Porthole Cafe  Welcome to The Porthole Cafe, your go-to cafe spot inside the Alaska SeaLife Center! Enjoy craft coffee, espresso, refreshing Lotus Energy and boba drinks along with a selection of grab-and-go food, bagels, baked goods, and delicious sandwiches. Whether you're fueling up before your adventure or winding down afterward, we’ve you covered.  Learn more on the Porthole Cafe website.  The Porthole Cafe is open year-round with limited hours.  General admission is not required to visit the Porthole Cafe.    Discovery Gift Shop Take a part of the Alaska SeaLife Center with you! We have all of your favorite SeaLife plush animals, logo t-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, green-conscious goodies, and gifts handmade by Alaskan artists. Discovery Gift Shop is open year-round. General admission is not required for entry to Discovery Gift Shop.   Phone: (907) 224-6300 ext. 6204 Toll Free: (800) 224-2525 ext. 6204 Email: linda.summerst@eventnetwork.com 

  Recent Publications by ASLC Scientists:   Richard, J. T., Schultz, K., Goertz, C. E. C., Hobbs, R. C., Romano, T. A., and Sartini, B. L. (2022). Evaluating beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) blow samples as a potential diagnostic for immune function gene expression within the respiratory system Conservation Physiology, 10(1). doi:10.1093/conphys/coac045 Schmitt, T. L., Goertz, C. E. C., Hobbs, R. C., Osborn, S., DiRocco, S., Bissell, H., & Harris, W. S. (2022). Erythrocyte, Whole Blood, Plasma, and Blubber Fatty Acid Profiles in Oceanaria-Based versus Wild Alaskan Belugas (Delphinapterus leucas). Oceans, 3(4), 464-479. doi:10.3390/oceans3040031 Joblon, M. J., Flower, J. E., Thompson, L. A., Biddle, K. E., Burt, D. A., Zabka, T. S., Adkesson, M. J., Halaska, B., Goertz, C. E. C., Rouse, N., Cahoon, S. N., Jetzke, K., Giovanelli, R. P., and Tuttle, A. D. (2022). Investigation Of The Use Of Serum Biomarkers For The Detection Of CardiacDisease In Marine Mammals. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 53(2), 373-382 Pace, C. N., Webber, M. A., Boege Tobin, D. D., Pemberton, S., Belovarac, J., & Goertz, C. E. C. (2022). The Northernmost and Westernmost Records of the Guadalupe Fur Seal (Arctocephalus philippii townsendi). Aquatic Mammals, 48(6), 592-601. doi.org/10.1578/AM.48.6.2022.592 Thompson, L. A., Goertz, C. E. C., Quackenbush, L. T., Huntington, K. B., Suydam, R. S., Stimmelmayr, R., & Romano, T. A. (2022). Serological Detection of Marine Origin Brucella Exposure in Two Alaska Beluga Stocks. Animals, 12(15), 1932. doi.org/10.3390/ani12151932 Sills, J. M., and Reichmuth, C.,(2022) Vocal behavior in spotted seals (Phoca larcha) and implications for passive acoustic monitoring.  Fronteirs in Remote Sensing, 3:862435 Burek Huntington, K. A., Gill, V. A., Berrian, A. M., Goldstein, T., Tuomi, P., Byrne, B. A., Worman, K., and Mazet, J., (2021) Causes of Mortality of Northern Sea Otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in Alaska from 2002 to 2012. Frontiers in Marine Science (8:630582). Coletti, H. A., Bowen, L., Ballachey, B. E., Wilson, T. L., Waters, S., Booz, M., Counihan, K. L., Hollmén, T. E., Pister, B. (2021) Gene Expression Profiles in Two Razor Clam Populations: Discerning Drivers of Population Status. Life, 11(12), 1288. https://doi.org/10.3390/life11121288. Hermann-Sorensen, H., Thometz, N., Woodie, K., Dennison-Gibby, S., & Reichmuth, C. (2021). In vivo measurements of lung volumes in ringed seals: insights from biomedical imaging. Journal of Experimental Biology, 224(2), jeb 235507. doi:10.1242/jeb.235507 Goertz, C. E. C., Woodie, K., Long, B., Hartman, L., Gaglione, E., Christen, D., Clauss, T., Flower, J. E., Tuttle, A. D., Richard, C., Romano, T. A., Schmitt, T. L., Otjen, E., Osborn, S., Aibel, S., Binder, T., Van Bonn, W., Castellote, M., Mooney, T. A., Dennison-Gibby, S., Burek Huntington, K. A., and Rowels, T. K. (2021) Stranded beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) calf response and care: reports of two cases with different outcomes: Polar Research, 40(S1). McGuire, T. L., Shelden, K. E. W., Himes Boor, G. K., Stephens, A. D., McClung, J. R., Garner, C., Goertz, C. E. C., Burek Huntington, K. A., O' Corry-Crowe, G., and Wright, B. (2021) Patterns of mortality in endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales: Insights from pairing a long-term photo-identification study with stranding records: Marine Mammal Science, v. 37, p. 492-511. Rosen, D. S., Thometz, N. M., and Reichmuth, C. (2021) Seasonal and Developmental Patterns of Energy Intake and Growth in Alaskan Ice Seals: Aquatic Mammals, v. 47, p. 559-573. Rouse, N. M., Counihan, K. L., Boege Tobin, D. D., Goertz, C. E. C., and Duddleston, K. N. (2021) Habitat associations between Streptococcus bovis/equinus complex and Streptococcus phocae, the causative agents of strep syndrome in sea otters, and the marine environment. Marine Ecology, 43, e12689. Rouse, N. M., Counihan, K. L., Goertz, C. E. C., and Duddleston, K. N. (2021) Competency of common northern sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) prey items to harbor Streptococcus lutetiensis and S. phocae: Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, v. 143, p. 69-78. Savage, K. N., Burek Huntington, K. A., Wright, S. K., Bryan, A., Sheffield, G., Webber, M., Stimmelmayr, R., Tuomi, P., Delaney, M. A., and Walker, W. (2021) Stejneger's beaked whale strandings in Alaska, 1995-2020, Marine Mammal Science, 37(3), 843-869. Spies, I., Orr, J. W., Stevenson, D. E., Goddard, P., Hoff, G., Guthridge, J., Hollowed, M., and Rooper, C. (2021) Skate egg nursery areas support genetic diversity of Alaska and Aleutian skates in the Bering Sea: Marine Ecology Progress Series, v. 669, p. 121-138. Spies, I., Orr, J. W., Stevenson, D. E., Goddard, P., Hoff, G. R., Guthridge, J., and Rooper, C. N. (2021) Genetic evidence from embryos suggests a new species of skate related to Bathyraja parmifera (Rajiformes: Arhynchobatidae) in the Bering Sea: Marine Ecology Progress Series, v. 670, p. 155-166. Suryan, R. M., Arimitsu, M. L., Coletti, H. A., Hopcroft, R. R., Lindeberg, M. R., Barbeaux, S. J., Batten, S. D., Burt, W. J., Bishop, M. A., Bodkin, J. L., Brenner, R., Campbell, R. W., Cushing, D. A., Danielson, S. L., Dorn, M. W., Drummond, B., Esler, D., Gelatt, T. S., Hanselman, D. H., Hatch, S. A., Haught, S., Holderied, K., Iken, K., Irons, D. B., Kettle, A. B., Kimmel, D. G., Konar, B., Kuletz, K. J., Laurel, B. J., Maniscalco, J. M., Matkin, C., McKinstry, C. A. E., Monson, D. H., Moran, J. R., Olsen, D., Palsson, W. A., Pegau, W. S., Piatt, J. F., Rogers, L. A., Rojeck, N. A., Schaefer, A., Spies, I. B., Straley, J. M., Strom, S. L., Sweeney, K. L., Szymkowiak, M., Weitzman, B. P., Yasumiishi, E. M., and Zador, S. G. (2021) Ecosystem response persists after a prolonged marine heatwave: Nature, Scientific Reports, v. 11. Tanedo, S., Hollmén, T. E., Maniscalco, J. M., and Ulman, S. E. G. (2021) Using Remote Video Technology to Study Environmental Factors Influencing Productivity of Black-Legged Kittiwakes Rissa Tridactyla: Marine Ornithology, v. 49, p. 293-299. Bishop, A., Brown, C., Sattler, R., & Horning, M. (2020). An Integrative Method for Characterizing Marine Habitat Features Associated with Predation: A Case Study on Juvenile Steller Sea Lions (Eumetopias jubatus). Frontiers in Marine Science, 7: 576716   Bowen, L., Counihan, K., Ballachey, B., Coletti, H., Hollmén, T., Pister, B., and Wilson, T. L. (2020). Monitoring nearshore ecosystem health using Pacific razor clams (Siliqua patula) as an indicator species. Peer J 8:e8761   Counihan, K. L., Tuomi, P.A., and Hollmen, T.E. (2020) Differential Progression of Lymphoma in Two Captive Steller’s Eiders (Polysticta stelleri).  Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, 34(3), 302-305, doi: 10.1647/1082-6742-34.3.302   Levin, M., Jasperse, L., Desforges, J-P., O’Hara, T., Rea, L., Castellini, J. M., Maniscalco, J. M., Fadely, B., and Keogh, M. (2020) Methyl mercury (MeHg) in vitro exposure alters mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine expression in Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) pups. Science of the Total Environment 725: 138308.   Lian, M., Castellini, J. M., Kuhn, T., Rea, L., Bishop, L., Keogh, M., Kennedy, S. N., Fadely, B., van Wijngaarden, E., Maniscalco, J. M., O’Hara, T. (2020) Assessing oxidative stress in Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus): Associations with mercury and selenium concentrations. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part C 235: 108786,   Maniscalco, J. M., Springer, A. M., Counihan, K. L., Hollmen, T., Aderman, H. M., and Toyukak, S., M. (2020). Contemporary diets of walruses in Bristol Bay, Alaska suggest temporal variability in benthic community structure. Peer J, (8), e8735.   McGuire, T.L., Shelden, K.E., Himes Boor, G.K.,  Stephens, A.D., McClung, J.R., Garner, C., Goertz, C.E.C., Burek-Huntington, K.A.,  O’Corry-Crowe, G., Wright, B., (2020) Patterns of mortality of endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales: Insights from pairing a long-term photo-identification study with stranding records. Marine Mammal Science. doi.org/10.1111/mms.12766    Mooney, T.A., Castellote, M., Jones, I., Rouse, N., Goertz, C.E.C. (2020). Audiogram of a Cook Inlet beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas). The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. http://asa.scitation.org/doi/10.1121/10.0002351   Safine, D.E., Lindberg, M.S., Martin, K.H., Talbot ,S.L., Swem, T.R., Pearce, J.M., Stellrecht, N.C., Sage, G.K., Riddle, A.E., Fales, K., and T.E. Hollmén. (2020). Use of genetic mark-recapture to estimate breeding site fidelity and philopatry in a threatened sea duck population, Alaska-breeding Steller’s eiders. Endangered Species Research 41:349-360.   Sattler, R., Bishop, A., and Polasek, L. (2020) Cortisol Levels for Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Steller Sea Lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in Human Care: Aquatic Mammals, 2 (46), p.146-151.   Tanedo, S.A., and T.E. Hollmen. (2020). Refining remote observation techniques to estimate productivity of Black-legged Kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) in Resurrection Bay in the Northern Gulf of Alaska. Marine Ornithology 48: 61-69.   Van Cise, A.M., Wade, P.R., Goertz, C.E.C., Burek- Huntington, K.A., Parsons, K.M., Clauss, T., Hobbs, R.C., and Apprill, A. (2020). Skin Microbiome of Beluga Whales: Spatial, Temporal, and Health-Related Dynamics. Animal Microbiome 2(39).   Walden, H. S., A. L. Bryan, et al. (2020). Helminth Fauna of Ice Seals in the Alaskan Bering and Chukchi Seas, 2006-15.  Journal of Wildlife Diseases 4(56): p. 863-872.   Allen, K.N., Vazquez-Medina, J.P., Lawler, J.M., Mellish, J.E., Horning, M., and Hindle, A.G. (2019) Muscular apoptosis but not oxidative stress increases with old age in a long-lived diver, the Weddell seal. Journal of Experimental Biology, 222(12) jeb200246   Andrews, R. D., Baird, R. W., Calambokidis, J., Goertz , C. E. C., Gulland, F. M. D., Heide-Jorgensen, M. P., Hooker, S. K., Johnson, M. P., Mate, B., Mitani, Y., Nowacek, D. P., Owen, K., Quakenbush, L. T., Raverty, S. A., Robbins, J., Schorr, G. S., Shpak, O. V., Townsend, F. I., Uhart, M., Wells, R. S., and Zerbini, A., (2019) Best Practice guidelines for cetacean tagging: Journal of Cetacean Research and Management,  20, p. 27-66.   Bishop, A.M., Dubel, A., Sattler, R., Brown, C.L., and Horning, M., (2019) Wanted dead or alive: Characterizing likelihood of juvenile Steller sea lion predation from diving and space use patterns. Endangered Species Research, 40, p. 357-367.   Brown, C., Horning, M., and Bishop, A. (2019) Improving emergence location estimates for Argos pop-up transmitters. Animal Biotelemetry, 7(4), p. 1-10.   Counihan, K. L., Bowen, L., Ballachey, B., Coletti, H., Hollmén, T.E., Pister, B., and Wilson, T.L. (2019) Physiological and gene transcription assays to assess responses of mussels to environmental changes. PeerJ, 7, e78000.   Goertz, C.E.C., Burek-Huntington, K.A., Royer, K., Quakenbush, L., Clauss, T., Hobbs, R., and Kellar, N., (2019) Comparing progesterone in blubber and serum to assess pregnancy in wild beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas): Conservation Physiology, 7, p. coz071.   Goertz , C.E.C., Reichmuth, C., Thometz, N.M., Ziel, H., and Boveng, P.L. (2019) Comparative health assessments of Alaskan Ice seals. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 6(4), p. 1-15. Horning, M., Andrews, R.A., Bishop, A.M., Boveng, P.L., Costa, D.P., Crocker, D.E., Haulena, M., Hindell, M., Hindle, A.G., Holser, R.R., Hooker, S.K., Huckstadt, L.A., Johnson, S., Lea, M.A., McDonalds, B.I., McMahon, C.R., Robinson, P.W., Sattler, R.L., Shuert, C.R., Steingass, S.M., Thompson, D., Tuomi, P.A., Williams, C.L., and Jamie N. Womble. (2019) Best practice recommendations for the use of external telemetry devices on pinnipeds.  Animal Biotelemtry, 7:20 Miller, M.W.C., Lovvorn, J. R., Matz, A.C., Taylor, R.J., Latty, C.J., Brooks, M.L., and Hollmén, T.E. (2019) Interspecific patterns of trace elements in sea ducks: Can surrogate species be used in contaminants monitoring? Ecological Indicators, 98, p. 830-839.   Shelden, K.E.W., Burns, J.J., McGuire, T., Burek Huntington, K.A., Vos, D.J., Goertz , C.E.C., O' Corry-Crowe, G., and Mahoney, B.A., (2019) Reproductive status of female beluga whales from the endangered Cook Inlet Population: Marine Mammal Science, p. 1-10.   Steingass, S., Horning, M., and Bishop, A. (2019) Space use of Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardii) from two haulout locations along the Oregon coast. PLoS ONE, 14(7), e0219484. Christie, K.S., Hollmén, T.E., Huntington, H.P., and Lovvorn, J. (2018) Structured decision analysis informed by traditional ecological knowledge as a tool to strengthen subsistence systems in a changing Arctic. Ecology and Society,23(4):42 Sattler, R., Bishop, A., Woodie, K., and Polasek, L. (2018) Characterizing estrus by trans-abdominal ultrasounds, fecal estrone-3-glucuronide, and vaginal cytology in the Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus). Theriogenology,120, p.25-32. Counihan, K.L. and Hollmén, T.E. (2018) Immune parameters in different age classes of captive male Steller's eiders (Polysticta stelleri). Developmental and Comparative Immunology, 86: p.41-46. Jacob, J.M., Subramaniam, K., Tu, S.L., Nielsen, O., Tuomi, P., Upton, C., and Waltzek, T.B. (2018) Complete genome sequence of a novel sea otterpox virus. Virus Genes, p.1-12. Mooney, T.A., Castellote, M., Jones, I.T., Quakenbush, L., Hobbs, R., Gaglione, E., & Goertz, C. (2018). Local acoustic habitat relative to hearing sensitivities in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas). Journal of Ecoacoustics, 2. doi.org/10.22261/JEA.QZD9Z5 Counihan, K.L. (2018) The physiological effects of oil, dispersant and dispersed oil on the bay mussell, Mytilus trossulus, in Arctic/Subarctic conditions.  Aquatic Toxicology, 199: p.220-231. Churchwell, R.T., Kendall, S., Brown, S.C., Blanchard, A.L., Hollmén, T.E., Powell, A.N. (2018) The first hop: use of Beaufort Sea deltas by hatch-year semipalmated sandpipers.  Estuaries and Coast, 41(1) 280-292. Mooney, T.A., Castellote, M., Quakenbush, L., Hobbs, R., Gaglione, E., & Goertz, C. (2018). Variation in hearing within a wild population of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas). Journal of Experimental Biology.  221(9), jeb171959.   Bishop A, Brown C, Rehberg M, Torres L, Horning M (2018) Juvenile Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) utilization distributions in the Gulf of Alaska. Movemement Ecology 6:6. Allen, K., Hindle, A., Vazquez-Medina, J.P., Lawler, J.M., Mellish, J.E. and M. Horning (2018) Age and muscle specific oxidative stress management strategies in a long-lived diver, the Weddell seal. The FASEB Journal 2018 32:1_supplement, 861.5-861.5  Hocking, D.P., Marx, F.G., Sattler, R., Harris, R.N., Pollack, T.I., Sorrel, K.J., Fitzgerald, E.M.G., McCurry, M.R., and Evans, A.R. (2018) Clawed forelimbs allow northern seals to eat like their ancient ancestors, Royal Society Open Science, 5:172393. Latty, C.J., Hollmén, T.E., Petersen, M.R., Powell, A.N. and R.D. Andrews (2018) Erratum: Biochimical and clinical responses of Common Eiders to implanted satellite transmitters. The Condor, 120(1) 185-187. Maniscalco, J.M., and Parker, P. (2018) Maternal and offspring effects on the timing of parturition in western Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus).  Canadian Journal of Zoology, 96(4), p. 333-339. Miller, C.N., L. Polasek, A.M.C. Oliveria, and J. Maniscalco. (2017).  Milk fatty acid composition of perinatal and foraging Steller sea lions: examination from pup stomachs. Canadian Journal of Zoology doi:10.1139/cjz-2016-0015. Sattler, R., and Polasek, L. (2017)  Serum estradiol and progesterone profiles during estrus, pseudopregnancy and active gestation in Steller sea lions. Journal of Zoo Biology 2017:1-9, https://doi.org/10.1002/zoo.21381 Burgess, T.L., Kreuder Johnson, C., Burdin, A., Gill, V.A., Doroff, A.M., Tuomi, P., Smith, W.A., and Goldstein, T. (2017) Brucella Infection in Asian Sea Otters (Enhydra lutris lutris) on Bering Island, Russia. Journal of Wildlife Diseases.  epub, DOI 10.7589/2016-09-220 Morey, J.S., Burek Huntington, K.A., Campbell, M., Clauss, T.M., Goertz, C.E., Hobbs, R.C., Lunardi, D., Moors, A.J., Neely, M.G., Schwacke, L.H., Van Dolah, F.M. (2017) De novo transcriptome assembly and RNA-Seq expression analysis in blood from         beluga whales of Bristol Bay, AK, Marine Genomics, epub, DOI 10.1016/j.margen.2017.08.001 Richard, J.T., Schultz, K., Goertz, C.E.C., Hobbs, R., Romano, T., and Sartini, L. (2017) Assessing the Quantity and Downstream Performance of DNA Isolated from Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) Blow Samples. Aquatic Mammals,43(4), p. 398-408. Horning M, Haulena M, Tuomi PA, Mellish JE, Goertz CE, Woodie K, Berngartt RK, Johnson S, Shuert CR, Walker KA, Skinner JP, Boveng PL. (2017) Best practice recommendations for the use of fully implanted telemetry devices in pinnipeds. Animal Biotelemetry (2017)5:13. Horning M, Haulena M, Rosenberg JF, Nordstrom C. Intraperitoneal implantation of life-long telemetry transmitters in three rehabilitated harbor seal pups. BMC Veterinary Research (2017)13:139. Steingass S, Horning M. (2017) Individual-based energetic model suggests bottom up mechanisms for the impact of coastal hypoxia on Pacific harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardii) foraging behavior. Journal of Theoretical Biology 416:190-198. Andrews, R.D. and Enstipp, M.R. (2016) Diving physiology of seabirds and marine mammals: Relevance, challenges and some solutions for field studies. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A: Molecular and Integrative Physiology, 202, 38-52. Belonovich, O.A., Fomin, S.V., Burkanov, V.N., Andrews, R.D., and Davis, R.W. (2016) Foraging behavior of lactating northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) in the Commander Islands, Russia. Polar Biology 39:357–363 Beltran, R., Peterson, S. McHuron, E., Reichmuth, C., Huckstadt, L., Costa, D. (2016) Seals and sea lions are what they eat, plus what? Determination of trophic discrimination factors for seven pinniped species. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry. 30(9), 1115-1122 Cornick, L.A., Quakenbush, L.T., Norman, S.A.,  Pasi, C., Maslyk, P., Burek, K.A., Goertz, C.E.C., and Hobbs, R.C. (2016) Seasonal and developmental differences in blubber stores of beluga whales in Bristol Bay, Alaska using high-resolution ultrasound.  Journal of Mammology, 1-11                 Cortez, M., Goertz, C.E.C., Gill, V.A., and Davis, R.W. (2016) Development of an altricial mammal at sea:  II. Endery budgets of female sea otters and their pups in Simpson Bay, Alaska.  Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 481, 81-91 Goertz, C.E.C., Polasek, L., Burek, K., Suydam,  R., and Sformo, T., (2016)  Demography and pathology of a Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) mass-mortality event at Icy Cape, Alaska, September, 2009. Polar Biology, DOI 10.1007/s00300-016-2023-x Hay,G.C. …Horning, M., et al (2016) Key Questions in Marine Megafauna Movement Ecology. Trends in Ecology and Evolution online. Evolution 31(6): 463-475.  Latty, C.J. ,  Hollmén, T.E., Petersen, M.R., Powell, A.N., and Andrews, R.D.  (2016) Biochemical and clinical responses of Common Eiders to implanted satellite transmitters. Condor 118:489-501. Fregosi A, Klinck H, Horning M, Costa DP, Mann D, Sexton K, Hückstädt LA, Mellinger DK, Southall BL (2016) An animal-borne active acoustic tag for minimally invasive behavioral response studies on marine mammals. Animal Biotelemetry 4:1. Nichols, J.D., Hollmén, T.E., and Grand, J.B. (2016) Monitoring for the Management of Disease Risk in Animal Translocation Programmes. Eco Health 1-11. McHuron, E.A., Walcott, S.M., Zeligs, J., Skrovan, S., Costa, D.P., and Reichmuth, C. (2016) Whisker growth dynamics in two North Pacific pinnipeds: implications for determining foraging ecology from stable isotope analysis. Marine Ecology Progress Series,554: 213-224. Mooney, T.A.Castellote, M., Quackenbush, L., Hobbs, R., Goertz, C.E.C., and Gaglione, E. (2016) Measuring Hearing in Wild Beluga Whales. The Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life II.  A.N. Popper, A. Hawkins (eds). Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, New York Owen, K., Jenner, C.S., Jenner, M.N.M., and Andrews, R.D. (2016) A week in the life of a pygmy blue whale: migratory dive depth overlaps with large vessel drafts. Animal Biotelemetry 4:17. Polasek, L., Frost, C., David, J.H.M, Meyer, M.A., and Davis R.(2016)  Myoglobin distribution in the locomotory muscles of Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus). Aquatic Mammals 42(4), 421-427.  

  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() The Gulf of Alaska is part of the North Pacific and reaches from the Alaska Peninsula in the west to the Alaska archipelago in the southeast.  The coastline includes mountains, glaciers, temperate forests, towns, and cities. Powerful currents in the Gulf of Alaska have helped shape the surrounding land and communities, and circulate necessary nutrients and marine life from the deep waters to the surface. These circulation patterns allow the Gulf of Alaska to thrive with life and sustain some of the largest United States’ fisheries, as well as provide essential habitats for seabirds, marine mammals, and fish to feed and reproduce. As described in Gulf Watch Alaska: Long-term Monitoring, the Gulf of Alaska was impacted by a major oil spill on March 24, 1989. The Exxon Valdez oil tanker ran aground in Prince William Sound, Alaska, and spilled nearly 11 million gallons of oil. An estimated  250,000 seabirds, 2,800 sea otters, 300 harbor seals, 250 bald eagles, up to 22 orcas, and billions of salmon and herring eggs were lost to the spill. Since the spill, scientists have been conducting a long-term ecosystem monitoring study to gain a better understanding of both natural and human-caused impacts to the Gulf of Alaska ecosystem. The Gulf Watch Alaska long-term monitoring program consists of a team of scientists who work together to measure and watch different parts of the ecosystem spill area. Through cooperation in this project, scientists can see the links, or connections, between all of their areas of study. In science, we call this “systems thinking.” Systems thinking looks at the web of relationships where individual pieces respond on their own 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 components around them that drive physical and chemical processes and affect the conditions for survival. The process of systems thinking allows the Gulf Watch Alaska team to harness the power of a network of scientists that all specialize in different research subjects. This power makes the team of scientists well-equipped to solve any mysteries unfolding in the Gulf of Alaska. One such mystery arose in 2014 when people across the Pacific West coast began to notice large quantities of dead or dying birds washing up all along the shore from California to Alaska. As this event expanded, scientists began investigating the intricate network of natural processes in the Gulf to try and uncover the mystery of these dying birds. Yosty Storms is a former colleague at Gulf Watch Alaska. She is now working for the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program in Anchorage. Recently, Yosty has heard a lot of talk regarding the birds washing ashore, as well as other very unusual events happening throughout the Gulf and surrounding land areas. Let’s follow along as Yosty visits with the Gulf Watch Alaska team and investigates these odd occurrences. Watch the video below and meet Yosty! VIDEO: Meet Yosty Storms Meet Yosty Storms and learn about a mystery occurring in the Gulf of Alaska. (1:42) Video Transcript Narrator: Meet Yosty Storms. Yosty works at the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program in Anchorage. But when she was a student she worked with Gulf Watch Alaska. That's a long-term monitoring program looking at a large range of the North Pacific Ocean, especially the area impacted by a massive oil spill back in 1989. This area has taken a very long time to recover, because some of that oil is lingering on the beaches and offshore. That oil continues to affect the health of fish and other wildlife. Gulf Watch Alaska is a team of amazing scientists who are "on watch" for this ecosystem, keeping tabs on its recovery from the oil spill, and to see if they can detect other sorts of changes – the kinds that might be the result of global climate change. The majority of Alaskans live in communities along the coastline of the Gulf of Alaska, or within the watersheds that drain into it. Some of these communities, like here in Cordova, are dependent on the Gulf of Alaska for their local economy and jobs. Others, like the Native Village of Eyak, have over 10,000 years of history in this region. Everyone at Gulf Watch Alaska agreed that 2014, 2015, and 2016 were very, very unusual years for the ecosystem. So let’s go along with Yosty to see if we can put the mystery together. The first question Yosty wanted to ask some of the scientists was: just how unusual were these years?         Who is watching the Blob?   Archipelago (n): a section of water containing many islands   Cooperation (n): working together to accomplish a goal   Ecosystem (n): a community of living things and nonliving surroundings linked together by energy and nutrient exchange   Essential (adj): something that is necessary or very important   Habitat (n): a place that provides an animal or plant with adequate food, water, shelter, and living space to feed, breed, seek shelter, and raise young   Intricate (adj): very detailed, complex   Lingering (adj): sticking around, lasting for a long time   Sustain (v): strengthen or support physically or mentally   Thrive (v): to be healthy and successful   Watershed (n): an area of land that contains a common set of streams or rivers that all drain into a single larger body of water, such as the ocean    

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

    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() WELCOME, TEACHERS! The Alaska SeaLife Center and Gulf Watch Alaska are excited to present this virtual field trip (VFT)! Join the Gulf Watch Alaska team of scientists as they discover the mechanisms behind a mystery unfolding in the Gulf of Alaska. Learn about the work of a collaborative team of scientists from many different ocean science disciplines, and follow along with the narrator as she explores the scientists’ process of initially observing unusual phenomena in the Gulf of Alaska and seek to discover the causes and connections. You can use this VFT in conjunction with the “Gulf Watch Alaska: Long-term monitoring” VFT, or as a stand-alone piece. GRADE LEVEL: 6-8th TIME NEEDED: Between one and four 1-hour class periods (teachers may choose to use all or only some of the supplementary lessons). NUTSHELL: Students will learn about the mystery of the seabird die-off that occurred in the Gulf of Alaska, during the winter of 2015 – 2016. They will explore various aspects of the investigation and how, collectively, the scientists were able to begin uncovering the mechanisms behind the extreme die-off event.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After completing this virtual field trip, students will be able to: • Understand the process of scientific thinking and the use of the Scientific Method as a tool to develop questions and search for answers. • Understand the collaborative nature of science and how researchers from various disciplines working together can provide a ‘big picture’ view of a dynamic marine ecosystem. • Explain how an ecosystem is composed of many different components, including physical and chemical processes that drive the ecosystem and determine the conditions for survival of marine life. • Use evidence to make a claim about the cause or causes of a change in a population. BACKGROUND: In this virtual field trip, students will meet various scientists and researchers working for the Gulf Watch Alaska long-term ecosystem monitoring program, a project of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council, investigating the marine ecosystems since the 1989 oil spill. This program focusses on a recent mystery that has unfolded in the Gulf of Alaska, beginning with the observation of an extreme seabird die-off event. Organized into three main pages, this VFT follows researchers along on an investigation to uncover what caused this mortality event. This VFT can be used in a number of ways. Individuals may navigate through the pages on their own and meet the scientists through the links provided on the right-hand bar. Self-guided exploration can be completed in a couple of hours. Alternatively, teachers may facilitate a structured experience, working through each page of the VFT together in class. Lesson plans (links included on the right-hand column of this page) are available to supplement online content. TO USE THIS VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP YOU WILL NEED: • Internet access, video streaming capabilities • Projection system (with audio) to display content or a computer lab (with headphones) • Corresponding lesson plans (linked as PDFs in the right hand column of this page) UNABLE TO RUN THE STREAMING VERSION? REQUEST A FREE COPY OF ALL MATERIALS ON CD BY EMAILING education@alaskasealife.org. 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 all the classes and programs we offer, including our inquiry-based Distance Learning programs, visit our website at www.alaskasealife.org.         CURRICULUM SUPPLEMENTS Use the .pdf links below to access classroom activities for each section of the Gulf Watch Alaska virtual field trip experience. Lesson 1: Observation Observation Poster Template Lesson 2: Investigation Lesson 3: Discovery          

Donate DonateDonate   Donate     BBWebsiteComponent.goalMeter('renxt', 'p-3Wba-LFiGkm-LNS_YH9QNg', '43c107a6-18e8-47dc-b15e-53f4429dbcd8', 'usa', 75)     BBDonorFormLoader.newBlackbaudDonationFormZoned('tcs', 'p-3Wba-LFiGkm-LNS_YH9QNg', '000f8ac0-36d4-4053-95a1-2fee011f4e6b', 'usa')Become a Member of the Alaska SeaLife Center and you will support research, education, and wildlife response programs Member Benefits Unlimited free admission to the Alaska SeaLife Center for a year from the day you register Digital Membership cards 20% Discount on guest admission 20% Discount on Center tours and encounters 10% Discount on retail prices in the Discovery Gift Shop Exclusive email announcements and discounts on special events Reduced admission at other zoos and aquariums through the AZA Reciporcity Program Children 2 years and younger always admitted free. Choose the membership level that fits you best! Standard Memberships, Family Memberships, or Giving Circle Memberships     Standard Memberships Individual $70 One named member Individual Plus $115 One named member and one guest per visit Dual $115 Two named members Dual Plus $160 Two named members and one guest per visit Trio $160 Three named members Join / Renew     Family Memberships* Family $175 Two named members and eligible children and/or grandchildren Family Plus $220 Two named members and eligible children and/or grandchildren and one guest per visit Family Trio $220 Three named members and eligible children and/or grandchildren Family Quad $265 Four named members and eligible children and/or grandchildren Join / Renew *Family levels include the primary member's dependent children ages 17 and younger (and/or grandchildren ages 17 and younger) Giving Circle Memberships SeaLife Associate $300-$499 Complimentary Family Membership Four one-time use guest passes Join / Renew SeaLife Advocate $500-$999 Complimentary Family Membership Eight one-time use guest passes Invitation to an annual virtual CEO update Join / Renew Steller Partner $1,000-$2,499 Complimentary Family Membership Eight one-time use guest passes Invitation to an annual virtual CEO update An exclusive VIP tour of the Center for four Join / Renew Steller Guardian $2,500-$4,999 Complimentary Family Membership Eight one-time use guest passes Invitation to an annual virtual CEO update An exclusive VIP tour of the Center for four Invitation to quarterly VIP virtual programs Join / Renew Steller Patron $5,000-$9,999 Complimentary Family Membership Eight one-time use guest passes Invitation to an annual virtual CEO update An exclusive VIP tour of the Center for four Invitation to quarterly VIP virtual programs Breakfast or lunch with the CEO Join / Renew Steller Champion $10,000+ Complimentary Family Membership Eight one-time use guest passes Invitation to an annual virtual CEO update An exclusive VIP tour of the Center for four Invitation to quarterly VIP virtual programs Breakfast or lunch with the CEO Keeper for a Day, a 5-hour program for one or two people with minimum age of 16 Join / Renew

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.

Check here to learn more about the round-the-clock care provided to Tyonek while at the Alaska SeaLife Center.                     3/9/2018 It has been a long journey for Tyonek and we were happy to be a part of this young calf’s story. Tyonek is the first Cook Inlet beluga calf to ever be successfully rehabilitated. Learn more about how the Alaska SeaLife Center team worked to rehabilitate Tyonek here. 3/9/2018 Learn more about Tyonek’s transition to his new home at SeaWorld San Antonio here. 2/27/2018 One of Tyonek's favorite enrichment activities is playing with bubbles. Check out this video! 2/21/2018 Check out this KTUU Channel 2 News story on Tyonek! 2/10/2018 Tyonek is the first Cook Inlet beluga calf to ever be successfully rehabilitated. He was found stranded, high and dry on the beach in very poor condition. Six institutions from all across North America united to care for this little cetacean. He has recovered against the odds thanks to our staff here at ASLC and dedicated partners at Shedd Aquarium, Mystic Aquarium, Georgia Aquarium, SeaWorld, and Vancouver Aquarium. When Tyonek first arrived at the Center, September 30th he was 64 kilos and 162 cm long. Today he is 116 kilos and 180 cm long. We are ecstatic that Tyonek continues to grow and gain strength when just over four months ago he was found stranded, malnourished, and dehydrated on a beach. Amazing the things we can do when we work together.     2/8/2018 Once NOAA Fisheries determined Tyonek was non-releasable and could not survive in the wild, the agency followed its formal procedure to place him at a permanent care facility in the United States. Based on a thorough review of the applications, NOAA Fisheries selected SeaWorld San Antonio as the location best suited for Tyonek to thrive because they have both adult females and young male calves that will be important for Tyonek’s social development. Read more about NOAA’s decision here. 1/19/2018 We, at ASLC, along with our supporters and partners, have been awaiting NOAA's decision about Tyonek's future. Since he is the first stranded Cook Inlet beluga calf to ever be successfully rehabilitated, it was a long process to determine what would be best for this young calf. NOAA Fisheries has announced Tyonek is not a candidate for release due to his young age upon arrival, health conditions, and other factors. Read more about NOAA's decision and the next steps for Tyonek here. 1/7/2018 As part of our environmental enrichment we play Cook Inlet beluga whale sounds for Tyonek twice a day in five minute intervals. Our animal caretakers notice that he is very curious about the sounds and even mimics the calls. This type of enrichment helps us assess how his vocalizations are progressing as well as his hearing. Watch this video to hear Tyonek's calls.  We receive Cook Inlet beluga whale sounds from a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) based study. Learn more about the study here.  12/22/2017 The Alaska SeaLife Center is excited to introduce Beluga Chats! What does it take to care for a baby beluga? Don't miss this opportunity to chat with Alaska SeaLife Center husbandry or vet staff caring for Tyonek, the three-month-old beluga whale. Chats will be at 12:15 PM on December 26th, 28th, 29th, and 30th. For a limited time only. Participation is free with paid admission. 12/18/2017 Similar to newborns in hospitals across the country, Tyonek had his hearing tested. Preliminary results do not indicate any significant problems and he appears to have hearing ability similar to belugas tested in Bristol Bay. 12/7/2017 Click here to watch a Q&A session and bottle feed with Tyonek, the rescued Cook Inlet beluga calf. 11/21/2017 While Tyonek's energy levels are on a positive trend, we still monitor him very closely as stranding is a traumatic experience that can cause unseen internal damage. Our team uses imaging (ultrasound, radiographs, and CT scans) to regularly monitor Tyonek's condition. For instance, we are able to track increase in blubber as he puts on weight as well as changes in his internal organs. 11/19/2017 "When it comes to helping a terribly rare Cook Inlet beluga, every day is a victory.” Check out this Washington Post article to learn a bit more about Tyonek and hear from his caretakers here.  11/17/2017 We have been getting some wonderful support from our Facebook community regarding ASLC's efforts with Tyonek and we thank you! Our Wildlife Response efforts are made possible by visitors, members, donors, and the community.  "We support your incredible efforts to save this calf! Kudos to your dedicated and hard working team. This is a round the clock effort. Incredibly proud of the work you are doing! Keep it up crew!" - Nancy C.  To support Tyonek and our other Wildlife Response patients, donate here. 11/15/2017 Tyonek is now in our outdoor pool. Only after slowly acclimating the beluga to colder water temperatures in our I.Sea.U unit, was our team able to transition him outside. He is handling the climate change well. 11/12/2017 Tyonek is now exclusively on bottles! Initially, he was not strong enough to take in the necessary daily calories through just a bottle so we had to supplement his diet with tube feedings. Thanks to the efforts of our staff and partners, this little calf has recovered enough to successfully participate in all of his bottle feedings. Georgia Aquarium, Mystic Aquarium, SeaWorld, Shedd Aquarium, Vancouver Aquarium. 11/05/2017 Marc Lester, from Alaska Dispatch News wrote this article about Tyonek, the Cook Inlet beluga calf here at ASLC. Read the story here. 11/05/2017 Tyonek's rehabilitation has progressed enough that we are introducing him to our outdoor pool in short intervals. We want to slowly acclimate him to the cooler temperatures beluga's are accustomed to. For now, his outdoor time will vary from day to day. 11/03/2017 Check out this video to learn more about how the beluga team assesses Tyonek's health!  10/26/2017 Check out this video to learn more about what goes in to caring for a stranded beluga calf. We could not do this without the help of our dedicated partners: Georgia Aquarium, Shedd Aquarium, SeaWorld, Mystic Aquarium, and Vancouver Aquarium. This little cetacean is still in our I.Sea.U and is currently not viewable to the public. We will keep you updated when this changes. Thank you for your patience and support! 10/24/2017 BELUGA UPDATE! There are various tests and check-ups our staff regularly conducts on this little beluga calf to gauge his condition. One thing we do is collect thermal imagery from a FLIR camera to keep track of any sore muscles or other soft tissue injuries. In this particular image it looks like his only current “hot spot” is from his eye, which is normal. No other sources of heat are obvious which is good since it means no infections or injured muscles are in the pictured area.      

Today, on World Oceans Day, the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) would like to tell the story of Zippy. Many Seward residents rightfully expressed concern about the sea otter in Resurrection Bay with a pink zip tie embedded around his paw this spring. While residents and ASLC staff were aware of the injured otter for months, catching a robust, male sea otter who can swim and dive is an incredible challenge. Both ASLC staff and locals spent hours daily looking for the otter trying to pinpoint his routine and whereabouts. On May 25th he was finally caught. ASLC staff, individuals from University of Alaska Fairbanks, and crew from the R/V Sikuliaq worked for over 4 hours trying to approach him and eventually net him off the stern of the research vessel. He was quickly transported to ASLC where veterinarians found that unfortunately, he sustained a very serious bone infection that could take months to heal. “Likely, Zippy's paw will never be the same, but we hope he will overcome the infection, show that he can forage normally, and be released back to Resurrection Bay.  We appreciate all the calls and support from local Sewardites as we monitored him this spring,” states Wildlife Response Curator, Jane Belovarac.    ASLC staff is doing everything they can to keep him comfortable and treat his infection, but there are significant challenges with housing an adult sea otter especially due to the financial hardships brought on by COVID-19. While the Center is thankful for partners like Sea Otter Foundation and Partners4Wildlife, many sponsors were understandably unable to offer support this year. Zippy, who is currently about 65 lbs, is being treated with daily antibiotics and other medication and eats around 18-20 lbs of shellfish a day, which adds up to be very expensive.   One way to help Zippy and other wildlife response patients is to donate to the Wildlife Response Program at: www.alaskasealife.org/donate   People can also symbolically adopt a sea otter in ASLC care at: https://alaskaanimalrescue.org/adopt-an-animal/   Sharing this story on World Oceans Day is important because while Zippy’s circumstances are disheartening, he brings a powerful message that we need to protect our Alaskan wildlife. Zippy is a victim of marine debris. It is every individual's responsibility to secure any type of plastic waste whether for personal or commercial use. Reduce plastic use when possible, keep track of trash, cut zip ties when done, and consider using biodegradable alternatives to plastic ties for short term tasks. There are many little things each and every one of us can do to make a big difference for marine life in Alaska.   Photo credit goes to @raven_song_photography   Please contact media@alaskasealife.org for any additional media requests regarding this story.

Seward, Alaska (September 9, 2021) – The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) is launching their virtual Small Fry School again this fall.  This free weekly program, geared towards preschoolers, will be live-streamed from the ASLC YouTube channel. Each 30-minute program will begin at 11AM Alaska time every Tuesday starting September 14, 2021 until May 10, 2022. “As a father of preschoolers myself, I am happy we can offer home education options during these difficult times. Until the under-five crowd can get vaccinated, I know how hard it can be to find interactive learning options for our children. Virtual Small Fry School is a fun and informative way for young learners to discover the wonders of our natural world,” states Senior Education Manager, Jeff Dillon.  A new ocean-themed topic will be introduced during each class and will include a story and activities for preschoolers and their parents. No additional materials will need to be purchased to participate, but some common household items will help with various activities. Suggested items will be announced on the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Facebook event page before each class. The public is encouraged to subscribe to the Alaska SeaLife Center on YouTube so they can easily tune in to the program: www.youtube.com/user/AKSeaLifeCenter. Small Fry School is made possible by the generous support of Alaska 529. ASLC launched an in-person Small Fry School in 2018, but could not continue the program due to the pandemic. In 2020, Alaska 529 graciously donated $20,000 so the Center could resume the program virtually. “We’re delighted to support Small Fry School and its educational mission. This wonderful series allows youth from anywhere in the world to learn about Alaska’s unique marine life at the Alaska SeaLife Center,” said Alaska 529 Executive Director, Lael Oldmixon.  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 Alaska 529: Alaska 529 has been making it easy to save for education in Alaska anywhere for twenty years. The tax-advantaged plan offers unique benefits, such as the ability for Alaska residents to save through the PFD, and the University of Alaska Portfolio, which has a tuition-value guarantee. To learn more, visit Alaska529plan.com.

Seward, Alaska (December 9, 2021) – The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) announces the publication of “Stranded beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) calf response and care: reports of two cases with different outcomes” in the journal Polar Research primarily authored by ASLC’s Director of Animal Health, Dr. Carrie Goertz.  This publication was two years in the making and highlights the response and care of two beluga calves at the Center: Naknek rescued in 2012 and Tyonek in 2017. Both cases detailed in the piece provide invaluable information about the beluga populations the calves originated from and new information on wild beluga neonates.    Collecting the data for this publication while rehabilitating beluga calves required a collaborative effort from many prestigious contributors like SeaWorld, Mystic Aquarium, Shedd Aquarium, Vancouver Aquarium, Georgia Aquarium, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. “I am so proud of how the professional zoological community came together to care for and learn from both calves. Looking back, I know that it was exhausting and emotionally draining at times, but what I really remember is the joy of seeing the beluga calves respond to treatment, watching their personalities develop, and feeling the support and camaraderie of the care team. The group brought decades of experience caring for stranded cetaceans as well as neonatal belugas and dolphins in aquaria in order to support both Naknek and Tyonek,” explains Goertz.  The rehabilitation success rate of beluga whales is extremely low. While Naknek succumbed to his ailments in 2012, he survived the longest out of any rehabilitated beluga calf at that time.    The team beat the odds in Tyonek’s case, however, making him the first beluga calf to be successfully rehabilitated in the world. After spending about six months in rehabilitation at the Center, Tyonek became a resident at SeaWorld San Antonio in 2018 where he remains integrated into their pod. Steve Aibel was one of the cetacean experts from Shedd Aquarium that contributed to Tyonek’s care in Alaska and now continues to work with him at SeaWorld. “Working with Tyonek, from day one to date, made visible the strength, powerful contribution and impact that comes from collaboration within the zoological community. This was one of many instances where animal care experts, veterinarians, and research scientists from multiple organizations came together with a singular goal of helping a little whale in need. I distinctly remember a room filled with hundreds of years of beluga whale experience working together to solve the many challenges Tyonek faced,” states Aibel, Vice President Zoological Operations at SeaWorld San Antonio.    These cases demonstrate the ability to care for and rehabilitate stranded beluga calves, once thought to be impossible. The findings in this paper offer tools to assist in the conservation of endangered populations as well as aid in wildlife rescue in the future. “The greatest part is this important story is still being told today with the help of a healthy and thriving whale. I am not unique in saying that this experience changed the people who cared for him 24 hours a day for several months. In truth, every rescue does that! Every rescue matters as does every animal that we care for. They all add to the collective knowledge that helped Tyonek and will continue to help even more animals in need,” continues Aibel.  Support for the care of these beluga calves came from the Alaska SeaLife Center, Georgia Aquarium, Mystic Aquarium, SeaWorld, Shedd Aquarium, the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network, and Vancouver Aquarium. Additional funding was provided by the Prescott Grant Program, Prescott Emergency Grant Program, SeaWorld Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, and individual and corporate donations to the Center’s Wildlife Response Program.   The scientific article can be found on the Polar Research website here.   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.  

Female Elephant Seal is Alaska SeaLife Center’s First Marine Mammal Patient of 2022 Elephant seals are a rare species for the Center’s Wildlife Response Program The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) admitted the first marine mammal patient of the year to its Wildlife Response Program, a 1-year-old female elephant seal from Seward. Within a week, the care of this animal concluded with a successful release of the seal back to the ocean. Since opening in 1998, the ASLC has responded to only thirteen elephant seals. It is normal for elephant seals to spend the summer in the Gulf of Alaska and the Aleutians, but it is rare for them to travel into Resurrection Bay and haul out on the beach. The ASLC Wildlife Response Team first started monitoring this animal after a call to the ASLC Stranded Marine Animal Hotline (1-888-774-SEAL). The caller reported an elephant seal hauled out on the main boat ramp in the Seward Boat Harbor on March 19, 2022. The animal appeared bloated and lethargic, but was seen retreating to the water later that day during high tide. ASLC received two more reports of the elephant seal hauling out in other locations around the boat harbor. When the animal was observed for the third time, the Wildlife Response Team determined that intervention was necessary. After receiving approval from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the animal was transported to the Center with the help of the Coast Guard on March 21, 2022. Upon the initial admit exam, the main concerns of the veterinary team were the animal’s bloated appearance and unusual lethargy. It was also clear that the seal was going through its annual catastrophic molt. “Elephant seals will haul out on Alaska beaches during their annual catastrophic molt. Because of this molt, they can look and sound sickly compared to your typical harbor seal. Elephant seals will have superficial wounds over their body because they don’t just lose their hair, they shed the underlying layer of skin when they molt,” ASLC Wildlife Response Curator, Jane Belovarac notes. “When this particular elephant seal was first observed, our main concern was the bloating and labored breathing. We assumed that the superficial wounds were due to a molt, and our intake exam confirmed those suspicions." The bloating subsided quickly, and the blood and fecal analysis came back with no additional concerning results. The Veterinary and Wildlife Response Teams determined that the best course of action for the large seal would be to return her to the ocean as soon as possible, in hopes that she would not haul out in the busy Seward boat harbor again. On March 24, 2022, the ASLC Wildlife Response Team successfully released the elephant seal at Lowell Point, about two miles south of downtown Seward. Local volunteers assisted the team in lifting and walking the 320-pound seal, who was safely enclosed in a specially-designed large metal kennel, to the beach. She easily went into the water and headed toward the open ocean. Since then, we have not had any more sightings. Call 1-888-774-SEAL(7325) if you see any marine mammal in distress. Also, If you happen to see an elephant seal on a beach anywhere in Alaska, especially if it has a flipper tag, please call the ASLC hotline. It is good information the ASLC team can relay to the scientists who study them. The Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program can provide care for animals like this seal because of donations from corporate sponsors and individual donors. People are encouraged to contribute to the care of this patient here: www.alaskasealife.org/donate. The Center acknowledges the ongoing generous support of the Wildlife Response Program from companies like ConocoPhillips, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, PetZoo, GCI, and a number of individual donors. About Elephant Seals The northern elephant seal is the largest of the “true” seals in the Northern Hemisphere, which are categorized by lacking any external ear features. Adult males use their large inflatable noses during the winter breeding season to resonate sound when vocally threatening each other. They have one of the longest migrations of any mammal, with some recorded traveling over 13,000 miles roundtrip. Although northern elephant seals are known to visit the Gulf of Alaska to feed, they rarely are found on the beaches of Alaska. About the ASLC Opened in 1998, the Alaska SeaLife Center operates as a private, non-profit research institution and a 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.  

After nearly two months of rehabilitation at the Alaska SeaLife Center, male sea otter pup "Qilak" finds home in Chicago at Shedd Aquarium.  Qilak (pronounced Kee-lak), a five-month-old rescued male northern sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni), arrived to his new home at Shedd Aquairum on October 24, 2022.  Since his rescue, the pup received around-the-clock care at the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) in Seward, AK, the only permitted stranding marine mammal response facility in the state. Members of Shedd’s animal care and response team worked alongside partners to rehabilitate Qilak before bringing him to Shedd on Oct. 25. For now, Qilak remains behind the scenes at Shedd as he continues to reach milestones and build bonds with the animal care team and other otters.  Qilak spent nearly two months being monitored day and night and receiving regular health exams by ASLC staff. He has feedings every four hours, which has slowly decreased as he continues to grow and progress. He has been doing well since his arrival in Chicago, receiving continual care behind the scenes at Shedd’s Abbott Oceanarium. At five months old, he is a bit older than past rescues, which means he has already met some developmental milestones and continues to show signs of independence. ASLC and Shedd staff worked together to care for Qilak during his last few weeks of rehabilitation. (photo: Shedd Aquarium) The animal care team at Shedd looks forward to watching him continue to grow and thrive. Qilak’s next few milestones will be learning his new habitats, bonding with other otters and more. “As an organization dedicated to care and conservation, Shedd Aquarium is equipped to step in to assist our partners, and in this case, we offered rehabilitation support and ultimately a home for this pup in need,” said Peggy Sloan, chief animal operations officer at Shedd Aquarium. “Our rescued population of sea otters are important ambassadors for their wild counterparts creating compassion for this keystone, endangered species.” For now, Qilak remains behind the scenes at Shedd as he continues to reach milestones and build bonds with the animal care team and other otters.  Qilak spent nearly two months being monitored day and night and receiving regular health exams by ASLC staff. He has feedings every four hours, which has slowly decreased as he continues to grow and progress. He has been doing well since his arrival in Chicago, receiving continual care behind the scenes at Shedd’s Abbott Oceanarium. At five months old, he is a bit older than past rescues, which means he has already met some developmental milestones and continues to show signs of independence. Shedd staff members observe Qilak  at the Alaska SeaLife Center before his transport to Chicago. (photo: Shedd Aquarium) The pup was examined at ASLC and found to be underweight, but otherwise, he was strong and alert. Veterinarians and animal care team members monitored him closely to ensure he remained in good condition. He was already eating solid foods, swimming, grooming and more. During his rehabilitation, Shedd’s animal care team sent a rotating group of support staff to work alongside ASLC for round-the-clock care. ASLC led the pup’s naming that resulted in Qilak, which means dome of the sky, the entire sky or heaven in Inuit.  “Otter pups need care and attention 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so it takes a village to rehabilitate a young animal,” said Jane Belovarac, Wildlife Response Curator at ASLC. “While the process is lengthy, there is nothing more rewarding than watching our patients grow and find their homes. We’ve been honored to be part of his second chance at life, and we’ll continue to follow his journey.” Qilak joins the rescued sea otter population at Shedd Aquarium, including the other new arrivals Otters 926 and 929 that can now occasionally be seen on exhibit in the Abbott Oceanarium. There are now a total of six sea otters that call the aquarium home. Find more information about sea otters at Shedd on the aquarium’s website: https://www.sheddaquarium.org/animals/sea-otter.   Shedd Aquarium staff report that Qilak is settling in well. This photo is from when he first arrived at Shedd (photo: Shedd Aquarium)   About Northern Sea Otters The northern sea otter subspecies (E. lutris kenyoni), is found in the Aleutian Islands, Southern Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington. Within Alaska, there are three stocks. The Southeast stock can be found in the coastal waters of Southeast Alaska. The Southcentral population spans from west of Glacier Bay to the eastern edge of Cook Inlet. The Southwest population stretches from the western edge of Cook Inlet out the Aleutian Islands. In Alaska, sea otter populations in Southcentral and Southeast Alaska have stabilized or are continuing to increase. However, in Southwest Alaska, sea otters have experienced a sharp population decline in the last 20 years. The sea otter species as a whole are listed as “Endangered” on the IUCN Red List, while the northern sea otter is listed as “Threatened.” Main threats in the wild include predation, overharvest, fishery interactions, disease, and oil spill. Their main prey species include sea urchins, crabs, clams, mussels, octopus, fish, and other marine invertebrates. Sea otter teeth are adapted for crushing hard-shelled invertebrates such as clams, urchins, and crabs.   About the Alaska SeaLife Center Opened in 1998, the Alaska SeaLife Center operates as a private, non-profit research institution and a public aquarium. It generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems. The ASLC is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. To learn more, visit www.alaskasealife.org.   About Shedd Aquarium The John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago sparks compassion, curiosity and conservation for the aquatic animal world. Home to 32,000 aquatic animals representing 1,500 species of fishes, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, birds and mammals from waters around the globe, Shedd is a recognized leader in animal care, conservation education and research. An accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), the organization is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and supported by the people of Chicago, the State of Illinois and the Chicago Park District. www.sheddaquarium.org  

Legacy Society Your Legacy is Our Future  You can be a part of the Alaska SeaLife Center's critical work by leaving a gift through your estate plans. A planned gift allows you to support our mission after your lifetime so future generations can enjoy the bounty of Alaska's oceans. Anyone, regardless of age or financial status, can create a legacy gift to the Alaska SeaLife Center. How to Make a Planned Gift A planned gift can be as simple as naming the Alaska SeaLife Center in your will or designating the Center as a beneficiary on your retirement plan or life insurance policy. The Alaska SeaLife Center Endowment Fund, established through the Alaska Community Foundation, enables additional options for planned gifts through the Foundation's unique expertise.  Sample language to use when making a planned gift to the Alaska SeaLife Center Endowment Fund:   “I bequeath __________________________________ (describe dollar amount, property to be given, or proportion of your residuary estate) to The Alaska Community Foundation (EIN# 92-0155067), a tax exempt organization under IRS Section 501(c)(3), to be added to the Alaska SeaLife Center Endowment Fund, a component fund of The Alaska Community Foundation, and I direct that this bequest become part of this fund.”  Benefits of Planned Giving When you notify us about your gift, we will enroll you in the Alaska SeaLife Center Legacy Society. You will receive invitations to special events and be recognized in our annual report and e-newsletters, unless you choose to remain anonymous. All communications you have with our staff about planned giving is strictly confidential.      We are grateful to those who support the Alaska SeaLife Center through planned giving. Through your gift, you are ensuring that future generations will learn about and care for Alaska's oceans. To learn more about how to enroll, please contact our Development Office at 907-224-6396 or development@alaskasealife.org or download the brochure.      

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

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()         MEET DR. ALLYSON HINDLE Animal Physiologist and Post-Doctoral Researcher at the Alaska SeaLife Center WHAT SHE STUDIES: - Animal physiology - Physiological telemetry EDUCATION: Ph.D. Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences M.S. Zoology B.S. Zoology HOMETOWN: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada ONE COOL EXPERIENCE I HAD WORKING IN THE ANTARCTIC WAS WHEN… "I saw the area where we work from above. The area is flat and white and windy, and it all kind of looks the same from the ground. Seeing it from an overlook made me realize how amazing and beautiful the different ridges of ice are around the islands in the frozen ocean."  MY BEST PIECE OF ADVICE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN SCIENCE IS… "Find a balance between becoming really good at your speciality and learning about what other people do. You will be much better at asking questions if you have ideas about different ways to answer them." Dr. Allyson Hindle explains why you always see Antarctic researchers wearing sunglasses. (1:00) Video Transcript The first thing that you're told before you even get to Antarctica, before they even let you on the plane, is to always wear your sunglasses. We work in Antarctica in the summertime so there's 24 hours of daylight, and we work on sea ice, which is covered by snow. So, you're actually receiving quite a lot of ultraviolet radiation, so it's really important to protect your eyes. Snow blindness is a real problem that if you basically let your eyes get sunburnt inside you have a lot of pain and difficulty seeing and you can actually lose your sight. So, nobody wants to go blind because you fail to take proper precautions like wearing your sunglasses. Also, for us we can't afford anything that would keep us from being able to work for a day so we try to be as safe as possible and that means that you're always wearing your sunglasses.   WHO IS STUDYING SEALS?    

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()         MEET DR. JO-ANN MELLISH Animal Physiologist at the Alaska SeaLife Center and Research Associate Professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks WHAT SHE STUDIES: - Marine mammal energetics - Animal physiology - Thermoregulation EDUCATION: Ph.D. Animal Physiology B.S. Biology HOMETOWN: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada WHY IS TEAMWORK ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT WHILE WORKING IN ANTARCTICA? "We're working together not just to get the science done but to keep each other safe. It's fieldwork that we do on a routine basis, but we're in the Antarctic and you really are taking your life in your hands every time you go out on the sea ice. We really care about each other. And we're there, number one, to look out for one another and then, number two, to get the science done." Dr. Jo-Ann Mellish describes what she loves about working as a scientist in Antarctica. (1:18) Video Transcript It's the kind of place where you can feel isolated and connected to everything around you at the same time. If you're out on the sea ice you don't hear any motorized vehicles, there's nobody else around you. All you hear is the wind and the cracking of the ice moving underneath you and the seals around you and sometimes if you're lucky a penguin and it's just, you have that moment of being in a space that so few other people get to experience that it, it's a spiritual moment. There's no other way for me to explain it but you just, time stops and you just want to be there in the moment and experience it. All the rest, everything else just kind of goes away. And to get to be a part of that as your career with people that you want to be with, you just can't beat that kind of experience, and it makes you want to go back!   WHO IS STUDYING SEALS?    

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()         MEET DR. BODIL BLUHM MARINE BIOLOGIST AND RESEARCH ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS WHAT SHE STUDIES: -Marine invertebrates -Sea ice & benthic ecology EDUCATION: B.A. Biology M.S. Zoology Ph.D. Marine Biology ONE COOL EXPERIENCE WHEN WORKING IN THE ARCTIC WAS... "We were trying to trawl for bottom fauna, at like 10,000 feet, in ice (in the Arctic deep sea). We deployed an ROV and deep sea cameras and we were sitting on the ship, and live-seeing what was on the sea floor, creeping around there." Dr. Bodil Bluhm describes what she likes best about Arctic marine research. (1:00) Video Transcript   I think the two things I like best are the interactions with people, and that's both with the fellow scientists from all over the place as well as with outreach activities, just talking to my five year old and her preschool group- the other day they had this ocean topic and I brought my dive gear, and they get all excited- so that's one part I really like, the interaction with people. Also on the international level, with the Arctic being the Arctic there's a lot of countries all around it, and we really have contacts to all of them. The other thing I really like is the study area itself. It has so many challenges, and it is under pressure from all these different activities- including climate change, and oil and gas and so on- but it just keeps being an interesting area to me to study. So those are the two things that really keep me excited about the work.   WHO IS STUDYING SEA ICE?  

    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()         MEET DR. KATRIN IKEN MARINE BIOLOGIST AND PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS WHAT SHE STUDIES: -Foodweb interactions -Marine plants and invertebrates         ONE CHALLENGE OF WORKING IN THE ARCTIC IS... "You have to be prepared to be cold, because you can only put on so many clothes." Dr. Katrin Iken describes how her work as a scientific diver gives her special insight into her study of marine ecosystems. (1:00) Video Transcript   I am a scientific diver, and I love doing it.  Not just for the adventure but really for the reason that it gives me a completely different appreciation of how things look under water.  It is much easier for me to understand, sort of how organisms live together and how they work together if I can actually see them in their natural environment.  It’s very different to see them there than for instance to have a big bottom trawl bring up organisms and you look at a big pile of them, but they are all just jumbled together and you don’t know anymore how they were actually distributed; especially sort of in relation to each other, in relation to certain habitat features such as rocks or sediment or elevation under water or depressions in the sea floor you know, all these kind of things.  So I think it gives us as researchers a different insight to be able to actually see how it is under  the water.     WHO IS STUDYING SEA ICE?  

Seward, AK – September 11, 2014– The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) transferred a female sea otter pup to its I.Sea.U this week.  Visitors to the Center can watch the activities of the otter and its care-givers through viewing windows near the Discovery Touch Pool. The pup, now a healthy 10-pound, 2-month old female, was found stranded as a newborn in Port Moller, Alaska after being entangled in a fishing net.  The otter was brought to the Alaska SeaLife Center on July 12 where she immediately began receiving intensive, hands-on care. Sea otter pups must be fed every two hours and constantly groomed to keep their fur clean.  Due to the maternal care required by young otters, pups this age are deemed non-releasable by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).  Sea otters eat approximately 25-30% of their weight in food daily. The pup’s current diet consists mainly of sea otter formula and a small amount of solid food, such as clams, squid, and capelin.  As she grows older, solids are being slowly increased to incorporate a larger variety including shrimp and crab. Halley Werner, Stranding Supervisor at the Center states, “The transition into I.Sea.U is the next step for this young otter to become more independent. This will allow her to care for herself, with continued around-the-clock support from our animal care team.”  The Alaska SeaLife Center is the only permanent marine rehabilitation center in Alaska, responding to wildlife such as sea otters and harbor seals. The Center’s Wildlife Response Program responds to sea otters with the authorization of USFWS. Once a sea otter is admitted to the Center, it is closely monitored by the veterinary and animal care staff at ASLC. Alaska SeaLife Center President and CEO Tara Riemer explained, “We have no federal or state funding to care for sea otters, and we rely on donations to keep this program going. We especially thank Shell Exploration and Production, ConocoPhillips Alaska, and BP Alaska for their generous contributions to the Center in support of wildlife rescue and oil spill response readiness.” The Alaska SeaLife Center is a private non-profit research institution and visitor attraction, which generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems.  The Alaska SeaLife Center is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. For additional information, visit www.alaskasealife.org. The Alaska SeaLife Center operates a 24-hour hotline for the public to report stranded marine mammals or birds,and encourages people whohave found a stranded or sick marine animal to avoid touching or approaching the animal.  Call first!  1-888-774-SEAL

Seward, Alaska (February 2, 2015) – The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) is pleased to announce that Mishka, a rescued sea otter, was safely transferred to her new home at the Seattle Aquarium. Mishka was transported by a FedEx plane to the Seattle Aquarium and made her public debut on Super Bowl Sunday. ASLC staff members travelled with Mishka in order to make her transition as stress free as possible.  Over the next few weeks, Seattle Aquarium staff will systemically acclimate Mishka to her new environment before introducing her to another resident sea otter. Mishka, Russian for “little bear,” was rescued by the ASLC’s Wildlife Response Program on July 12, 2014. She was found as a newborn in Port Moller, Alaska after being entangled in a fishing net. Due to the maternal care required by young otters, they are deemed non-releasable by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Mishka, now a healthy 26-pound, 6-month old female, received round-the-clock care during her stay at the Alaska SeaLife Center. Since July, Mishka has more than doubled her weight and transitioned from bottle-fed formula to eating a diverse diet, including capelin, surf clams, crab, mussels, and squid. After a final health check, ASLC veterinary staff cleared Mishka to be transferred to her new home in Seattle. The Alaska SeaLife Center is the only permanent marine rehabilitation center in Alaska, responding to wildlife such as sea otters and harbor seals. The Center’s Wildlife Response Program responds to sea otters with the authorization of USFWS. Once a sea otter is admitted to the Center, it is closely monitored by the veterinary and animal care staff at ASLC. Alaska SeaLife Center President and CEO Dr. Tara Riemer explained, “We have no federal or state funding to care for sea otters, and we rely on donations to keep this program going. We especially thank Shell Exploration and Production, ConocoPhillips Alaska, and BP Alaska for their generous contributions to the Center in support of wildlife rescue and oil spill response readiness.” 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 Seattle Aquarium The Seattle Aquarium is one Washington State’s leading environmental education and stewardship institutions, and the region’s gathering place for discussion and sharing information about marine conservation. It maintains a number of research initiatives in cooperation with federal, state, zoological, and university partners. The Aquarium is located on Pier 59, at 1483 Alaskan Way. To learn more, visit www.seattleaquarium.org.

CONTACT: Alaska SeaLife Center Tara Riemer, President and CEO Phone: (907) 224-6349 E-mail: tarar@alaskasealife.org U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Andrea Medeiros, Public Affairs Specialist Phone: (907) 786-3695 E-mail: andrea_medeiros@fws.gov Team Works to Understand Cause of Increased Sea Otter Deaths Public Asked to Report Animals Found and Not Approach   Anchorage, Alaska (October 8, 2015)– More than 200 dead or sick sea otters have been reported on beaches in the Kachemak Bay region in 2015.  Similar cases in the past have been linked to streptococcus related illnesses. A team of experts from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Alaska SeaLife Center, Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services, and the USGS National Wildlife Health Center are working to understand what has caused the spike in sea otter deaths and potential significance to the population. Despite the ongoing investigation, including exams and tests on the carcasses, the cause of death for many of the sea otters remains unknown. Sea otters are aquatic animals and normally do not spend much time on land.  If a sea otter is found on the beach, it is likely to be sick or injured and should not be approached. The Alaska SeaLife Center operates a 24-hour hotline for the public to report stranded marine mammals or birds, and encourages people who have found a stranded or sick marine animal to avoid touching or approaching the animal.  Call first!  1-888-774-SEAL Be prepared to provide: ·         Exact location ·         Date and time of encounter ·         Number and type of animals involved ·         A description of the condition of the animal(s) ·         Any available digital photographs of the animal(s) To learn more about the Alaska SeaLife Center, visit www.alaskasealife.org. Learn more about sea otters, visit: http://1.usa.gov/1RwjIg9

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

Seward, Alaska (November 10, 2015) – The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) is saddened to announce the passing of Woody, a 22-year-old male Steller sea lion who was one of the Center’s original residents. Woody was humanely euthanized Monday following a rapid decline due to age-related complications.  In the wild, male Steller sea lions almost never live beyond their teens. As a result of Woody’s mature age, staff had been monitoring his health closely and addressing various age-related issues such as arthritis and slow healing. While male sea lions typically lose a significant amount of weight in the fall, Woody lost more weight at a faster rate compared to previous years. Despite attempts by animal care and veterinary staff to reverse this trend, he lost interest in food and stopped participating in regular feeding sessions over the past two weeks, culminating in profound weight loss. A necropsy is currently being conducted. Woody was born in May 1993 and came to the ASLC from the Vancouver Aquarium with females Sugar and Kiska when they were all five years old. While female Steller sea lions typically live longer than males, Woody was the last remaining member of this original sea lion cohort. Sugar died this past March of bone cancer and Kiska died in 2010 of pancreatic cancer. Woody is survived by two offspring, Ellie born in June 2013 and Forrest born in July 2014.  Ellie and Forrest are the first Steller sea lions born in a North American aquarium since the 1980s. Their births were part of a maternal investment research program. ASLC’s Steller sea lion research programs significantly contribute to the understanding of these animals in the wild– their reproduction, habitats and sustainability. Woody’s participation in these studies occurred at a critical time for Steller sea lion populations in Alaska, some of which are still listed as endangered. Since 1998, over two million visitors had the opportunity to meet Woody at the ASLC. He was well-known for his sheer size (topping out over 2400 pounds in 2014), large personality, and curious intelligence.  Husbandry Manager Lisa Hartman who worked with Woody since 1998, reminisced about Woody: “He was synonymous with ASLC for nearly 18 years—our iconic face and personality. Children have grown up knowing him. He commanded attention and will be missed beyond measure.” In honor of Woody, two funds are currently being established that honor what Woody loved best – his home and the children of Alaska. About Steller Sea Lions Steller sea lions are the largest member of the eared seal family. The species ranges across the northern Pacific Ocean, from Japan through the Aleutian Islands and southeast Alaska to northern California. Divided into eastern and western regions, the western population is currently listed as endangered. 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.