What's New

Evenings by the Bay

This summer join us for an Evening by the Bay. The Aquarium will stay open until 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays from July 4 through September 6. In addition to all your favorite exhibits, enjoy dinner with an ocean view in the Portola Restaurant and live music from Monterey Jazz Festival musicians.

World Ocean Day Photo Contest Winners Announced

The winner of our third annual World Ocean Day Photo Contest is Peter Liu with his photo "Green Sea Turtle Being Cleaned." Thank you to everyone who participated in the contest.

Sailing Adventures

Join us for an unforgettable adventure on Monterey Bay. Enjoy the comfort of our 65-foot research sailboat as you look for wildlife and learn from an Aquarium naturalist.

Behind-the-Scenes Tour

In this 50-minute tour you'll see the Aquarium in a whole new way. Explore the fascinating world behind our exhibits, and interact with our staff. We'll take you where the action is!

Cuttlefish Kids

The Aquarium has gone crazy with cuttlefish—we’ve currently got 44 juvenile pharaoh cuttlefish on exhibit in Splash Zone! Measuring about one and a half inches long, they hatched in February from eggs laid by a female previously on exhibit.

Freshwater Otter Tickles the Ivories

Dua, one of four Asian small-clawed otters at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, has learned to play the piano as a behind-the-scenes "enrichment." Our husbandry staff created this activity to give Dua something interesting to do, extend his feeding time and make use of his incredible dexterity—a trait he shares with others of his species.

Saving Snowy Plovers

Each year from March through September, tiny snowy plover chicks appear on beaches along California’s coast, looking like balls of fluff with two stick legs. “We call them cotton balls on Q-tips,” says Monterey Bay Aviculturist Donielle York. “They’re adorable.” These small shorebirds are also in trouble.

More to See in Our Seahorse Exhibit

While seahorses get star billing in our new special exhibition, “The Secret Lives of Seahorses,” they share the stage with many other animals—including everything from sea slugs to sea moths, firefish to zebra gobies. Here are some exhibit animals you're likely to see this summer.

Seafood Watch on your iPhone

Now you can get the most up-to-date Seafood Watch recommendations on your iPhone or iPod touch. Simply visit the App Store and download the free, official app from the Monterey Bay Aquarium directly to your device. Then just browse the guide or search for your favorite seafood by name. If you've got another brand of cell phone or mobile device, use your phone to log on to mobile.seafoodwatch.org and you'll be automatically directed to our online pocket guides, just in time for you to order your next seafood meal.

Julie Packard’s Ocean Vision

There's an untold story in the climate change debate: its effect on our oceans. Executive Director Julie Packard issues a call for action at HuffingtonPost.com. She also talked with
the Los Angeles Times about another danger sign for our oceans: the collapse of the California salmon fishery.

Marine Protected Areas: "Yosemites of the Sea"

Similar to state and national parks on land, Marine Protected Areas preserve prime undersea habitat, allowing marine wildlife to recover and thrive. California’s Marine Protected Areas are being created through a public process, and you can have a voice in how to keep our oceans healthy.

Work at the Aquarium

Ever dream of working at the Monterey Bay Aquarium? Put your passion and special skills to work while gaining valuable experience as an intern. Opportunities exist in the aviary, sea otter exhibit, sea otter research and conservation, fundraising, education, photography/image management and microbiology. Join us!

Test Your Sushi Smarts with Our New Game!

Think you're sushi savvy? Order from our online sushi menu and see how sustainable your choices really are. You'll get the skinny on your favorite sushi items, and learn how to place your order for healthy oceans.

Aquarium's Julie Packard Joins Honor Society

Aquarium Executive Director Julie Packard was named among the 2009 Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences—the most prestigious honor society and center for independent policy research in the U.S. In receiving the honor, she joins Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nelson Mandela and U2 lead singer and humanitarian advocate Bono, among others. Her selection is good news for everyone who cares about the future of the oceans.

"The Secret Lives of Seahorses" Book is Here

The companion book to our new exhibition tells the stories behind this bewildering blend of beasts with the head of a horse, the grasping tail of a monkey, and the protective pouch of a kangaroo. It also explores the range of threats they face in the wild.