Capturing sea otters is a bit more challenging. These cute and fuzzy creatures are, in fact, the largest member of the weasel family (the Mustelids). This is a group of animals who are not known for their sweet and cuddly personalities. Think of a sea otter as a floating badger or wolverine! Watch the video below to see divers use a Wilson Trap to safely capture and handle sea otters for sampling. VIDEO: Capturing Sea Otters United States Geological Survey (USGS) video showing how divers use Wilson traps to capture sea otters in the wild. (3:53) Video Transcript (This video contains music and some ambient sounds but no dialogue.) Watch the video below to learn more about the scientists' field work as they monitor the effects of lingering oil in Prince William Sound. VIDEO: Lingering Oil Dan Esler describes how scientists are studying the effects of lingering oil on harlequin ducks and sea otters. (1:48) Video Transcript The lingering oil studies occur in western Prince William Sound, which is where the oil from the Exxon Valdez oil spill landed, and actually there’s still some oil out there today – small pockets of oil that’s buried in sediments on beaches, throughout western Prince William Sound. So that’s where the lingering oil issues are still important to track. From the USGS perspective, we’re looking at effects of that lingering oil on wildlife. So considering effects of exposure to that lingering oil, and also to understand what that might mean to individuals and populations of the wildlife that live out there. The main species that we’re thinking about in terms of lingering oil are harlequin ducks and sea otters, and that’s because there’s a long history of understanding that lingering oil’s been an important constraint on population recovery of those two species, and so we’ve spent a lot of time trying to understand the timeline and the mechanisms by which those species are recovering from the oil spill. We’ve measured exposure in a number of different ways. For example, with harlequin ducks we’ve used an enzyme called cytochrome P450 1A. It’s a long word basically for an enzyme that gets induced when any vertebrate’s exposed to hydrocarbons. So if you and I were exposed to oil, we would have an induction of that enzyme that would be measurable and then could tell us whether one has been exposed to that. The enzyme itself is part of a cascade of physiological processes that any vertebrate goes through once they’ve been exposed to oil. And it could be indicative of physiological harm, or it could be indicative of just exposure without physiological harm. So we’re not inferring harm from induction of the enzyme, what we’re inferring is that they’re still exposed to oil with the potential for harm.         Who is watching the Gulf?   Concentration (n): the amount of something in a specific place or given volume   Recovery (n): a return to a normal state of health   Tissue sampling (n): various procedures to obtain bodily fluids, muscle, skin, fur or feathers for testing  

animatedcollapse.addDiv('A', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init() animatedcollapse.addDiv('B', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init() animatedcollapse.addDiv('C', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init()         Pelagic animals live in the open seas, away from the coast or seafloor. The Pelagic Ecosystem team has the task of studying these predator and prey species in Prince William Sound. Despite the challenge, scientists have already managed to collect decades of data that focus on the interactions between whales, seabirds and their prey. This information is useful in answering questions such as: • What are the population trends of key open-ocean predators, such as orcas, tufted puffins, and humpback whales? • Are the numbers of forage fish, like herring, sand lance, and capelin, going up or down? • Is it possible to monitor forage fish population trends? • If it is possible to monitor them, what is the best way to do so? Forage fish have a big impact on marine ecosystems. They convert a huge amount of energy from lower trophic levels and this energy is transferred into food for larger fish, marine mammals, and seabirds. Forage fish have great numbers of offspring and short lifespans. These traits can cause major changes in their abundance from year to year. If the abundance of forage fish increases or decreases significantly, the predators that eat them will also experience shifts in their population numbers. Humpback whales are predators of herring. Many humpback whales migrate from Prince William Sound to Hawaii for the winter. Some humpback whales, however, stay in or near the Sound. During the winter, there is not much plankton for humpbacks to feed on, and fish like herring become a good alternative source of food for these whales. Watch the video below to see how the predators of the pelagic hunt their herring prey. VIDEO: Bait Ball Feast - BBC One In late summer, the plankton bloom is at its height and vast shoals of herring gather to feed on it. Diving birds round the fish up into a bait ball and then a humpback whale roars in to scoop up the entire ball of herring in one huge mouthful. From "Nature's Great Events: The Great Feast" by BBC. (1:14) Video Transcript The murres only attack from beneath, trapping the fish against the surface. But they push the herring within range of the gulls. It’s a feeding frenzy. The table is set for the mightiest predator of them all: the humpbacks have reached their feeding grounds. Scientists want to know the best way to estimate the numbers of specific fish species, such as herring. They get the data they need using a combination of aerial surveys, hydroacoustics, and various fish-capture techniques. Check out the video below to hear Mayumi Arimitsu explain some of these techniques. VIDEO: Forage Fish Studies Mayumi Arimitsu describes the methods scientists use to monitor forage fish populations. (0:55) Video Transcript We have observers in a plane that are looking at schools of fish in the ocean very close to the shoreline. We do a couple of things. One is use hydroacoustics from the boat, and with basically a scientific fish finder we’re able to quantify the biomass and density and depth distribution of these different forage fish. We also are trying to validate the aerial survey observations so we have a team in a skiff that are communicating with the pilot in the plane, and they are trying to catch what the observers in the plane are seeing. Scientists working on the humpback whale monitoring project are trying to understand if the whales are having an impact on the recovery of herring populations in Prince William Sound. An important part of this project is maintaining an up-to-date humpback “fluke identification catalog,” a kind of “Who’s Who?” in the Gulf of Alaska whale world. Watch the video below to learn about how scientists observe and photograph whales included in the fluke identification catalog. VIDEO: Tracking Humpback Whales John Moran describes how scientists are studying the importance of humpback whales in the Gulf of Alaska ecosystem. (2:08) Video Transcript (Narrator) These small silver fish are Pacific herring, one of the many species being monitored by Gulf Watch Alaska. Scientists are monitoring their population for signs of recovery after the Exxon Valdez oil spill. They are also interested in other potential factors that could be affecting their recovery. One of these potential factors may be humpback whales. (John Moran) We want to know if humpback whales are having an impact on the recovering herring population in Prince William Sound. Basically we want to know how many herring are whales eating, and is that important. So the first thing we need to do is figure out how many whales are there, so we use Photo ID. All the whales have unique patterns on their flukes. When the whale dives it shows the underside of its fluke, and we’ll take a picture of that and that can identify the individual whale. So basically we get on the boat and we go look for whales. That the base of our research is getting the fluke IDs. And from that you can get a lot more information out of it. We need to figure out what they’re eating, so we use the echo sounder on the boat, we’ll use nets and jigs, so we’ll see whatever prey is around the whale and try to catch that. Or if there’s any scales that slip out of their mouth, or any kind of sign of things on the surface, or fish jumping out of the whale’s mouth, we’ll try to document that. And we also use biopsies. We have a cross bow or a rifle that takes a little blubber plug out of the whale. So we approach the whale and get a little sample, and from that we can use stable isotopes or fatty acids to get at what the diet’s been from that whale. Humpbacks are kind of new players on the scene, they’re population was really low. In the late sixties & early seventies, there may have been 1,500-2,000 humpbacks in the North Pacific. And then there was this survey called the SPLASH survey that took place in 2006 that put the population at over 20,000. So that’s a huge increase. It impacts managers. If you’re managing a herring fishery and you have these humpbacks population weren’t really there 20, 30, 40 years ago, you’ve got to account for these new predators, how many herring are they taking, it’s all important to know if you’re trying to manage a fishery. We haven’t had them there, so how they impact the ecosystem is going to be new to us.       Who is watching the Gulf?   Biomass (n): the amount of living matter in a given habitat (i.e. the weight of organisms per unit area, or the volume of organisms per unit of habitat)   Forage fish (n): small schooling fishes that feed on plankton and are eaten by larger predators   Hydroacoustics (n): the study of sound in water   Pelagic (adj): the open sea, away from the coast or seafloor   Trophic level (n): the position of an organism or species in a food web or food chain    

          WELCOME, TEACHERS! The Alaska SeaLife Center and Gulf Watch Alaska are excited to present this virtual field trip (VFT). Join the Gulf Watch Alaska team of scientists as they investigate the long term effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on the ecosystems of the Gulf of Alaska. Learn about the work of a collaborative team of scientists from many different ocean science disciplines, who represent over 15 different government agencies, non-profit research institutions, and universities. GRADE LEVEL: 6-8th TIME NEEDED: Between one and four 1-hour class periods (teachers may choose to use all or only some of the supplementary lessons). NUTSHELL: Students will learn about the long-term monitoring projects that have been studying the effects of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound and the northern Gulf of Alaska. They will explore the various projects and how, collectively, they can inform us about the overall ecosystem. LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After completing this virtual field trip, students will be able to: • Explain how the long-term monitoring project called Gulf Watch Alaska was founded and what its overall goals are. • Understand the collaborative nature of science and how researchers from various disciplines working together can provide a ‘big picture’ view of a massive project. • Explain the various levels of a biome and how all components of an ecosystem depend upon each other for a healthy environment. BACKGROUND: In this virtual field trip, students will meet various scientists and researchers working for the Gulf Watch Alaska long-term ecosystem monitoring program, a project of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council, encompassing the marine ecosystems affected by the 1989 oil spill. This program is organized into four related ecosystem monitoring components, with data management, modeling, and synthesis components providing overall integration across the program. This VFT can be used in a number of ways. Individuals may navigate through the pages on their own and meet the scientists through the links provided on the right-hand bar. Self-guided exploration can be completed in a couple of hours. Alternatively, teachers may facilitate a structured experience, working through each page of the VFT together in a class. Lesson plans (links included on the right-hand column of this page) are available to supplement online content. TO USE THIS VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP YOU WILL NEED: • Internet access, video-streaming capabilities • Projection system (with audio) to display content or a computer lab (with headphones) • Corresponding lesson plans (linked as PDFs in the right hand column of this page) UNABLE TO RUN THE STREAMING VERSION? REQUEST A FREE COPY OF ALL MATERIALS ON CD BY EMAILING education@alaskasealife.org. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: • Gulf Watch Alaska • Alaska Ocean Observing System • Nearshore Ecosystem Projects • Ecological Trends in Kachemak Bay • Nearshore Benthic Systems in the Gulf of Alaska • National Park Service SWAN Nearshore Monitoring • Environmental Drivers Projects • Continuous Plankton Recorder • Gulf of Alaska Mooring (GAK1) Monitoring • Oceanographic Conditions in Lower Cook Inlet and Kachemak Bay • Oceanographic Conditions in Prince William Sound • The Seward Line: Marine Ecosystem Monitoring in the Northern Gulf of Alaska • Lingering Oil Projects • Weathering and Tracking • Harlequin ducks and sea otters • EVOS Status of Injured Resources and Services • Pelagic Ecosystem • Detection of Seabird Populations • Fall and Winter Seabird Abundance • Forage Fish • Humpback Whales • Killer Whales • Prince William Sound Marine Bird Population Trends   Contact Us: If you have any questions about this virtual field trip, please contact the Alaska SeaLife Center Education Department at education@alaskasealife.org or 907-224-6306. For more information on classes we offer, including our inquiry-based 50-minute Distance Learning programs, visit our website at www.alaskasealife.org.         CURRICULUM SUPPLEMENTS Use the .pdf links below to access classroom activities for each section of the Gulf Watch Alaska virtual field trip experience. Lesson 1 Nearshore.pdf Lesson 2 Drivers.pdf Lesson 3 Lingering_Oil.pdf Lesson 4 Pelagic.pdf Gulf Watch Whale Fluke ID.pdf Who's that Whale? slideshow          

  animatedcollapse.addDiv('A', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init() Talking with Kathy, Yosty learned that the common murres in the Gulf of Alaska were starving during this period of uncharacteristically warm water. This common murre die-off event was very puzzling for scientists because there was not a clear reason as to why the birds were behaving abnormally. If the birds were not getting enough food, there must be something in the Gulf of Alaska impacting the food chain. Scientists study all levels of marine food webs, beginning with the organisms at the base — the plankton. Plankton are a diverse group of living organisms that spend at least part of their life floating through the water column, unable to swim against the current. Plankton consist of both plants and animals and help to form the base of the marine food chain. Every organism that relies on the ocean for food depends on an adequate supply of plankton to keep the ecosystem properly fed. Even animals that don’t eat plankton themselves, like the common murres, require enough healthy plankton to feed the fish and invertebrates that they prey upon. So, if the common murres were starving, causing them to move close to shore and inland to search for food, and dying in large numbers, there might be some evidence that maybe something was different about the amount or types of plankton in the Gulf of Alaska those years. Following this lead, Yosty moves forward in the investigation by questioning Gulf Watch scientist Sonia Batten, who specializes in monitoring plankton populations to understand what had been happening at the base of the Gulf’s food chain that might have been related to the murre die-off. Watch the video below to hear what Sonia has observed with the plankton in the Gulf of Alaska. VIDEO: Sonia Batten and Plankton Sonia Batten describes her observations of plankton in the Gulf of Alaska. (4:17) Video Transcript Narrator: Hmm… It all seemed to go back to the murres’ food chain. Why did these seabirds starve to death? Was something wrong with their food source? Yosty needed to start at the bottom of the food chain. She needed to talk to Sonia Batten, A Gulf Watch scientist monitoring plankton in the Gulf of Alaska. Yosty: Hi Sonia, what evidence do you have that 2014-2015 were unusual times for plankton in the Gulf of Alaska? Sonia: We’ve been looking at plankton in the northern Gulf of Alaska since 2000, so we have quite a long time series now. We look at the plankton from spring through fall of each year. We noticed in 2014 and then again in 2015 that there was something unusual happening, and we were kind of expecting it because we knew that the waters offshore were really warm from the end of 2013 through the next two years (really unusually warm, and it’s been called “the blob” by some people). So we were expecting to see something unusual. What we typically see in the plankton… There are two types of plankton. There’s the plant plankton and those are little tiny single-celled plants that float around and take the sun’s energy to grow – and they typically get blooms of those in the spring because there’s lots more sunlight in the spring, there’s lots of nutrients from the winter storms that have been mixed up, and it starts warming up. All those things are really good for them to grow, so we typically see those take off in the spring. And then as they grow they get eaten by the animal plankton and their numbers die back a little and they run out of nutrients and so on, so there’s lower levels of them through the summer. And then sometimes in the autumn we get another bloom because we get a few storms come in and mix things up again and give them more nutrients. That’s the typical pattern. What we saw in 2014 was we didn’t see anywhere near as many of those plant plankton as normal, and we saw big numbers of very small animal plankton that were around. It was quite unusual – we hadn’t seen anything quite like that in the whole 50 years of sampling that we’ve done. Yosty: What impacts could this have on the rest of the Gulf? Sonia: It’s still a question we’re working on. Plankton support everything in the ocean. All of the fish and mammals either feed on plankton themselves, or they feed on something that’s been eating plankton already. If there’s not so many of one type of plankton that might be bad, but there were quite a lot of animal plankton around so there obviously eating something. They may be eating something that we don’t see… One of the things we saw was that the types of plant plankton were slightly different: there were more of the smaller type of cell that are longer and thinner. Those cells typically do better in years when there’s not so many nutrients around, because they find it’s easier to take the nutrients up. It’s possible that those are not such a good food source for some of the animal plankton, or maybe the animal plankton weren’t finding as much of what they wanted and in turn that could mean that there’s not enough animal plankton for the fish and seabirds and mammals. But we still don’t really know – those kinds of patterns take a long time to be revealed. Yosty: Kathy mentioned something called domoic acid and its potential to impact seabirds. How is this related to the plankton that you’ve been studying? Sonia: Some phytoplankton – that’s the plant plankton – can produce a toxin called domoic acid. They don’t necessarily produce it over time, sometimes they produce it as a response to a stress in their environment. One of those stresses could be being eaten, so they produce it to put off zooplankton from eating them. There were reported instances of domoic acid in Alaska, and actually through a wide area of the North Pacific a lot of places were reporting it. Although the plankton have evolved to deal with the domoic acid that’s produced by the phytoplankton when other animals eat the zooplankton they concentrate the toxin, and as you go up the food chain the poison gets concentrated and it can potentially cause problems in larger animals that never ate plankton themselves but have eaten other organisms that have concentrated it. So it’s one explanation for why some of the seabirds may have been struggling in that year.   Plankton are considered one of the environmental drivers, so they’re the link between what happens in the ocean – in terms of water chemistry, temperature, the water conditions – and the fish, because plankton respond to their environment really quickly, and fish feed on plankton and larger organisms feed on fish, so the plankton are the link between the oceanography and the fish. We know that plankton respond really quickly because they have life cycles that are really short, sometimes even days, but all of them less than a year or at least a year is the longest life cycle. So if changes happen in their environment they respond quite quickly, and you can see that in changes in their numbers, and the types of plankton and where they’re at. So by monitoring them it gives you a really rapid response to a change in the environment. In the early part of the twentieth century in the UK, it was kind of hard to know where to send the fishing boats, you know, where they were going to find the herring, and Alister Hardy invented this instrument that could be towed behind ships, measuring the plankton, and it’s called the continuous plankton recorder. Continuous because, rather than taking a sample as a snapshot across, it continuously samples the plankton as it goes. His idea was that if you could understand the food of the herring, the food of the fish, maybe you could predict where they were going to be and then send the fishing boats there. You would build a map, a bit like a weather map, of where plankton were and when they were, and then you could send the fishers. So that was his idea, back in the early part of the early part of the twentieth century. And it took a few years to get routine, but from the 1930s onwards they were using this instrument to do that – to build up a picture of plankton meteorology, basically.         Who is watching the Blob?   Abnormally (adv): different from what is normal   Diverse (adj): a lot of variety   Invertebrate (n): an organism lacking a backbone   Organism (n): an individual life form   Phytoplankton (n): freely floating, often minute plants that drift with water currents   Productive (adj): producing enough energy to sustain life   Zooplankton (n): freely floating animals that drift with water currents  

Invitation to Bid (2): Fiberglass Cabin Cruiser and Platform Barge Invitation to Bid (ITB) for 21’ Fiberglass Cabin Cruiser and Trailer ITB Number: ASLC-ITB-2025-001 Start Date 06/04/2025 Close Date 06/18/2025, 3:00 PM Organization: Alaska SeaLife Center                                                                   PO Box 1329 / 301 Railway Avenue                                       Seward, AK 99664                                                                                Contact: Johanna Kinney Phone: 907-224-6349.    Email: Johannak@alaskasealife.org Date: June 4, 2025 1. Introduction The Alaska SeaLife Center invites qualified bidders to submit sealed bids for the sale of a used 21’ Parker fiberglass cabin cruiser vessel and 1,400 lb. capacity EZ Loader trailer. This procurement aims to update our fleet to support our research and outreach activities. 2. Viewing Opportunities Interested bidders are invited to view the vessel and trailer in person at Storm Chasers Marine Services, located at 13552 Lowell Point Rd, Seward, AK 99664. Viewing opportunities are available during normal business hours, which are Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. Climbing on and/or entering the vessel is not permitted. 3. Bid Submission Bids should be delivered or mailed in a sealed envelope and addressed as follows: Alaska SeaLife Center Attn: Johanna Kinney, RE: ASLC-ITB-2025-01 PO Box 1329 Seward, AK 99664 Envelopes must be clearly marked “ITB – Cabin Cruiser and Trailer: ASLC-ITB-2025-01”. Bids can be delivered in person to the front ticket counter at the Alaska SeaLife Center, located at 301 Railway Avenue, Seward, AK 99664, during normal business hours. To be considered, bids must be received by 3:00 p.m. on June 18, 2025. Bid contents should include the bidder's name, mailing address, phone number, bid number (ASLC-ITB-2025-01), bid item (Cabin Cruiser and Trailer), and bid amount. No money should be included in the bid envelope. 4. Evaluation and Award Bids will be evaluated based on complete bid information and price. The Alaska SeaLife Center reserves the right to accept or reject any bid and waive any minor irregularities. 5. Additional Terms The successful bidder must remit payment in cash or a cashier’s check and sign a bill of sale by June 25, 2025. Upon successful payment, execution of the bill of sale, and transfer of the trailer title, the successful bidder is responsible for either removing the items from the Storm Chasers' property by June 30, 2025, or providing documentation of a new storage services agreement to remain at the current location. The vessel and all associated equipment, parts, and materials are being offered and will be sold “AS IS, WHERE IS,” with no warranties or guarantees, express or implied, including but not limited to any warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The buyer assumes all responsibility for inspection and evaluation of the items prior to purchase and agrees to accept the items in their present condition. Vessel and Trailer Specifications Vessel Details: Vessel Name: Sea Searcher Type: Cabin Cruiser Year: 2003 Length: 21 feet Vessel Make: Parker Marine Enterprises Hull Material: Fiberglass/plastic Engines: 2 Yamaha Outboard engines, 200 HP / 10 HP each Fuel Capacity: 80 gallons (gasoline) Trailer Details: Type: EZ Loader – EZZY Class: 31 Year: 2003 Body: BT Weight: 1,400 lbs Most recent boat surveys and additional photos are available upon request to Johanna Kinney: johannak@alaskasealife.org, 907-224-6349. Invitation to Bid (ITB) for Platform Barge ITB Number: ASLC-ITB-2025-002 Start Date 06/04/2025 Close Date 06/18/2025, 3:00 PM Organization: Alaska SeaLife Center                                                                      PO Box 1329 / 301 Railway Avenue                                   Seward, AK 99664                          Contact: Johanna Kinney Phone: 907-224-6349.    Email: Johannak@alaskasealife.org           Date: June 4, 2025 1. Introduction The Alaska SeaLife Center invites qualified bidders to submit sealed bids for the sale of a used aluminum-pontoon platform barge with hydraulic steering console. This procurement aims to update our fleet to support our research and outreach activities. 2. Viewing Opportunities Interested bidders are invited to view the vessel in person at Storm Chasers Marine Services, located at 13552 Lowell Point Rd, Seward, AK 99664. Viewing opportunities are available during normal business hours, which are Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. Climbing on and/or entering the vessel is not permitted. 3. Bid Submission Bids should be delivered or mailed in a sealed envelope and addressed as follows: Alaska SeaLife Center Attn: Johanna Kinney, RE: ASLC-ITB-2025-02 PO Box 1329 Seward, AK 99664 Envelopes must be clearly marked “Platform Barge: ASLC-ITB-2025-02”. Bids can be delivered in person to the front ticket counter at the Alaska SeaLife Center, located at 301 Railway Avenue, Seward, AK 99664, during normal business hours. To be considered, bids must be received by 3:00 p.m. on June 18, 2025. Bid contents should include the bidder's name, mailing address, phone number, bid number (ASLC-ITB-2025-02), bid item (Platform Barge), and bid amount. No money should be included in the bid envelope. 4. Evaluation and Award Bids will be evaluated based on complete bid information and price. The Alaska SeaLife Center reserves the right to accept or reject any bid and waive any minor irregularities. 5. Additional Terms The successful bidder must remit payment in cash or a cashier’s check and sign a bill of sale by June 25, 2025. Upon successful payment and execution of the bill of sale, the successful bidder is responsible for either removing the vessel from the Storm Chasers' property by June 30, 2025, or providing documentation of a new storage services agreement to remain at the current location. No trailer is included with the vessel. The vessel and all associated equipment, parts, and materials are being offered and will be sold “AS IS, WHERE IS,” with no warranties or guarantees, express or implied, including but not limited to any warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The buyer assumes all responsibility for inspection and evaluation of the items prior to purchase and agrees to accept the items in their present condition. Vessel Specifications Vessel Details: Vessel Name: SSL Barge Year: 2003 Overall length: 32 feet Overall width/beam: 10 feet Deck load capacity: 10,000 pounds Weight: 3820 Vessel Make: Alcan Products Ltd Hull Material: double aluminum pontoon structure Pressure-treated lumber deck Propulsion: outboard compatible (no motors are for sale) Additional photos and information are available upon request to Johanna Kinney: johannak@alaskasealife.org, 907-224-6349. ***Motors and equipment shown in photographs are not for sale.  

The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) opened phase one of the Rocky Coast Discovery Pools on May 29, 2021.  Development of the new touch pool exhibit began with design work in 2017. Installation required a complete demolition of the former touch pool originally built in 1998. The new 1,100-gallon exhibit, equipped with six pools, was inspired by similar exhibits at various Association of Zoos and Aquariums facilities in the United States.  The Center is appreciative of generous supporters that made the exhibit possible including ConocoPhillips Alaska, First National Bank Alaska, Matson, Shoreside Petroleum, Petro Marine Services, and the Lindsey Family. Acquiring materials to build the ambitious design was a herculean effort during a pandemic, and Matson donated a significant portion of tank transportation. “As a leading carrier of goods to Alaska, Matson feels a sense of obligation to help make Alaska a better place to live. Supporting the construction of a new touch pool is one way we can help increase Alaskans’ access to education while supporting the health of Alaska’s marine environment. We look forward to seeing the new touch pool in action and the future marine scientists it inspires,” said Matson Senior Vice President Alaska, Bal Dreyfus. The Center was very appreciative to see contributions to the exhibit from long term supporters like ConocoPhillips Alaska. “ConocoPhillips Alaska has been investing in the Alaska SeaLife Center for more than 20 years, supporting important educational programs and critical projects, including the unique, interactive touch pools, and the ‘Save the Alaska SeaLife Center’ community campaign. The Center is entrusted to be a steward of this unique marine ecosystem, and ConocoPhillips Alaska and our many dedicated employees are proud to support this important work,” states ConocoPhillips Alaska President, Erec Isaacson. The Lindsey Family has not only contributed to this new exhibit, but also helped shape the concept of the Center before it opened. “We, as a family, are especially happy to be participants in the creation of this fantastic new exhibit at the Alaska SeaLife Center. My late husband, Dale, and I were personally involved in the original founding of the Center, and our family has continued with ongoing support since that long-ago opening day event, May 2, 1998. We are excited to see the fruition of the dream of a new and wonderful touch pool,” recounts Carol Ann Lindsey. Kurt R. Lindsey, President and CEO of Shoreside Petroleum and Petro Marine Services, is an equally strong supporter of the Center. “The Alaska SeaLife Center is a treasure that Alaskans and visitors alike can take pride in. The facility reflects the beauty of our State, the amazing creatures that God has created, and the need to be responsible stewards of our environment. All of us at Shoreside Petroleum and Petro Marine are grateful for the opportunity to partner with others to help make this exhibit possible,” states Lindsey. The ASLC team wanted to ensure empathy and accessibility was highlighted in the touch pool design to create an educational and engaging experience for all. This goal was reflected in the project contributors, especially First National Bank Alaska. “First National Bank Alaska’s commitment to the education of Alaska’s youth is a key component of our mission to support the communities we serve,” said Betsy Lawer, First National Board Chair and CEO. “What better way to honor that commitment than this donation to Alaska SeaLife Center’s new touch pools. They are an integral part in this world-class research and education facility’s efforts to help Alaskans experience the wonders of our amazing marine environment." The touch pools are available to explore during normal operating hours. The Alaska SeaLife Center is operating with controlled capacity to ensure a safe and enjoyable visitor experience. All guests, including members, are encouraged to reserve timed tickets in advance to secure their desired entry time: www.alaskasealife.org/tickets.  About ASLC: Opened in 1998, the Alaska SeaLife Center is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) research institution and public aquarium. It generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems. The ASLC is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. To learn more, visit www.alaskasealife.org or find us on Facebook.

The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) is caring for a female Pacific walrus calf that arrived from Utqiagvik on July 22, 2024. Walruses are rare patients for the Wildlife Response Department, with only eleven total and just one other female since the ASLC opened in 1998. This patient follows another walrus admitted just last year, which gained national attention but sadly passed away due to irreversible health issues. The ASLC’s newest patient was first observed alone on the beaches of Utqiagvik. Reports from subsistence hunters noted that a walrus herd had recently left the area, suggesting the calf had been left on its own. After receiving approval from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), ASLC staff mobilized to assist in transport and prepared to receive the patient. Transporting the calf from Utqiagvik, Alaska’s northernmost city, was no simple task. Luckily, ASLC partners were able to provide overnight care and fluids, ensuring the calf remained stable on its 24-hour journey. The transport team arrived in Anchorage the night of July 22, and the nearly 165-pound calf — estimated to be only a couple of weeks old or less — was brought under the care of the ASLC’s experienced Wildlife Response and Veterinary teams. The atmosphere was charged with determination and cautious optimism as the team conducted their initial admit exam. They noted that the calf was malnourished and dehydrated, but alert. As the team wrapped up administering emergency fluids and stabilizing treatments around 1 a.m. on July 23,  they prepared for the demanding days ahead. “We want to give [the calf] time to rest, but that doesn’t mean there is any time for the staff to rest. We will have at least two people on every shift either staying with the walrus calf or prepping food, cleaning the environment, and taking care of our other rehab patients. There will be lots of weird sleeping hours ahead, but that's ok. We do it for the animals. We want to give back and set them up for success. This is all part of the job we love,” said ASLC Veterinary Technician Jessica Davis. The care regimen for Pacific walruses is more demanding and hands-on than for many other marine mammals. Because calves are highly social and seek comfort through physical contact with their mothers, staff act as surrogates, sitting with them around the clock. This also means that the calf will habituate to human care, and will not be a candidate for release back into the wild.  "Walruses are so reliant on their moms for the first two years of life, they're likely not going to survive without her. This calf would not have survived much longer without her mom. She now has a second chance at life in human care, and she'll help bring awareness to her species while receiving incredible care,” explained Wildlife Response Animal Care Specialist Halley Werner. Though the walrus calf cannot currently be viewed publicly, she may be relocated to an area with limited public viewing as her condition improves. Upon such a development, additional announcements will be shared. Until then, regular updates can be found on the ASLC’s Facebook and Instagram pages.    The Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program can only provide care for stranded and injured marine animals with help from corporate sponsors and individual donors. The Center acknowledges the ongoing generous support of the Wildlife Response Program from supporters like ConocoPhillips Alaska, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, PetZoo, Partners 4 Wildlife, Matson, GCI,  and a number of individual donors, funds, and foundations such as Stanley J Williams Fund, Mesara Family Foundation, and the NC Giving Fund.  Those interested in contributing to the care of these patients can visit www.alaskasealife.org/donate.        Call first! Before approaching an injured or stranded marine animal in Alaska, call the 24-hour Stranded Marine Animal Hotline at 1-888-774-SEAL(7325).   

Donate Directly The Alaska SeaLife Center relies on the generous support of people like you as we strive to understand and maintain the integrity of Alaska's marine ecosystems. The Center is the only facility of its kind in Alaska, and we need your help to stay on the cutting edge of marine research, wildlife response, and education. Please consider a donation to the Alaska SeaLife Center as we work together to sustain Alaska's oceans. You can donate directly here or join a Giving Circle for higher level gifts. For more information on supporting Alaska SeaLife Center programs, contact the Development Office at (907) 224-6355 or development@alaskasealife.org.  Pick.Click.Give. Make a Difference using your Alaska PFD  Pick.Click.Give. allows Alaskans to share their Permanent Fund Dividend with causes they care about.  When you go online to apply for your dividend, you will see the Pick.Click.Give. option. Click and follow the instructions to make your donation. The Alaska SeaLife Center encourages and thanks the many Alaskan donors that have supported us in this way.     Investment Accounts We accept donations from several types of investment accounts, including qualified charitable distributions from IRAs and gifts of publicly traded securities such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. Please click here for more details and contact information if you would like to explore this opportunity.   Matching Gifts Your donation or volunteer time may be matched by your employer or you may designate a donation to the Alaska SeaLife Center!   Many employers will match your financial gift one-for-one or even two-for-one, providing additional support for the Alaska SeaLife Center. Click here to see if your company sponsors matching gift programs. Sometime these programs even extend to retirees. For additional information on matching gifts, contact the employee benefits office at your place of employment and request a matching gift form from your personnel office. Follow the directions to complete the form and mail the form for processing to:   Alaska SeaLife Center Attn: Development Office – Matching Gifts P.O. Box 1329 Seward, AK 99664-1329   Contact the Development Office at (907) 224-6355 or development@alaskasealife.org with any questions.

      Starting August 21 through Saturday, August 27, 2022 (ending at 8 PM)   Every donation of $25 or more for ASLC pinniped research will receive a limited edition sticker decal that shows you are a supporter of this critical research! This exclusive sticker was created specifically for this event by local Alaskan artist Sea Spray AK. (Donations must be made through this link to receive a sticker!)     Scientific Research was the founding reason that the Alaska SeaLife Center was created in 1991, and it remains a staple in our mission to this day. Two of the amazing scientific research projects at the ASLC that both focus on pinnipeds (seals and sea lions) are in need of your help!   Federal grant funds that support scientific research have diminished over the years, making the financial support for important scientific research more and more competitive. Less support has been coming to the ASLC science teams for research that is unique to the Alaska SeaLife Center and our partner scientists.   The important research our scientists have been working on for the endangered populations of Steller sea lions and ice seals have both been heavily impacted by funding reductions. With changing oceans and climates, the pinniped research at the ASLC has never been more important.   The Chiswell Island Steller Sea Lion Remote Video Monitoring Project has been collecting data for over 20 years at the ASLC, and years of hard work has just now started to give us a big picture look at the changes happening in our oceans.    The Alaska SeaLife Center is also home to the PHOCAS project, a special partnership between ASLC and the University of California Santa Cruz. PHOCAS stands for the Physiology and Health of Cooperating Arctic Seals. This program involves trained Alaskan ice seals that are studied at ASLC and Long Marine Laboratory. Scientists and veterinarians with expertise in seal science are working together to gather needed information about the behavior, development, health, and physiology of spotted, ringed, and bearded seals. The project will provide insight into how these seals may respond to changing ice and climate conditions in Alaskan Arctic and subArctic waters.    Every year the climate and our oceans are changing, and the science team working with arctic species of ice seals at the ASLC is collecting critical data on how these elusive arctic species will be impacted. If this project does not have enough funding to continue, all who care for the survival of these irreplaceable arctic species will be impacted.       From August 21 - 27, 2022 ASLC social media pages will be filled with stories and updates from the Center's pinniped scientific research teams.   Follow us on Facebook  Follow us on Instagram  Follow us on YouTube   Every donation of $25 or more for ASLC pinniped research will receive a limited edition sticker decal that shows you are a supporter of this critical research! This exclusive sticker was created specifically for this event by local Alaskan artist Sea Spray AK. (Donations must be made through this link to receive a sticker!)   Please join us this week on social media to learn more about this important research and help sustain this incredible scientific work that will inform policymakers for years to come.