Seward, Alaska (January 31, 2017) – The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2017 Alaska Ocean Leadership Awards. These awards are given annually to individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the awareness and sustainability of the state’s marine resources. The Alaska SeaLife Center appreciates the support provided by the award sponsors and thanks the awards committee members: Betsy Baker, Molly McCammon, Lisa Busch, Ian Dutton, Jason Brune and Michael Castellini for assistance in selecting the awardees.  The awards will be presented at the Alaska Marine Gala on February 11, 2017 at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage, Alaska. Tickets are nearly sold out.  For more information, please contact: Nancy Anderson, nancya@alaskasealife.org or 907-224-6396.   Following are the 2017 Alaska Ocean Leadership Award winners: Dorothy Childers will receive the prestigious Walter J. and Ermalee Hickel Lifetime Achievement Award. The late Governor Walter J. Hickel and his wife Ermalee endowed this award for 10 years to recognize an individual who has made exceptional contributions to the management of Alaska’s coastal and ocean resources for more than 20 years. Dorothy Childers’ contributions to the management of Alaska’s coastal and ocean resources have included tireless work of an exceptional quality as program staff, executive director, and as a Pew Marine Fellow with the Alaska Marine Conservation Council. She devoted her career to protecting the long-term health of Alaska’s oceans and to ensuring a voice for those Alaskans whose economy and culture depend on the long-term health of our ocean resources. Dorothy was instrumental in the North Pacific Fishery Management Council’s promulgation of a northern bottom trawl boundary in the Bering Sea, a collaboration with Bering Sea Elders Group on the publication of “The Northern Bering Sea: Our Way of Life” to inform conservation decisions, and production of the “Faces of Climate Change” DVD featuring climate scientists and Alaska Native observers. She has been a quiet catalyst for ongoing efforts to bring together Western science and traditional knowledge for continued understanding of climate change and its consequences for marine life, ocean habitat, communities, and cultures. Special projects supporting Bristol Bay fisheries and engaging coastal Alaskans on ocean acidification are helping to safeguard marine ecosystems. She has served on the North Pacific Research Board since 2004. ConocoPhillips will receive the Stewardship and Sustainability Award. This award is sponsored by Jason Brune, and honors an industry leader that demonstrates the highest commitment to sustainability of ocean resources. The year 2016 marked the 31st year that ConocoPhillips and its predecessors have funded a collaborative program with local fishers to monitor the fall Qaaqtak (Arctic cisco, Coregonus autumnalis) subsistence fish harvest on the Nigliq Channel of the Colville River, making it one of the longest Arctic subsistence fishery datasets in the world. Qaaqtak are a highly-prized food source for Alaskan Inupiat communities and a particularly important cultural resource for the nearby community of Nuiqsut. The monitoring program incorporates local and traditional knowledge of Nuiqsut fishers and collects data on Qaaktak abundance, the effort required to catch the species throughout the harvest season, as well as age, length, and weight of the catch. The information is used to monitor overall trends in the fishery. The program concept was originally focused on monitoring fish in Prudhoe Bay, but was expanded to include the Colville River Delta based on a request from Nuiqsut residents. ConocoPhillips has continued to voluntarily support the program as a commitment to the sustainability of an important anadromous species for which little was known of its lifecycle before the monitoring program began. Cade Emory Terada will receive the Hoffman-Greene Ocean Youth Award, which is sponsored by Dale Hoffman.The award honors an individual or team of Alaskan youth ages 12-19 who has displayed a dedication to promoting the understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s oceans. Cade has dedicated the past two years to advocating for our oceans. As the son of a fisherman and an active community member in Unalaska, he has a vested interest in protecting the oceans. Cade has traveled to Washington D.C. and Juneau to meet and speak with politicians about the impacts of ocean acidification on the crabbing and commercial fishing industries. Last year he also became an Arctic Youth Ambassador, and joined in official Arctic Council meetings to talk about his community’s concerns around oceans on an international level. Cade also participated in the Students on Ice program, which last summer brought together youth from across the Arctic to Greenland and Canada to dive deeper into how communities, land, and ocean are connected to ice and warming temperatures. In August of 2016, he took part in the Aleutian Life Forum which discussed ocean acidification and strategies for building more resilient communities. Despite the jet setting lifestyle that Cade has lived for the past two years as he has traveled to advocate for our oceans, he is a committed community member and student. He maintains a high grade point average and participates in school sports and clubs. He also encourages his peers to get involved and recently helped start a chapter of Alaska Youth for Environmental Action to bring Unalaska students together. Phyllis Shoemaker will receive the Marine Science Outreach Award. This award is given to a person, team or organization that has made an outstanding contribution to ocean literacy via formal or informal education, media or other communications. It is sponsored by the Alaska Ocean Observing System. Phyllis Shoemaker coordinated and quietly led the Alaska Region National Ocean Sciences Bowl – “Tsunami Bowl” – in Seward for over 15 years. Her work make possible the development of hundreds of budding marine science high school students, many of whom have gone on to the university study of marine science and careers in the field. During her time as coordinator for the “Tsunami Bowl” it grew from about ten teams competing each year to the maximum of twenty teams, often with waiting lists, that represent schools from throughout urban and rural parts of the state, from Southeast Alaska to the Arctic. Her leadership and work in getting sponsors for the Bowl, finding housing for teams and volunteers coming from thousands of miles away, organizing a complex competition schedule and set of brackets and bringing the National Ocean Sciences Bowl final competition to Alaska, have been essential to the Bowl’s success. Dr. Stanley Rice was selected to receive the Marine Research Award, sponsored by Drs. Clarence Pautzke and Maureen McCrea. This honor is given to a scientist, team of scientists, or an institution that is acknowledged by peers to have made an original breakthrough contribution to any field of scientific knowledge about Alaska’s oceans. Following a federal career spanning more than 40 years, Dr. Stanley Rice, known to all as “Jeep,” retired as Program Manager of Habitat and Chemistry at NOAA’s Auke Bay Laboratories in 2012. Jeep and his team’s tireless efforts, including more than 150 publications, have greatly added to our understanding of the long term fate and biological effects of oil in the marine environment whether it be from spills or chronic oil pollution. The discovery of the extent to which very low concentrations of oil in the environment could damage the productivity of marine organisms and compromise their habitats culminated, after a decade of further research, in a publication in Science (2003). These findings were built upon by other scientists to extend to seabirds, marine mammals, and the intertidal biota, resulting in a major paradigm shift in the scientific view of oil spills and chronic pollution. Beyond the arena of catastrophic oil spills, Jeep’s findings have been applied by scientists in the management of very low levels of hydrocarbon pollution and the protection of ecosystems in urban estuaries. For example, Jeep’s team’s findings led to more stringent water quality standards for hydrocarbons in fish spawning habitats. Jeep’s work also had an impact on oil spill contingency planning where proactive measures such as double hulled tankers and altered shipping routes have appeared in plans that once focused solely on cleanup technologies. 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. To learn more, visit www.alaskasealife.org.

animatedcollapse.addDiv('1', '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('2', '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() Who is watching walrus? REMOTE (adj) - far from cities. In Alaska, this almost always means a place that is not on the road system and can only be reached by boat, plane, dogsled, snowmachine, or helicopter. DURATION (n) - the length of time CENSUS (n) - a count of individuals METHOD (n) - the way information is collected STILL CAMERA (n) - a camera that takes photos (not video) COST EFFECTIVE (adj) - worth the price MARITIME (adj) - related to marine (ocean) environments or conditions           The Plan Figuring out how to observe walrus at land haulouts was a challenge for the research team. Their system needed to be: Low cost Low maintenance (because sites are in remote locations) Able to measure duration (from the first walrus to arrive to the last walrus to leave) Able to visually observe the presence of walrus and allow for a census count Able to observe the cause(s) of possible disturbances Minimally disruptive to the animals While brainstorming, many methods were considered. The team thought about using airplanes to fly over haulout sites. They considered asking locals to report observations or stationing their own research staff near haulouts throughout the entire summer season. Finally, the team talked about placing remote video or still cameras at known haulout locations. The pros and cons for each method were evaluated. Flying over sites would be expensive and time consuming because the range of Pacific walruses covers thousands of miles. The sound of low flying planes might also disturb the animals. Local observations are impossible in many areas because haulouts are so remote. And stationing field researchers at known haulouts all season could prove very expensive. In the end, the team concluded that setting up remote cameras was the most cost-effective choice. They also decided that using still cameras set on timers would let them get the most data about how walrus were using land haulouts. Watch the two videos below to learn about the equipment Dr. Polasek's team used and some of the challenges they had to deal with while designing a plan to observe walrus using remote cameras. VIDEO: Equipment But won’t it get wet? Terril Efird talks about the equipment the team chose and how they keep it dry and functioning in the maritime climate. (1 minute) Video Transcript What equipment are you using to study walruses in remote areas? This is an example of one of the camera setups that we’ll have out in the field. It’s a Nikon digital camera, eight megapixel camera, and that’s wired into a 12-volt battery to keep it charged. A lot of these cameras will be going out for months at a time, so keeping the battery charged is really important, and to do that we’ll have a solar panel out there that will charge the larger battery. We’ll put the camera inside of this weatherproof and waterproof housing, and that’ll keep everything nice and dry so the electronics don’t fry while we’re out there. And we’ll have two of these at each of the sites, one looking at the haulout and then another one just looking offshore to see if we can capture any boats or predators of walrus that might be coming by and see how the walrus respond to that. VIDEO: Challenges Terril Efird describes some of the challenges involved in monitoring walrus. (35 seconds) Video Transcript What challenges did you face while planning for this project? One of the most challenges parts was picking our sites. We want to make sure that we have sites where we can go put these cameras up and we know that the walrus are going to come and be at those sites during the season. And not only have the walrus there but also have cliffs or bluffs that we can set these cameras up on top of so we can get a good vantage point, so we can get good estimates of how many walrus are hauling out and also what the immediate water access is like. With these challenges in mind, the scientists put a lot of thought into selecting the best locations to set up their cameras. Continue on to the "Action!" page to see which sites along Alaska's coastline they chose.      

EVOSTC (Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council) has funded a five-year, $12.5 million dollar project focused on education and outreach that will create and maintain a framework that builds the capacity of existing resources within the Exxon Valdez oil spill impacted region. The project ensures that current scientific information, skills, and activities are publicly accessible and serve community needs. It will also incorporate local and traditional knowledge into future research. “We are thrilled to receive EVOSTC support for this innovative multi-year proposal. There is immense potential for an active, collaborative, cross-sector network to positively impact ecosystems and communities that continue to be affected by the 1989 oil spill,” said Wei Ying Wong, Ph.D., Chief Science and Education Officer of the Alaska SeaLife Center. The CORaL (Community Organized Restoration and Learning) Network is a collaboration between six organizations: Alaska SeaLife Center, Alaska Sea Grant, Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository, Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, Chugach Regional Resources Commission, and Prince William Sound Science Center. “The Prince William Sound Science Center is excited to collaborate with our CORaL Network partners. This community-centered network will foster new connections between scientists, educators, and people throughout the spill-affected region and will lead to scientific outreach that is co-created and culturally responsive,” said Katrina Hoffman, President and CEO of Prince William Sound Science Center. The six organizations are located throughout the impacted regions from the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill ranging from Prince William Sound, Homer, and Kodiak Island. "The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies in Homer, AK is ecstatic to be part of the CORaL collaborative project. We are honored to help facilitate conversations between traditional ecological knowledge holders and EVOSTC-funded scientists and co-create relevant and rewarding outreach and internship programs that benefit local communities,” said Beth Trowbridge, Executive Director of the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies. The CORaL Network will create multiple pathways for participation including a network website, community sharing, cultural and communication competency learning opportunities, community science and outreach resources, and an intern institute. “Internships are a key part of this five-year project. As a Native organization, we are especially looking forward to the opportunity to mentor young people in heritage preservation. Students will have valuable opportunities to work beside our professional staff and to learn about archaeology, collections care, and public outreach. This work will build cultural competence and pride in students of all heritages.” said April Laktonen Counceller, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Alutiiq Museum. (Photo right: Hunter Simeonoff, a CORaL summer intern at the Alutiiq Museum, participates in excavations at the Nunalleq site, Kodiak Island, June 2022.  Photo Courtesy of the Alutiiq Museum) The project aims to coordinate science outreach between organizations, engage regional youth in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math) with the help of scientists, and sustain capacity-building activities such as learning opportunities and internships. “Alaska Sea Grant is excited to join the network and bring our experience working in partnerships to provide outreach and education to coastal communities. In addition to promoting youth, scientific, and community engagement, one of our first efforts will be a data visualization app to collect real-time community observations and turn them around in a useful, accessible format,” said Leigh Lubin, Education Specialist of Alaska Sea Grant. “Chugach Regional Resources Commission is honored to be a part of the CORaL Network project. In direct response to our tribal member's concerns, the network will coordinate regular meetings between local elders, community members, scientists, educators, and outreach specialists where tribes most impacted by the spill will be given the opportunity to collaborate to ensure science and communities are mutually informed by co-created knowledge,” said Willow Hetrick, Executive Director of Chugach Regional Resources Commission.     Organizations in the CORaL Network: ●  Alaska SeaLife Center https://www.alaskasealife.org/ ●  Alaska Sea Grant https://alaskaseagrant.org/ ●  Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository https://alutiiqmuseum.org/ ●  Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies https://www.akcoastalstudies.org/ ●  Chugach Regional Resources Commission https://www.crrcalaska.org/website/ ●  Prince William Sound Science Center https://pwssc.org/     

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()         With their hypotheses developed and their study subjects chosen, Dr. Mellish and the team began the detailed process of planning their fieldwork. The team's field season in Antarctica needed to coincide with the seal's reproductive season, which runs from late October to December. It would be important to arrive by early October to maximize their time before the late spring ice melt made it unsafe to work on the sea ice. The team chose research sites on Erebus Bay, a pupping and breeding area just a short snowmobile ride from the U.S. base at McMurdo Station. From the Erebus Bay location, they'd select forty healthy seals to participate in the study. It was decided that only healthy animals should be studied and that, of the adults studied, all should be females. This would help prevent outside variables from complicating the data. Navigate through the pictures below to learn about the tools the researchers used to select healthy animals for their project: The team was able to work directly with each seal to complete its initial health assessment. However, to collect research data from the healthy animals, the researchers would need to monitor the seals as they went about their daily lives. Since a lot of a seal's time is spent beneath the sea ice - where it's difficult for researchers to observe them directly - this data would have to be collected remotely. To do this, the team outfitted each seal with specially engineered instruments, called data loggers, that would record and store the team's data. VIDEO: STUDYING SEALS USING DATA LOGGERS Dr. Markus Horning explains how the research team used data loggers to collect data for the Weddell seal project. (2:19) Video Transcript My name is Markus Horning, and I am an Associate Professor of Wildlife with Oregon State University’s Marine Mammal Institute. I’ve worked with Weddell seals in the Antarctic ever since my first trip to the Antarctic in 1981. My expertise that I bring to the table is related to my ability to bridge engineering and biology. I’m a biologist by training, I have a Ph.D. in biology, but I’ve always dabbled in electronics. We really can accomplish much more in our attempts to study and understand these animals if we use what we call “telemetry devices.” Basically, we use fancy electronics that can go with the animal where they go and where we can’t. Often times where I come in is figuring out, ‘Okay, this is the question, this is the data we need in order to be able to answer this question we have about the biology of this animal.’ Then I ask, ‘How can we get that data?’ and I find specialty sensors that give us exactly that data that we need. In this project we actually have several separate devices that we glue to the back of an animal. These are multi-channel devices - they have many different sensors. The information that we’re really most interested in is the information we get from the heat flux sensors. We glue these onto the surface of the skin of the seal and they measure exactly how much heat the animal is transferring to the cold water or cold air. To be able to understand this data and the patterns we see in terms of heat dissipation, we also need to record the behavior of the animal. That’s why we’re recording dive depth, swim speed, because that really determines the physiological state of an animal. If everything works well we find our animal after about five days, I’d say, and everything is still attached. We immobilize the animal a second time and we just peel everything off, or we shave a little bit of fur off. We get everything back home and we download the data. We want to recover the equipment so we can use it again on another animal, but also because the devices that we use actually record the most important information in memory. So, unless we recover the device we don’t have access to the data that we really want.       WHO IS STUDYING SEALS?   HYPOTHESIS (n) - a proposed explanation to a question that must be tested   PUPPING SEASON (n) - the time during the year when seal pups are born   OUTSIDE VARIABLE (n) - something not being tested in a study that could impact the data   DATA (n) - values for something measured   MONITOR (v) - to keep surveillance over something   REMOTELY (adv) - from a distance, without direct contact   DATA LOGGER (n) - a device that measures and stores data on the activity or condition of an animal.    

animatedcollapse.addDiv('1', '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('2', '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() Who is watching walrus? IMPACT (v) - to affect or change something else FORAGE (v) - to search for and collect food MIGRATE (of animal) (v)- to move seasonally from one area to another           Background Scientists know that when summer sea ice in the Arctic melts away from their shallow feeding grounds, Pacific walrus will haul out on land to stay near their food. The Icy Cape stampede showed scientists that land haulouts in the Chukchi Sea can be dangerous for young walrus. Scientists wonder how walrus populations will be impacted when the walrus have to use land haul outs more and more often. To understand how walrus populations might be affected by changes in their Arctic habitat, scientists first had to understand "normal" Pacific walrus behavior. Take a look at the videos and fact sheet below to explore what researchers already know about the mysterious Pacific walrus. VIDEO: The Pacific Walrus Understanding walruses' relationship with sea ice is important to understanding their behavior. (1 minute) Video Transcript Pacific walrus feed in relatively shallow water, hunting for small invertebrates on the ocean floor. In the Bering and Chukchi Seas, the continental shelf provides a vast area of shallow, rich feeding grounds for the walrus. Walrus haul out on sea ice or on land to rest between feeding trips. Although they are good swimmers, they don’t typically swim long distances, so they prefer to rest near where they eat. In the winter, arctic sea ice extends south into the Bering Sea, where large herds of male and female walrus spend the winter together. Then in the springtime, females and calves follow the melting sea ice north into the Chukchi Sea, while adult males separate from the rest of the population and migrate south to spend the summer in Bristol Bay. The male walruses in Bristol Bay typically haul out on land and feed near shore. In the Chukchi Sea, the females and calves spend their summer floating on the sea ice, drifting over the shallow continental shelf. In recent years, summer sea ice in the Arctic has melted beyond the edge of the continental shelf, leaving the females and calves without their traditional feeding and resting platforms.   WALRUS FACT SHEET (click to download .pdf) Female walrus and their calves use sea ice all year. They migrate to the Chukchi sea in summer because there is so much food available for them there. Watch the video below to hear Dr. Lori Polasek talk more about how females and calves may be affected if they can't haul out on sea ice and must move to areas on land, instead. VIDEO: Females and Calves Dr. Lori Polasek describes how females and calves might be impacted by hauling out on land instead of sea ice. (1.5 minutes) Video Transcript What are some of the possible impacts of females and calves hauling out on land instead of sea ice? There are several important facts about walrus that we had to understand before starting this project, and one of those is that land haulouts are primarily used by male walruses, of all ages, and ice is primarily used by females and calves. And the importance of ice, you can think of it as a mom and calf are floating around on a piece of ice and that keeps them moving across the water so it allows them to utilize different resources so they don’t impact a resource and completely deplenish [deplete] it. Also, by allowing them to float around, they’re not congregated together, where they’re more susceptible to predators, where then you allow the whole herd’s offspring to potentially be wiped out by a predator. It also takes your young, your offspring which are more susceptible to disease, and separates them from the population so that disease can’t spread as fast. So these new emerging haulouts with moms & calves packed together, then wipe out all of those protections of those calves by exposing them to disease as a group, by allowing them higher exposure to predators, and then by also having them together totally deplete resources in a localized area. Arctic sea ice extent is impacted by changes in seasonal and global climate. Walrus respond to changes in sea ice by migrating and adapting their behavior. Understanding how sea ice forms and why it melts can help scientists understand more specifically how walrus will be influenced. Check out the sea ice fact sheet below! SEA ICE FACT SHEET (click to download .pdf) This important background knowledge helped scientists from the Alaska SeaLife Center develop a research project studying walrus.      

  The Alaska SeaLife Center is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 Alaska Ocean Leadership Awards.   These awards are given annually to individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the awareness and sustainability of the state’s marine resources. The Alaska SeaLife Center appreciates the support provided by the award sponsors and thanks the awards committee members (Jason Brune, Ginny Eckert, Lynn Palensky, Brian Pinkston, Robert Suydam, and Sheyna Wisdom) for their assistance in selecting the award recipients. These awards will be presented at the Alaska Marine Science Symposium on January 23 and the Alaska SeaLife Center Soiree on February 18, both in Anchorage.   Vera Metcalf will receive the prestigious Walter J. and Ermalee Hickel Lifetime Achievement Award. Following the footsteps of the late Governor Walter J. Hickel and the late Ermalee Hickel, the Hickel Family continues to sponsor this award to recognize individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the management of Alaska’s coastal and ocean resources for more than 20 years. Vera Metcalf has held the position of Eskimo Walrus Commission (EWC) Director for over 20 years. She is a recent inductee to the Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame, an honor given to women who have influenced the direction of Alaska. Vera has held several positions including Commissioner on the U.S. Arctic Research Commission, a member of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, and currently serves as a Special Advisor on Native Affairs with the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission. She works and communicates easily with scientists, researchers, political appointees, tribal leaders, and EWC members to ensure ocean resources are available for generations to come. Leading the EWC, Vera represents Alaska’s coastal walrus hunting communities in the co-management of the Pacific walrus and ensures that scientific and Indigenous Knowledge research is conducted responsibly and utilized effectively in management decisions regarding the Pacific walrus population.   Dr. Sue Moore, Ph.D., will receive the Marine Research Award. This award is sponsored by Drs. Clarence Pautzke and Maureen McCrea. This honor is given to a scientist, team of scientists, or an institution that is acknowledged by peers to have made an original breakthrough contribution to any field of scientific knowledge about Alaska’s oceans. Dr. Sue Moore has studied Arctic marine mammals and their ecosystems since 1981, with a focus on the northern Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas. Dr. Moore served as the Cetacean Program Leader and Director of NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center’s Marine Mammal Laboratory, and as a Research Scientist and Senior Scientist at NOAA’s Office of Science and Technology. She has authored or co-authored more than 130 peer-reviewed articles and has consistently emphasized, promoted, and used long-term studies as the basis for her many scientific contributions. She is recognized for her expertise and contributions to science related to how the Arctic ecosystem functions and to the stewardship of upper trophic-level species. In 2020, she received the International Arctic Science Committee Medal in recognition of her outstanding achievement in understanding marine mammals as ecosystem sentinels and how climate change is influencing the phenology of Arctic species. In addition to her extensive science contributions, Dr. Moore has served on many boards and commissions, including the International Whaling Commission’s Scientific Committee and numerous advisory and steering committees for the National Science Foundation. Earlier this month, she was appointed by President Biden as one of three Commissioners on the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission.   Catherine Walker will receive the Marine Science Outreach Award. This award is given to a person, team, or organization that has made an outstanding contribution to ocean literacy via formal or informal education, media, or other communications. It is sponsored by the Alaska Ocean Observing System. Catherine Walker is a National Board Certified science teacher at Dimond High in Anchorage, teaching marine biology/oceanography, essentials of engineering, and drone aviation. Seeking to enrich the experiences of her students and empower the next generation of ocean stewards, Catherine is involved in the school’s Ocean Club, Green Effects Club, field trips to Kasitsna Bay and Prince William Sound, the National Ocean Science Bowl, has helped Dimond High become a NOAA Ocean Guardian School, and is a member of the NOAA Pacific Educators Network. Catherine has served as an adjunct professor through Prince William Sound College and is continually working to innovate and collaborate with other teachers and community members to better serve her student’s understanding of our oceans and the need for conservation of Alaska’s unique and vital ecosystems. Through her work, Catherine has increased ocean literacy for thousands of youth and adults. A winner of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching as well as a National Geographic Certified Educator, Catherine is described as a tireless advocate for education and for the improvement of Alaska’s marine ecosystems.   Patrick Simpson, Alaska Plastic Recovery, LLC will receive the Stewardship and Sustainability Award. This award is sponsored by Jason Brune and honors an industry leader that demonstrates the highest commitment to sustainability of ocean resources. Patrick Simpson of Alaska Plastic Recovery, LLC is working to create innovative solutions to assess, collect, and utilize plastic ocean waste found on Alaskan beaches. An engineer and entrepreneur based in Anchorage, Simpson is working to develop technologies specifically for Alaska. One of these technologies includes creating plastic-based lumber from marine debris with a mobile plastic ocean waste recycler that is designed within a shipping container to be used even in remote communities. Simpson and Alaska Plastic Recovery LLC are also in development to include heavy-lift drones to remove bags of marine debris on beaches and marine learning algorithms that can be used to assess the debris. Simpson engages high school students to demonstrate these technologies. Taking the major worldwide problem of plastic marine debris pollution and turning it into an opportunity, Simpson’s exciting and inventive efforts will result in cleaner beaches and oceans and reduce microplastics in our marine ecosystems.   Mia Siebenmorgen Cresswell will receive the Ocean Youth Award. The Ocean Youth Award is awarded to an individual or team of Alaskan youth up to 19 years old who has displayed a dedication to promoting the understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s oceans. Mia Siebenmorgen Cresswell served as an intern for the Prince William Sound Regional Citizen’s Advisory Council’s marine invasive species monitoring program. Monitoring the nearshore coastal ecosystem in her hometown of Cordova, Mia set traps to monitor for European green crab and monitored settlement plates in the local harbor for benthic invasive species as part of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center’s Plate Watch program. She has engaged in outreach by presenting her monitoring work at events including the Wrangell Institute for Science and Environment’s Science Lecture Series and the Prince William Sound Natural History Symposium. Mia also interned at the Prince William Sound Science Center and the Copper River Watershed Project, where she took on various multimedia and art projects, created small grant proposals, and served as a youth leader for a summer stewardship program. She has brought greater awareness to the issue of marine invasive species in Alaska and stewards the importance of marine science in Southcentral Alaska and beyond.  

animatedcollapse.addDiv('1', '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('2', '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() Who is watching walrus? DISTRIBUTION (n) - how thickly or evenly something is spread out over an area             2012 Updates from Bristol Bay In May 2012, the researchers returned to Bristol Bay. Installing cameras was again a big adventure. After their plane broke down, the team unexpectedly spent a night sleeping on the beach of a remote island! Check out some of their observations from the 2012 season! We'll continue adding data as more is analyzed over the winter. Cape Seniavin Disturbance (click to download .pdf) VIDEO: Foot Traffic Disturbance Walruses at Cape Seniavin are disturbed by people walking along the beach. (1 minute) Sometimes just the presence of people on the beach is enough to disturb walrus. These folks might not have known it, but the Marine Mammal Protection Act makes it illegal to get within 100 yards of any marine mammal. VIDEO: Airplane Disturbance Walruses at Cape Seniavin are disturbed by an airplane flying overhead. (1 minute) Just the sound of a plane flying low overhead was enough to disturb these walrus at Cape Seniavin. Scientists are curious what impact repeated disturbances (like planes flying over daily or people using the area regularly) might have on the number of walrus using a haulout. Next Steps In the summer of 2012, the scientists took a huge step. They installed their first cameras along the Chukchi Sea near the village of Point Lay, Alaska. Dr. Lori Polasek hoped that, if the season's sea ice melted past the edge of the walruses' normal range, the animals might choose to haulout on land in this area. She had good reason to expect this, because walrus had hauled out near Point Lay twice in recent summers. Since the beach in this area is so flat, the team could not rely on cliffs or other natural features to provide good vantage points for their cameras. Instead, they constructed a tower. The tower was designed so that local volunteers could rotate the camera angles depending on where along the beach the walrus had hauled out. However, the team didn't get any data from the Point Lay cameras in 2012. This time, it wasn't because the cameras failed to work. Instead, sea ice remained available in that area, so no walrus hauled out at the site this year. An organization called the National Snow and Ice Data Center works together with NASA to monitor sea ice coverage in the Arctic using satellites. Data is collected daily and is used to form models that help scientists predict how much sea ice will cover the Arctic during different times of the year. Satellite monitoring of Arctic sea ice began in 1979. When scientists compare historical data with recent ice conditions, they can say with confidence that conditions in the Arctic are changing. In fact, satellite data shows that the amount of sea ice covering the Arctic was lower in the summer of 2012 than in any other year since monitoring began! So why didn't walrus haul out on land in Alaska if there was less sea ice in the Arctic than ever before? It all comes down to the distribution of ice. Although there was less ice overall in 2012, patchy areas of ice remained floating in the Chukchi Sea. There was enough floating sea ice to allow females and calves to stay near their feeding grounds without having to move to land-based haulouts. This year's results don't mean the end of the research project and Dr. Lori Polasek isn't abandoning the idea of monitoring haulouts in the Chukchi Sea. In fact, the team hopes to add more monitoring sites along this area in upcoming years. Global climate patterns are changing and the impact is evident in the Arctic. These changes are visible in warmer-than-average annual global temperatures and in a decrease in the extent of summer sea ice in the Arctic over many decades. Climate scientists know that looking at the conditions in one year doesn't paint a clear picture of long-term conditions in the Arctic. In the same way, the walrus research team recognizes that, just because walrus did not use Alaska land-based haulouts along the Chukchi in 2012, it doesn't mean they won't rely on these areas in the future. Stay tuned for more information as this research project continues. In the mean time, educate yourself about how humans are impacting climate in the Arctic and around the globe. Do your part to help lessen our impact: learn about your carbon footprint and about what earth-friendly actions you can take in your everyday life. Dr. Lori Polasek and her team would like to thank all the sponsors and partners for this research project, including the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Defenders of Wildlife, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, SeaWorld & Busch Garden’s Conservation Fund, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 2012 Updates from US Geological Survey   Walruses at Cape Seniavin are disturbed by people walking along the beach. (1 minute)      

In an unusually dramatic wildlife response case, the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) has admitted a newborn female northern sea otter pup from Homer, AK. The pup was orphaned following an orca attack incidentally witnessed by ASLC laboratory technician and wildlife response team member Natalie Hunter. While calls to the ASLC’s Wildlife Response Program concerning lost or abandoned sea otter pups are not uncommon, the background of these patients — including how the pup ended up alone — is often a matter of speculation, making this case particularly unique.   The nerve-wracking incident occurred September 9, 2023, while Hunter and friends were on a recreational fishing trip in Homer, AK. They were excited to spot two wild orcas, and the boat captain shut the motor off to observe from a distance. The group on the boat did not know this was a pod of transient orcas known to predate on mammals, so Hunter and friends did not immediately connect that an otter floating nearby could be a target. It wasn't until a commotion under the otter happened that they realized what they were witnessing. The otter did not attempt to dive away from the whales, and the group realized the otter was carrying a pup when they heard the characteristic young otter calls. Multiple attacks from the orcas ensued. They saw both the mother otter and pup burst out of the water after an impressive tail slap from one of the orcas. Mom and pup were separated, and the orcas focused their attention on the mother. Eventually, the mother otter did not resurface, and the orca began leaving the area. Persistent cries from the water indicated that the pup had survived the attack. After waiting to ensure the orcas were not returning for the pup and the mother did not resurface, the group called the ASLC Wildlife Response Hotline (1-888-774-7325) to report the incident and wait for further instruction.   Natalie Hunter, ASLC Lab Technician, frequently works on the ASLC wildlife response team and is usually one of the people taking the calls on the hotline. “It was weird to be on the other side of the wildlife response hotline. It wasn’t someone calling me to report an animal in need. It was the other way around,” said Hunter. “My brain was in wildlife response mode during the entire incident, thinking we, unfortunately, may have an otter pup rescue on our hands. It wasn’t until the entire event ended, the wild orcas had left the area, and the pup started crying out for its mother that I knew we had to think about the next move.” To make the situation even more extraordinary, Hunter was on board with friends who have wildlife response experience. Ally Kintner was formerly a USFWS volunteer stranding coordinator in Homer.  Another friend, Adriana Ferello, was also a former USFWS volunteer stranding coordinator, former ASLC intern, and current veterinary technician at the Georgia Aquarium. From the group’s extensive experience rescuing sea otter pups, they knew this pup did not have much time left and knew how to act accordingly. Once the ASLC got permission from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to respond to the pup, the group carefully got the newborn otter out of the water and onto the boat.  “Her cries were gurgly, and when we got her out of the water, she was soaked,” Hunter recollects. “Her coat wasn’t repelling water and keeping her buoyant like it should have been.” Despite the pup’s trying circumstances, she was now in experienced and caring hands. The group made their way back to the shore, attending carefully to the young otter for the duration of the boat trip. They met the ASLC Wildlife Response team halfway between Seward and Homer, about a two-hour drive, and the ASLC team immediately transported the pup back to the Center. Staff conducted an admit exam and found that the pup was fatigued and hungry, but otherwise seemed to be in good health. A fresh umbilical cord confirmed the patient was only a day — possibly even hours old.  “Very rarely do we know how a wildlife response patient got to the location and the condition it was found in. For most reported cases of an abandoned seal or otter pup, we have the reporter watch for a length of time to see if the mother returns. In this rare case, we know exactly what happened to this newborn pup,” said Jane Belovarac, ASLC Wildlife Response Curator.  This is the second orphaned otter pup admitted to the ASLC in less than a week. Because northern sea otter pups receive constant care and attention from their mothers until around six months of age, both patients are under 24/7 care from our team during this sensitive time.  The ASLC will continue to post updates on current wildlife response patients on the ASLC social media 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. People are encouraged to contribute to the care of rehabilitating marine animals here: www.alaskasealife.org/donate. 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.    

          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()         All research starts with one or more questions. Dr. Tuula Hollmen and her team are tackling a broad question: What do Steller’s eiders need to breed successfully? The team isn't going to find the answer just by looking in a textbook. Steller’s eiders are unique. Little is known about their needs and they don’t follow the same breeding behaviors of other well-studied waterfowl like domestic ducks. So, why is Dr. Hollmen interested in this particular question when it comes to eiders? VIDEO: STELLER'S EIDERS RESEARCH QUESTIONS Dr. Tuula Hollmen discusses the factors that led to her research questions and how she plans to investigate those questions. (1:46) Video Transcript The eider is a long-lived species that has a high adult survival but very variable and potentially low annual productivity or reproductive success. And it works because the species lives a long time, so each individual can have a really long reproductive career, and they don’t have to be successful every year, because they have (in eider’s case) they potentially have at least 15 years to breed. Reproductive success is really one of the key questions for the recovery. If that continues to be low or doesn’t reach some certain threshold, recovery will either not happen or take a really long time. But if they can increase productivity then we might see recovery. I would like to ask the question: what does an eider need to breed successfully? We have a suite of sub questions: What makes an eider pairing successful? What kinds of nests are successful? How do you set the incubation conditions for successful hatching? So those are sub-questions. So when we set up to answer the question in our program here, we think about all these factors that the eiders are faced with in the wild and we transfer that to our own virtual reality that we are creating here. The habitat is not the natural habitat, but we are learning from the wild birds as to what are the key features of their habitat that they need to go through all the different steps of the reproductive cycle. So we would try to mimic the available nest sites, the privacy, the ponds, the water quality, all those kinds of things to the best we can and match them to the natural environment. Dr. Hollmen has to think about how to convert the complex, wild system that the eiders come from into a virtual habitat at the Alaska SeaLife Center so that her team can learn from the captive reservoir population. With little existing research, a small wild population in Barrow, sporadic nesting on the Y-K Delta, and hundreds of variables, how will the scientists figure out what a pair of Steller’s eider needs to breed successfully? Here’s the benefit of science: they can try out different materials and techniques (experimentation!) and use careful observation to figure out a strategy that works for the captive eiders. The research question cannot be answered in one year. Every breeding season tests if the scientists’ current arrangement helps the birds breed successfully. Scientific inquiry is a process, and the eider team knows it well as they continue to learn, question, and adapt. It's what they've been doing for over a decade!        CLICK BELOW TO LEARN ABOUT SEADUCK SCIENTISTS!   ADAPT (n) - to change behaviors or physical traits to survive in a specific environment.   BROOD (n) - the offspring of an animal, especially of a bird.   BROOD (v) - to sit on eggs to hatch them.   EXPERIMENT (v) - to do a scientific test in which you perform a series of actions and carefully observe their effects.   INQUIRY (n) - an act of asking or searching for information.   THRESHOLD (n) - a level, point, or value above which something is true or will take place.   VARIABLE (n) - an element, feature, or factor that can vary or change.   VIRTUAL (adj) - very close to being something without actually being it.    

Seward, Alaska (January 29, 2015) – The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) is proud to announce the 2015 Alaska Ocean Leadership Awards. These awards are given annually to individuals and organizations that  have made significant contributions to the awareness and sustainability of the state’s marine resources. The Alaska SeaLife Center appreciates the support provided by the award sponsors and thanks the Awards Committee members: Jason Brune, Dale Hoffman, Dr. Mike Castellini, Dr. Ian Dutton, Lisa Busch, Molly McCammon, Denby Lloyd, and Carlyn Nichols for assistance in selecting the awardees.  Two of the awards were presented at the Alaska Marine Science Symposium the week of January 19, 2015 at the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage, Alaska. The remaining awards will be presented at the Alaska Marine Gala on February 21, 2015 at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage, Alaska. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are still available.  For additional information, visit www.alaskasealife.org Following are the 2015 Alaska Ocean Leadership Award winners: Al Burch will receive the prestigious Walter J. and Ermalee Hickel Lifetime Achievement Award. The late Governor Walter J. Hickel and his wife Ermalee endowed this award for 10 years to recognize an individual who has made exceptional contributions to the management of Alaska’s coastal and ocean resources over a period of 20 years or more. Starting as a shrimp dragger in Seward, Al Burch has fished Alaskan waters for more than 55 years and serves on numerous national and international fishing boards. Since 2002, Al has represented the Kodiak Island Borough on the board of the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council. Al accepted the council position because he believes it is important that active fishermen have representation. He strives for an equal balance between various interest groups to ensure Alaskan waters are protected but not overly regulated. Al is a founding member of the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation and served 30 years on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Advisory Panel. He recently retired as the Executive Director of the Alaska Whitefish Trawlers Association, a non-profit group representing approximately 40 bottom-fish vessels out of Kodiak. He was inducted into the United Fishermen of Alaska’s Seafood Hall of Fame in 2009 for his dedication to Alaska’s fisheries and ocean resources. Award to be presented at the Alaska Marine Gala.   The Alyeska Vessel of Opportunity Program will receive the Stewardship& Sustainability Award. This award is sponsored by Jason Brune, and honors an industry leader that demonstrates the highest commitment to sustainability of ocean resources. Alyeska Pipeline Service Company employs its Ship Escort/Response Vessel System (SERVS) annually to train and educate crew members of some 450 vessels in Prince William Sound to support spill response in the region. Participants from Valdez, Cordova, Whittier, Homer, Kodiak, and Seward learn necessary skills to join Alyeska in spill response, containment, and recovery. The training results in an entire fleet of an estimated 1,500 professionals now poised to work with SERVS to protect their communities in the unlikely case of an actual incident. The local knowledge and commitment of the Prince William Sound fishing communities is evident in this program’s ongoing success - ensuring that the fisheries and environment are protected and sustained for years to come. Award to be presented at the Alaska Marine Gala.   Alisa Aist will receive the Ocean Youth Award, which is sponsored by Dale Hoffman. The award honors an individual, or team, of Alaskan youth ages 12-19 who have displayed a dedication to promoting the understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s oceans. Alisa is a student at Polaris K-12 School in Anchorage. Her dream to become a marine biologist was born in seventh grade during a school field trip to the tide pools in Homer. Since that trip, Alisa has taken every opportunity to expand her scientific knowledge. Alisa has taken extra science classes at school, attended two summer science camps run through the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and created four research projects for the Alaska Science and Engineering Fair, presenting two of these projects at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. Alisa has worked alongside her community to do research and has continued to present her work at school, local organizations, and symposiums. Award to be presented at the Alaska Marine Gala.   Benjamin Carney received the Marine Science Outreach Award. This award is given to a person, team or organization that has made an outstanding contribution to ocean literacy via formal or informal education, media or other communications. It is co-sponsored by the University of Alaska, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences and the Alaska Ocean Observing System. Armed with a B.S. in Wildlife Biology and M.S. in Fisheries, Ben currently teaches chemistry, physical science, and oceanography at Juneau-Douglas High School.  His passion centers on the National Ocean Sciences Bowl and coaching his students to victory. Ben has coached a team from Juneau-Douglas High School to first place at the state level since 2007, the longest winning streak in the history of the Alaska Tsunami Bowl. Last year’s winning team, Team Pogonophoraphobia, placed third at the National Finals. Award was presented at the Alaska Marine Science Symposium.   Jacqueline Grebmeier and Lee Cooper received the Marine Research Award, sponsored by Drs. Clarence Pautzke and Maureen McCrea. This honor is given to a scientist, team of  scientists, or an institution that is acknowledged by peers to have made an original breakthrough contribution to any field of scientific knowledge about Alaska’s oceans. Jacqueline and Lee have shown major leadership in Pacific Arctic marine research over the past several decades. Both conducted their Ph.D. work at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and are now Research  Professors at the University of Maryland, Center for Environmental Science. Spending most of their summers at sea in Alaska’s arctic, both have participated in dozens of research cruises, many as chief scientists. Through involvement in high level national committees, strong management skills, and deep knowledge of the Pacific Arctic, they have provided important leadership in large research  programs, such as BEST-BSIERP, the Pacific Arctic Marine Regional Synthesis, and the Distributed Biological Observatory. Award was presented at the  Alaska Marine Science Symposium.     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.  

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()         Individual scientists usually specialize in one particular area. They get very good at knowing a lot about a few things. This is a natural and very normal thing to do, especially when the amount of detail a researcher has to consider in their study is huge! There is no way for any one person to know the ins-and-outs of each and every project. One of the most important lessons we can learn from a disaster the size of the Exxon Valdez oil spill is the importance of "thinking big" with science -- really big! We need to ask big questions, such as: “How is this one particular thing connected to that?” or “What influence does something that seems so different and very far away have on my local work?” or “How is this one thing connected to everything?” Scientists might not have the luxury of working on a whole bunch of different projects at once but, through cooperation in large projects like Gulf Watch, they can see the links, or connections, between what they have been focusing on and what others have been doing. In science, we call this "systems thinking." Systems thinking looks at the web of relationships where individual pieces respond both in their own individual ways and together as a whole. An ecosystem like the Gulf of Alaska is not just a collection of individual animals and plants. It is all living things interacting with each other and with the non-living things around them. Gulf Watch Alaska scientists combine data from all of their projects to help them better answer their own specific research questions. This gives each of them a better understanding of complicated ecosystem connections. You can think of each project like different pieces to a jigsaw puzzle. As more and more pieces are combined, a clearer and more complete picture emerges. Click the picture below to solve the jigsaw puzzle! Systems thinking allows the modern scientist to step outside of their lab. They connect with fellow researchers and see the importance of their work on a much larger scale. It requires teamwork and communication as they build a network with different specialties, interests, and research subjects. Watch the video below and listen to the Gulf Watch team as they talk about working together and putting the pieces of this complicated puzzle into place. VIDEO: Monitoring Connections Sonia Batten, Heather Coletti, and Dan Esler discuss connections between the four individual monitoring components of Gulf Watch Alaska. (1:55) Video Transcript (Sonia Batten) The Gulf of Alaska is a really complicated system. You’ve got places like Cook Inlet, Prince William Sound, which are these kind of inlets, and they’ve got local things happening there which are really important. And there are people studying the plankton and the ocean in those places, and they do really good detailed local studies, but we’re looking at a bigger area. We go from way off shore across the shelf, and it kind of smoothes out the little small-scale local effects and we’re looking at bigger climate effects and things that affect the whole region. So my data provides a link to what the local studies are doing and gives a broader context. (Heather Coletti) I think our work will really inform and strengthen our understanding of the connections between these systems. They talk about some of the zooplankton in the oceans out in the middle of the Gulf. How does that affect our coast and where we all recreate and live? And I guess I’d say the same thing for some of the environmental drivers, these big oceanographic systems that move through and the changes in the climate. How does that affect where we spend our time and where our resources are? (Dan Esler) I think a really important contribution of the work is to be able to take that long-term view of how things operate in marine ecosystems and how contaminant events are, what the timeline is for recovery from those sorts of things. And that fits in perfectly with the philosophy of Gulf Watch generally, taking this long-term, broad-scale view to understand these bigger patterns in marine ecosystems. I think that’s a really an important contribution for what we’re trying to do. You too can help with long-term ecosystem monitoring right in your own ecosystem -- through Citizen Science! Citizen science is the collection and analysis of data through partnerships between the general public and professional scientists. This collaborative way of doing science allows anyone with an interest in the natural world to engage in the scientific process. Many citizen scientist projects benefit from people gathering local monitoring data and contributing to a larger database. The data provided by participating citizen scientists helps professional researchers build a more complete understanding of ecosystems that they only visit once or twice a year. Recently, the scientific journal "Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment" published an entire issue focused on citizen science! Click the link on the right to access the journal. Explore some of the links below to find a citizen science opportunity to join! • Citizen Scientists • The Cornell Lab of Ornithology Citizen Science Central Projects • National Science Foundation • SciStarter • Scientific American Citizen Science Project List • Zooniverse • Journey North       Who is watching the Gulf?      

Overview Our Science Mission The overall goal of our Science Program is to develop an understanding of the role of marine mammals, birds and fish in the arctic and subarctic marine ecosystems, and to generate scientific knowledge relevant to resource management and policy. Our projects focus on Alaska marine life and environments, but reach globally with international collaborations. The Center’s unique geographic location, marine cold water research facilities, live animal collections, and specialized staff allows us to use a combination of experimental and field research to:  Investigate physiological and ecological processes affecting marine animal population  dynamics.  Conduct controlled experiments to understand factors affecting reproductive success and  fitness in marine species.  Monitor marine animal responses to environmental variability and stressors.  Evaluate human impacts on our marine environment and animal populations.  Develop tools to support recovery and restoration of marine resources.   Thus, an overarching science theme of our science relates to understanding of upper trophic level responses to environmental variability. Under this concept, we use marine mammals, seabirds, and fish as windows into the ecosystem they inhabit. As the arctic and subarctic are undergoing rapid environmental changes, understanding responses of these species to change is becoming urgently more important. A more holistic understanding of upper trophic species role in the arctic and subarctic marine ecosystems is essential, and our science team is developing research programs and partnerships towards integrated marine ecosystem studies to address these emerging broad scale topics.  Staff and Facilities    The CSEO works closely with the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) to periodically review research accomplishments, as well as programmatic research directions and strategies. Our current permanent research staff includes two in-house principal investigators, two affiliate scientists, two research associates, and several technical and research support staff.  One of our principal investigators holds a research faculty positions at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). Our three center veterinarians also participate in many research activities. Additionally, our facilities offer research opportunities to post-doctoral researchers, graduate students, visiting scientists, and affiliate researchers and external collaborators. Over the years, we have hosted over 700 visiting scientists at our facility. Our facility is located on the shore of the Gulf of Alaska in the North Pacific Ocean, with access to the Alaska marine environment from our back door. We are located next to the Seward Marine Center of the UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, and the home port of the new global class ice-capable research vessel R/V Sikuliaq, operated by UAF. Our dry and wet indoor laboratories and our large outdoor research deck offer year-round access to either temperature-controlled or ambient-temperature research opportunities in cold marine or fresh water habitats. The laboratory facilities and equipment are outfitted to conduct research on marine animal physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, energetics, and diet analysis. Our resident animal collection involves a diverse variety of marine organisms from tiny invertebrates to large Steller sea lions. Our largest resident, male Steller sea lion Pilot, peaks at well over 1700 lbs during the breeding season. The resident fauna offers scientists opportunities to study animals year-round in their natural salt water habitats and at ambient northern latitude temperatures. The combination of our location, in-house collection of marine mammals, seabirds, and fish, and our laboratory facilities offers scientists unique opportunities to study the marine life of the North.    Other Department Activities Linked to our scientific goals, we work closely with our education team to integrate science components into education conducted at the Center. Most of our science projects are presented either in the public exhibits of the Center, or as part of special outreach programs offered by our education department. The Center offers unique opportunities to inform and engage the public on our research. Every year, our scientists give as many as 60 outreach presentations to the public, and we host a monthly open science seminar series at the Center.    To learn more about our scientists and current projects, we invite you to Meet our Scientists and explore our Science Spotlight.   Brief History of the Science Department The Science Department has been part of the Alaska SeaLife Center since its opening in 1998. Over the years, the department has developed a strong focus on research in biology, physiology, and ecology of marine mammals, seabirds, and fish – the so-called upper trophic species of the marine environment. During the first decade, much of our research was centered around five species-focused research programs involving Steller sea lions, harbor seals, sea otters, spectacled and Steller’s eiders, and Pacific salmon. These programs built a strong emphasis on research in the physiology and biology of upper trophic species amongst our staff and infrastructure. To date, our research staff has authored close to 400 journal publications and delivered over 700 scientific presentations at conferences.   

The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) has admitted three more harbor seal pups to the Wildlife Response Program in the past seven days, marking a busy start to the 2025 season. One of the pups was born prematurely, one was found severely malnourished, and another was rescued after it was found alone, likely due to maternal separation. These cases follow the recent admissions of another premature harbor seal pup and an orphaned northern sea otter pup, all requiring intensive rehabilitation and veterinary care.  On May 26, 2025, a premature male pup was found alone on a beach near Petersburg, Alaska. The next day, it was still there alone, prompting National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) staff in the area to call the ASLC hotline. After receiving authorization, the pup was recovered and quickly prepared for a flight leaving Petersburg, Alaska that morning.  The seal was transported to the Alaska SeaLife Center, where he remains in critical condition as veterinary teams work to stabilize his fragile health. Similar to challenges a premature human baby may face, the pup’s yellow-tinted gums and bloodwork indicated that his liver isn’t functioning as it should, and his condition remains critical as he fights each day to survive. Just four days later, on May 31, 2025, and from over 700 miles away, a female harbor seal pup was found very emaciated on a beach in Homer, Alaska. She was very skinny, dehydrated, and had a fresh umbilicus, which indicates she was newly born. Once recovery was authorized by NOAA, ASLC Homer volunteers were able to recover and start her transportation to the ASLC for critical veterinary care. This pup’s bloodwork also pointed to liver dysfunction, but the primary concern for the animal care team is her severely malnourished and dehydrated state. She also remains in critical condition. As staff continued providing intensive care for the three harbor seal pups already admitted, they braced for another admit on June 3, 2025. A female harbor seal pup was spotted alone in an unusual location in Anchorage, Alaska. ASLC staff observed the pup for several hours and a tidal cycle through reports provided by the public via the ASLC marine mammal stranding hotline. When no mother returned and the pup remained vulnerable in a heavily trafficked area, NOAA authorized rapid intervention, and the pup was transferred to the ASLC for treatment and rehabilitation.  How can you help harbor seals like these three pups? One of the most significant threats to harbor seal pups during pupping season is human disturbance. If a pup is approached by a human or dog, the mother may abandon it. Once abandoned, a pup’s chances of survival drop dramatically, especially during the critical window when the pup relies entirely on her milk for nutrition, immune support, and survival.  It is essential to give seals space and share coastal areas responsibly. Do not approach, touch, or attempt to move a seal pup. Keep children and pets at a safe distance from haul-out sites and known pupping areas. Approaching or disturbing a marine mammal can cause serious harm to the animal, put people at risk, and may result in violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Responsible viewing ensures that these young animals have the best chance to grow and survive in the wild. If you do see a seal pup in distress, the Alaska SeaLife Center remains ready to respond to reports of stranded and injured marine mammals statewide. Call the 24-hour Stranded Marine Animal Hotline at 1-888-774-SEAL (7325). We encourage all Alaskans and visitors to save this number in their phone contacts—and remember, always call first before approaching any stranded or injured wildlife.           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. People are encouraged to contribute to the care of rehabilitating marine animals here: www.alaskasealife.org/donate.   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.    

The Alaska SeaLife Center Wildlife Response Program has admitted two premature harbor seal pups from Kenai, Alaska. Despite incredible efforts, one pup has passed away and the other is in serious condition.   The ASLC is currently caring for a premature female harbor seal pup admitted on May 9, 2024, found abandoned and malnourished in Kenai, Alaska. The pup is still covered in its white lanugo coat, indicating a premature birth.  This is the Alaska SeaLife Center Wildlife Response Program’s second premature harbor seal patient admitted this season, as another premature pup was admitted on April 24, 2024, from Nikiski, Alaska. Despite the ASLC team’s incredible effort, the first premature harbor seal patient became critical and passed away within 48 hours of being admitted. A necropsy revealed that the pup was likely born weeks prematurely and his organs weren’t developed enough to allow him to thrive. The current patient, admitted on May 9, 2024, is in serious condition. Community members working at a fish processing facility in Kenai called the ASLC 24-hour Wildlife Response Hotline to report that a small white-furred pup had been on their property for several hours without seeing an adult nearby. Community members who first spotted her in Kenai, Alaska reported a malnourished and abandoned harbor seal pup to the ASLC 24-hour Wildlife Response Hotline. NOAA officers responded and confirmed that there was no mother in sight. They knew that the pup was prematurely born, as indicated by her white lanugo coat, and that she likely wouldn’t survive without immediate intervention. After receiving approval from NOAA, the pup was transported to the Alaska SeaLife Center for treatment by the officers. The main concerns found by the veterinary team upon her initial admit exam were malnourishment, low body temperature, and abnormal bloodwork results indicating this seal was premature. The team is currently providing initial stabilizing treatments and examining the patient further to understand the severity of the animal’s condition. Premature harbor seal pups have only about a 50% chance of survival when admitted to a wildlife response program, and the team is doing everything possible to give her a fighting chance.  Harbor seal pups typically shed their white lanugo coat in utero before being born, so any time a pup of this species is seen with a white coat, it indicates that it was born prematurely. However, this isn’t true for all species of seals in Alaska. Ice seal pups, like spotted and ringed seals, are born with white lanugo coats and do not shed them for four to six weeks after birth. Location helps experts know which species of seal pup they are looking at in Alaska. Typically, the ice seal species normally born with a white lanugo coat are found in the northern half of Alaska’s coastline. Harbor seals are typically found along the southern half of Alaska’s coastline.   The ASLC will share updates on this delicate patient’s progress on their Facebook and Instagram pages.    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).  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. If you are interested in contributing to the care of these patients, visit the ASLC’s website: www.alaskasealife.org/donate. 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.                     

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).   

Accredited zoos and aquariums are saving more than 30 endangered species and the Alaska SeaLife Center Plays a Leading Role. Seward, Alaska (November 17, 2014) – As American families prepare for the annual ritual of giving thanks, they can add to their list of things to be thankful for a rare victory in the battle against global climate change – more than 30 endangered species brought back from the brink of extinction thanks to America’s accredited zoos and aquariums.  With climate change, population growth and deforestation, and poaching threatening species around the world, we are facing what scientists call the “Sixth Extinction.”  But the 229 accredited members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums have built a unique infrastructure to save endangered species – breeding programs that coordinate across many institutions to ensure genetic diversity, systems so that animals can be safely moved between institutions, and partnerships with local, national, and international conservation organizations working on re-introducing these animals to their native ranges.  Because of that infrastructure, there is good news in the face of the extinction crisis:  from the Florida manatee to the California condor, the Hawaiian crow to the Puerto Rican crested toad, the Chinese alligator to the American bison, zoos and aquariums have saved more than 30 species, and are working today on dozens more. Over the next several months, AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums will be celebrating these successes, and inviting the public to support efforts to save even more species.  In November, in honor of Thanksgiving, AZA is spotlighting endangered birds, including: ·         All four species of eider sea ducks saw a decline in population from the 1970s to the 1990s, and two of the species are currently listed as threatened in the U.S.: thespectacled eider and the Alaska-breeding population of Steller’s eider.  For over thirteen years, the Eider Research Program at the Alaska SeaLife Center has conducted field, laboratory, and captive studies on Steller’s and spectacled eiders in Alaska.  Currently, the Alaska SeaLife Center houses captive breeding flocks of both spectacled and Steller’s eiders, making the organization the only facility in the world to house these species for research and conservation purposes.  The Steller’s eiders at the Alaska SeaLife Center serve as a unique reservoir flock of the threatened Steller’s eiders in Alaska, and the Center works in close partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop methods to recover the threatened eiders in Alaska. ·         Bali mynah have striking white plumage with black wing tips and bright blue coloration around the eyes. The species can approach 10 inches in height.  Bali mynahs are nearly extinct in the wild because poachers collect them for the illegal pet trade, where they are valued for their striking plumage and beautiful songs. Because of this poaching, Bali mynahs are found almost exclusively in zoos.   But much has been done to help the Bali mynah's wild population recover, including protection of their native breeding grounds.  In 1987, 40 Bali mynahs from US zoos were sent to the Surbaja Zoo in Indonesia to form a breeding group, with resulting offspring released into the wild. In 2009, Bali mynahs raised in managed care were introduced to a neighboring island, Nusa Penida, and seem to be doing well so far. ·         The largest bird in North America, the California condor once dominated the western skies, able to soar to 15,000 feet and travel up to 150 miles a day in pursuit of food.  With its keen vision, the condor hunts for carcasses of dead animals, and then swoops in to feast, serving as nature’s clean-up crew.  But destruction of habitat and poaching decimated the species, and by 1982, only 22 birds remained in the wild.  The San Diego Zoo Global, the Los Angeles Zoo and 16 other AZA institutions took the lead at captive propagation, working with a network of government and non-profit partners.  Beginning in the early 1990s, zoo-bred condors began being reintroduced into the wild.  From a low of 22, there are now more than 435 condors in the world, with almost 250 free-flying in the West. ·         Prior to the 1960s, there were probably around 10,000 Guam rails living on Guam, a South Pacific island. Sometime between 1944 and 1952, brown tree snakes arrived on Guam, most likely on cargo ships. The snakes’ population rapidly increased, because there was plentiful prey (such as the Guam rails) and no natural predators. The tree snakes wiped out the native animal populations, and by the 1970s, 9 of the 11 native bird species, including the Guam rail, had disappeared.  Trying to save the species, the last few birds were removed from the island in the 1980s. In 1989, reintroduction of these birds began on the island of Rota, near Guam, as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s Species Survival Plan® (SSP) for the species. ·         The palila Hawaiian songbird is one of the endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper species and efforts to expand the palila population back to its historic range at Pu`u Mali have included experimental releases of captive-bred birds, as well as relocation of wild birds to protected areas. The palila was the first animal to have a federal circuit court case named after it, in a precedent setting case that increased protection for endangered species.  While several zoos are working to preserve the palila, they are not currently on exhibit to the public. ·         Known in Hawaii as Alala, the Hawaiian crow is the most endangered corvid in the world and is the only crow species found in Hawaii. The birds are extinct in the wild, and the remaining population is managed at zoos, where the chicks are fed and cared for by animal care staff they never see to ensure they do not imprint on humans.  The last `alalā were recorded in their natural habitat in 2002. Planning is underway to restore the `alalā to the Big Island of Hawaii beginning this year.  ·         The Waldrapp ibis, also known as the hermit ibis or the northern bald ibis, may not be viewed by some as the most attractive bird, but their strong character and bizarre appearance give them unique appeal. They look almost comical with their bald heads, long red beaks and crazy crest feathers going every which way. Their black feathers take on brilliant sheens of purple, green and orange when viewed in bright sunlight. With only about 420 wild Waldrapp ibis remaining, this is one of the world's most critically endangered avian species.  But thanks to a very successful breeding and release program, there are over 1,100 Waldrapp ibis in captivity, and offspring from zoos are being released back to the wild.  For a list of AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums where you can see some of these incredible birds in person, please visit the AZA website: http://www.aza.org/SpeciesBeingSaved. 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 six 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 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 departments. 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.

Seward, Alaska (September 23, 2021) – The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) is launching Virtual Visits again this fall. This free program for all ages will be live-streamed weekly from the ASLC YouTube channel. Each 30-minute program will begin at 11AM Alaska time on Wednesdays starting September 29, 2021 until May 11, 2022 with some exceptions for holidays.    A new behind-the-scenes look highlighting the work, staff, and animals at the ASLC will be introduced during each program and hosted live by ASLC’s award-winning Education Team. “We are very excited about Virtual Visits this year. These programs are meant to be a fun way for our viewers to learn something new and ask questions. It’s a chance to see a part of the Center you can’t see with regular admission, hear from staff who are doing our important mission work, and join us as we work together to conserve the critical marine ecosystems of Alaska,” states Senior Education Manager, Jeff Dillon. Since the public can ask questions if they watch the live program, they are encouraged to subscribe to the Alaska SeaLife Center on YouTube to receive notifications: www.youtube.com/user/AKSeaLifeCenter.   Virtual Visits are made possible by a grant from Royal Caribbean Group, in partnership with the Alaska Travel Industry Association (ATIA) Foundation. In 2020, ASLC launched Virtual Visits at the beginning of the pandemic in an effort to bring the Center to the public virtually. After a successful year of programming, Royal Caribbean Group has now graciously funded the program for three more years.    Royal Caribbean Group and the ATIA Foundation assisted more than 65 Alaska tourism businesses and community organizations in their pandemic recoveries.“We’re seeing the significant challenges the communities in our cruise destinations are experiencing and we knew there were partners who can’t turn a blind eye,” ATIA President and CEO Sarah Leonard said. “Royal Caribbean Group found the resources to provide relief through grants and in-kind donations in three areas: small business, food security, and health and well-being. As a partner, ATIA can streamline the grant-making process because we have first-hand knowledge of what Alaskan communities had to endure and understand how so many local businesses will really benefit from the grants, both big and small.”   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.  About Royal Caribbean Group: Royal Caribbean Group is the operating business name for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Royal Caribbean Group is the owner and operator of three global cruise vacation brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and SilverseaCruises. Royal Caribbean Group is also a 50% owner of a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Together, our brands operate 59 ships with an additional 15 on order as of March 15, 2021. Learn more at www.royalcaribbeangroup.com About ATIA: The Alaska Travel Industry Association, Alaska’s leading statewide nonprofit membership association for the travel industry, promotes Alaska’s tourism industry as an economic contributor while providing statewide marketing resources, education opportunities and advocacy to members. ATIA has long managed Alaska’s destination marketing program: TravelAlaska. The ATIA Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3that supports programs that educate and enhance the quality of Alaska’s visitor industry and educates the general public regarding tourism. For more information, visit www.alaskatia.org

  Alaska SeaLife Center Announces New Board Members, Officers The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) is pleased to welcome four new members to its Board of Directors in 2022. Each of these members will serve a three-year term. The Board also elected new officers: Josie Hickel as Chair, Rachel Bunnell as Vice Chair, and Brian Pinkston as Treasurer, with Darryl Schafermeyer continuing as Secretary. Officers will serve in these positions for two years.     Mark Burgess is President and CEO of Credit Union 1 in Anchorage. He has spent his career in IT for both small and large organizations, and his passion is finding elegant technical solutions to drive organizational efficiencies. Prior to serving as CEO, Mark moved to Alaska from New Hampshire in 2018 to serve as CU1’s Chief Technology Officer, where he was responsible for day-to-day IT operations, project management, information security, and facilities. In his current role, he brings immense knowledge, innovative thinking and a commitment to lead with empathy, compassion and service to others. Dylan Faber is the Alaska Government and Community Affairs Manager for Matson. He has previously worked as an account executive at MSI Communications and served as a special assistant to U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski where he assisted with in-state communications, community outreach, and grants. Dylan is also a soccer coach and a board member for the Anchorage non-profit Cook Inlet Soccer Club, serves on the boards for the Foraker Group, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, and the Resource Development Council of Alaska. Kenneth McCoy is the North Division Chief Diversity Equity and Inclusion Officer for Providence. He previously served as the Chief of Police for the Anchorage Police Department and has more than 27 years of law force experience. Kenneth received a commission as a second lieutenant into the United States Army, served 10 years with the Alaska Army National Guard, and is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy. He excels in executive leadership, building relationships with local communities, and guiding teams and organizations with diplomacy, dignity, and fairness. Nicole Lawrence is the owner and broker of Seward Properties in Seward. Nicole started Seward Properties in 2014, and with the support of her team they have grown to be the top-producing brokerage in Seward. Originally from Michigan and with origins on the Great Lakes, Nicole has spent 23 years as a boat captain and drives boats for Major Marine Tours during the summer months, sharing the resources of Kenai Fjord Park’s glaciers and wildlife with visitors.     “I’m thrilled we have such strong leaders stepping into this group as it amplifies the depth of experience, skill, and community engagement of the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Board of Directors,” said Outgoing Board Chair Terry Lauck. “I’m honored and humbled to step into the role of the Board Chair to work alongside such a dedicated, passionate, and diverse group of individuals that comprise the board and staff of the Alaska SeaLife Center. The commitment of this entire team is inspiring, and I’m proud to lead them down the path of sustainably fulfilling our mission,” said Incoming Board Chair Josie Hickel.   ASLC Board of Directors: (back row, left to right) Mark Burgess, Stephen Grabacki, Dan Graham, Daniel White, Jason Charton, Tom Tougas, Robert Suydam (front row, left to right) Wendy Lindskoog, Nicole Lawrence, Janette Bower, Lu Levoy, Brian Pinkston (Treasurer), Josie Hickel (Chair), Darryl Schaefermeyer (Secretary). Not pictured: Rachel Bunnell (Vice Chair), Terry Lauck (Past Chair), Thomas Barrett, Martin Cary, Kate Consenstein, Bridget Coughlin, Angel Drobnica, Dylan Faber, Rachel Kallander, Nicole Kimball, James Kubitz, Kenneth McCoy, Peter Micciche, Bradley Moran, Michele Schuh, Ryan Stuart   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.

animatedcollapse.addDiv('1', '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('2', '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() Who is watching walrus? DEPLOY (v)- to set something up so that it is ready for action BLIND SPOT (n) - an area that cannot be seen because something is blocking your view DATA SET (n)- all of the information collected UPGRADE (v) - to improve the quality of something; to buy the next version of a product             Results   Cameras at the five sites captured data during the season of May-September 2011. For each of the sites, the timeline below shows (1) when the cameras were deployed, (2) when the first walrus was spotted at that location, (3) the date when the largest number of animals were counted on that site, and (4) the date of the last image taken by the cameras. The team collected census data by examining the photos at the end of the season and counting the walruses. Below are images captured from the haulout site on Cape Seniavin on August 4th, 2011. On this day, over 1,400 male walruses were counted hauled out in this single spot. Click on the thumbnail images below to see the larger versions: Researchers decided to add more cameras at this site in 2012 to avoid blind spots like the one created by the rock in the pictures above. On Hagemeister Island, cameras recorded the disturbance event seen below. Click on the thumbnail images below to see the larger versions: In the fourth photo you can see that these walrus quickly returned to the beach. The scientists couldn't see what caused the disturbance, but they think it was likely a bear or other land-based predator nearby. With clear images like the ones above, Dr. Polasek and her team agreed that camera monitoring at these remote sites is both possible and useful for understanding Pacific walrus behavior. Unfortunately, the type of camera the Alaska SeaLife Center team installed for the 2011 season tended to fail often. Many of the cameras stopped taking pictures before the last walrus left the site at the end of the season. So the 2011 data set isn't as complete as the team had hoped. They knew camera monitoring worked, but they needed to find a better type of camera. In 2011, the scientists were able to begin establishing their baseline. In 2012, they purchased new, more reliable cameras and added more haulout sites to their study. They're continuing to work on their baseline using male walrus in Bristol Bay, but with the help of the residents of Point Lay they've also set up their first cameras along the Chukchi Sea. Check the updates section for images captured in the second season!        

Seward, Alaska (January 15, 2015) - Science meets art as the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) brings the Buzz Saw Sharks of Long Ago exhibit to Seward, Alaska. The exhibit is on loan from the Idaho Museum of Natural History (IMNH) and is done in collaboration with Ray Troll. Areas around the aquarium will be transformed into the Paleozoic marine world of the humongous, whorl-toothed shark.   “Summer of Sharks” at the Alaska SeaLife Center opens April 17 with fossils, sculptures, and artwork featuring the majestic Helicoprion. This prehistoric giant is the world’s only animal – past or present – with a complete 360-degree spiral of teeth. Imagine a fearsome behemoth equipped with a circular blade of teeth and strong jaws that researchers believe crimped and cut its prey.   The Buzzsaw Shark roamed the Permian Seas more than 270 million years ago. Now, it has come back to life thanks to the informed imagination of Alaskan artist Ray Troll and Idaho State University researchers.  Obsessing over this prehistoric marine species for more than 20 years, Troll is now the go-to guy for all things Helicoprion. Detailed artwork from Troll include a 17.5-foot-long by 8-foot-high mural of sharks, as well as 21 individual pieces. His colorful artwork combined with informational graphics explore a side of scientific history you have never seen before.   Sculptures by artist Gary Staab welcome visitors as they travel back in time. A hanging 15-foot shark sculpture and a giant shark head bursting through the wall watch over visitors as they are immersed in Troll’s ode to this extinct creature. The exhibit, which was previously at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington, also includes four fossils of the shark’s unusual and complex whorl dentition dug from Idaho phosphate mines. Three casts of rare fossils and an interactive shark jaw showcase the power of the animal kingdom’s most unusual set of teeth.  “I’m really excited to have the ‘Buzz Saw Sharks of Long Ago’ be a big part of the Alaska SeaLife Center's ‘Summer of Sharks.’ I think visitors to this special exhibit will find the fossils, life-sized models and colorful artwork to be pretty amazing. I can guarantee that folks have never seen sharks like these ancient wonders before. It's going to be wonderful to get to share them with my fellow Alaskans,” Ray Troll said recently when asked about the exhibit. Children and adults alike will enjoy a humorous documentary film about the artist as they sit on a whorl-patterned “art couch,” activate the whorl tooth mechanism, “walk the whorl,” and ponder the incredible bite of a “large-as-life” Helicoprion head.  “This is the Alaska SeaLife Center’s first traveling exhibit, and we are thrilled to have such scientifically significant artifacts and the fantastic artwork of Ray Troll here at the Center. This is a milestone for ASLC and a major event for Alaska,” President and CEO Dr. Tara Riemer said. Buzzsaw Sharks of Long Ago explores the many ways that people have come to better understand the natural world through mysterious fossils and the quest for creatures of the deep. Troll hopes Buzzsaw Sharks will not only intrigue visitors, but also inspire them to take action and help protect all species of shark and marine life. Summer of Sharks is open April 17 through Labor Day and made possible by our presenting sponsor BP. 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 IMNH The Idaho Museum of Natural History is home to permanent and special collections in Anthropology, Earth Sciences, and Life Sciences, a place where researchers pursue scholarly study of the collections and publish their findings in peer-reviewed and museum-sponsored publications.  

Seward, Alaska (April 7, 2020) – Nat Geo WILD’s new series, “Alaska Animal Rescue,” is airing April 11 at 5 p.m. Alaska time. This new show highlights three renowned animal conservation centers, the Alaska SeaLife Center, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, and the Alaska Raptor Center.   The series will give viewers a unique behind the scenes look at wildlife response in action as animal care teams experience both the rewards and challenges of rescuing wildlife in various regions of Alaska. From Nat Geo WILD: “Whether caring for a stranded sea lion, an orphaned lynx or an injured eagle, these are the people on the front lines, willing to do whatever it takes to rescue and preserve Alaska’s wildlife.”   The facilities featured in “Alaska Animal Rescue” anticipate this series will help inspire people to care about wildlife and conservation. “We hope viewers of the show see how valuable all three of our facilities are not just to wildlife in the state of Alaska, but in supporting conservation work on a global scale,” said Tara Riemer, Alaska SeaLife Center President and CEO.    “We are very excited for the premiere of Alaska Animal Rescue. We hope viewers will become stewards for Alaska’s wildlife and learn how everyone around the world can help participate in wildlife conservation efforts,”  said Di Whitney, Executive Director, Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.   Jennifer Cross, Executive Director, Alaska Raptor Center states, “All of us at the Alaska Raptor Center are thrilled about the show’s premiere this Saturday! Although filming was challenging at times, we are thankful for this opportunity to showcase the important work non-profits do on behalf of Alaska’s wild animals.”     The show will air on Nat Geo WILD channel April 11, at 9/8c (5 p.m. Alaska time)  Learn more about the facilities highlighted in the series here: https://alaskaanimalrescue.org/    About the Alaska SeaLife Center (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.   About the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) Founded in 1993, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation is a sanctuary dedicated to preserving Alaska’s wildlife through conservation, education, research, and quality animal care. AWCC takes in injured and orphaned animals and provides them with enclosures at a 200-acre facility in Portage, Alaska. Most of the animals that arrive at AWCC become permanent residents. To learn more, visit www.alaskawildlife.org.    About the Alaska Raptor Center (ARC) Established in 1980, the Alaska Raptor Center’s mission is to promote and enhance wild populations of raptors and other avian species through rehabilitation, education, and research. ARC provides medical treatment to about 200 injured birds each year, striving to rehabilitate and release its avian patients. Some birds who are too injured to survive in the wild find sanctuary at the facility in Sitka, Alaska, providing educational opportunities to visitors. To learn more, visit www.alaskaraptor.org.      

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.