Expedition to the Sea of Cortez

A serious scientific expedition of the ocean will also have an unusual and poignant literary twist. In mid-September, Aquarium Vice President of Global Marine Programs Dr. Greg Stone will lead an expedition to investigate the underwater mountains of the Sea of Cortez off the Mexican coast. Joining the trip's oceanographers, submarine operators, underwater photographers and technical staff will be Wendy Benchley, the widow of the late writer Peter Benchley.

Much of the Sea of Cortez is remote and rich with marine life. Pacific gray whales use it as a winter nursery for their calves, and hammerhead sharks gather there in huge numbers. From September 11 to 17, the expedition will explore and document the rich diversity of marine life of the El Bajo Seamount. Ecologically vital habitats, seamounts can be oases of rich, unique and complex marine life. They have not been extensively studied and are threatened by human exploitation. The expedition team will use a small research submarine to investigate the deep-water life along the steep sides of these underwater mountains. Divers will also closely examine the seamount's summit, which rises to just 60 feet below the water's surface.

Join the expedition by reading the team's daily blog, and take a voyage to the hauntingly beautiful Sea of Cortez.

See You In September

Summer is almost officially over, but that doesn't mean activity at the Aquarium will be cooling off! We'd like to thank all who came to check out Sharks and Rays and made it such a success. A record-breaking number of visitors experienced these fascinating animals up-close and learned why they do not deserve their fearsome reputations. The touch tank has closed, but you can still come face-to-face with sharks and rays as they swim around our Giant Ocean Tank.

Visitors will see--and hear--another major change occurring on our plaza. Construction for the New Balance Foundation Marine Mammal Center is well underway on the Harbor Terrace. As a result, our fur seals are currently enjoying a vacation at the New York Aquarium, but don't worry--they will be back when the center opens next summer.

David B. Stone Award

Every year, the New England Aquarium presents the David B. Stone Award to individuals or organizations to recognize distinguished service on behalf of the oceans. The award was established in 1970 in honor of the New England Aquarium's principal founder, David B. Stone. This year, the Aquarium is pleased to present the award to His Excellency, President Anote Tong of Kiribati in recognition of his commitment to conservation and his leadership in establishing the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA). President Tong has given voice to the particular challenges facing small island states, as rising sea levels threaten their very existence. In March of 2006, the Kiribati government--in collaboration with the New England Aquarium and Conservation International--officially established the PIPA. Today, it is the world's largest marine protected area and includes critical ocean habitats, containing some species found nowhere else in the world.

Spotlight on Research

By Amanda Thompson, Lab Manager

At 120,000 pounds, North Atlantic right whale Phoenix is quickly becoming one of the biggest celebrities around! Recently, researchers at the Aquarium finished consulting on a project to create an exact model of Phoenix for the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History's new Sant Ocean Hall. The Phoenix model will be the focal point of the exhibit--a full-size, 45-foot replica that will hang from the center of the hall.



Phoenix was chosen not just because Aquarium researchers here have tracked her since she was a calf and have extensive knowledge of her family tree, but also because she is an excellent example of the dangers right whales face. In 1997, Phoenix became seriously--almost fatally--entangled in gill net fishing gear. It took her almost two years to recover. To make her story even more tragic, her mother Stumpy was killed in the winter of 2004 from a ship strike in the waters off Virginia.


The Smithsonian's model will clearly show all of Phoenix's scars caused by the entanglement, including a very distinctive lip scar, which serves as a permanent reminder of her ordeal.



Learn more about how the Aquarium's research team works to save right whales, then meet Phoenix (#1705) and her mother Stumpy (#1004) through the North Atlantic Right Whale Catalog.

When you waste water, you waste blue and green. These tips will keep your household water-efficient, saving you money on water and energy bills and helping you live the blue lifestyle! For more information, visit the Mass. Water Resource Authority online.

1. Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth, shave, wash your face or scrub dishes.

2. Reduce the water volume of each toilet flush by placing a water-filled plastic bottle weighted with gravel in the tank. (Be sure not to interfere with the flushing mechanism.)

3. Low-flow faucet aerators mix air with tap water to efficiently reduce water flow by half.

4. Water efficient showerheads dramatically decrease the gallons used per minute without sacrificing the benefits of a satisfying shower.

5. High-efficiency washers use less water, expend less energy to heat the water, require less energy and time to dry your clothes, and create less wear and tear on your garments.

Source: Massachusetts Water Resource Authority, "How Does A Tub of Bubbles Save You Water?"

State-Wide Beach Clean-Ups

Annual beach clean-ups around Massachusetts begin September 20. These events help your local beaches and marine life and are a great and meaningful way to drive home the importance of living the blue lifestyle. Find a beach clean-up near you.

Help Celebrate the Inauguration of the Greenway!

October 4

Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston waterfront

Join the Aquarium to help celebrate the opening of the Greenway and the opportunity to reconnect to the city. Meet up with a friend, bump into a neighbor, and enjoy concerts by favorite local bands, free dance lessons and more. Call it a meet and greet, a get together, a reunion--doesn't matter. The Rose Kennedy Greenway is now open and ready to bring Boston back together.

Family Field Trip: Ponkapoag Bog Hike

October 11, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Blue Hills Reservation, Canton

After a short hike, we will investigate the carnivorous plants, reptiles and amphibians that make their homes in this quaking bog.

Gallery Behind-the-Scenes Tour

September 21

October 19

Get an inside view of what it takes to care for our animals and exhibits. Learn how we feed the animals, how we keep the exhibits clean and how we make sure our animals are healthy.

Save the Date: Climate Change Symposium
February 5, 2009

Along with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the Aquarium will host a climate change symposium next February. The purpose of the symposium is to bring business leaders, policy makers and non-governmental organizations together to examine the impacts of climate change and acidification on the marine environment. The symposium is by invitation only. Please contact Vickie Cataldo at vcataldo@neaq.org or 617-973-0235 if you or your organization is interested in attending.

Labels: Seabits, September 2008

With gas prices at all-time highs, the word on everybody's lips is "stay-cation." There are still a few weeks left of summer, so stay the day at the Aquarium. Before Sharks and Rays: Explore Their World swims away September 1, learn the truth about these amazing animals' undeserved reputations, and feel them glide under your fingers at the sharks and rays touch tank. Don't miss your chance meet our temporary summer guest, Baranov, the 500-pound fur seal, before he returns home to Mystic, CT. We also have four new additions to the little blue penguin exhibit, including Lion, the little guy who became a national celebrity for his human surrogate mothers.

While you have the whole family here, save money and time with a family membership. Along with free Aquarium admission, membership offers discounts on IMAX and Whale Watch tickets, purchases at the gift shop, and validated parking rates. And the best part about a family membership? Express entry lets you avoid the lines! Additionally, all Aquarium visitors can stretch their food budgets. Bring your Simons IMAX Theatre ticket stub to Sel de la Terre or Cheers Faneuil Hall the same day you see a film to receive 15 percent off your total bill.

Save even more money on your stay-cation and take advantage of public transportation by parking outside the city and taking the train or MBTA. While you're downtown, check out other fun and inexpensive attractions, including the Freedom Trail, Faneuil Hall, the historic North End, the beautiful Public Garden, and the Charles River Esplanade.

Maria DeMaio at The Reef

August 16, 4-7 p.m.

Singer Maria DeMaio will rock The Reef at the Aquarium in a special outdoor performance. DeMaio has been winning over audiences all over Boston with her refreshing songwriting and a powerhouse voice that has been called both "soulful" and "quietly scintillating." She combines her profoundly emotional delivery with intensely personal songwriting that is steeped in intent and sincerity. With songs that are as catchy as they are clever, Maria demonstrates that pop can break free of its cookie cutter roots.

Spotlight on Research

By Amanda Thompson, Lab Manager

The Aquarium's Right Whale Research Team has just moved to Lubec, Maine to begin their 29th annual Bay of Fundy field season, which lasts from early August through September. This year, the research is made possible by generous grants from five supporters, including Irving Oil, the Island Foundation, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, the Royal Caribbean Ocean Fund and a grant to the team's partners at Canadian Whale Institute from World Wildlife Fund/Environment Canada.

Every summer, North Atlantic right whales migrate to the Bay of Fundy to feed in the plankton-rich waters, nurse their young and socialize. Every day that the fickle weather permits, the researchers go out to the Grand Manan Basin in the lower Bay of Fundy on their 29-foot long research vessel, Nereid, to take digital photographs of the whales. They spend the bad weather days matching these photographs to whales in the North Atlantic Right Whale Catalog. They also collect small skin samples for ongoing genetic analyses, to develop knowledge about the right whale family tree.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Canada has used the team's data to help protect right whales. It designated a right whale conservation area in 1993 and proposed a critical habitat in the Right Whale Recovery Strategy. Additionally, Transport Canada used the data to relocate shipping lanes to reduce the risk of ship strikes. To learn more about this field season as it happens and see photos and videos, visit the Right Whale Research Team's blog. Check back frequently for updates!

New England is in the midst of one of the rainiest Augusts on record. A barrel or other large container placed strategically under a downspout will provide (free!) water for gardening, lawn maintenance and car washes, and help you conserve precious natural resources.

According to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, mesh fabric or several drops of baby oil on the surface of the water will prevent mosquitoes from breeding. They also note that rain barrels are particularly useful when placed next to plants or beds that need moist soil. The MWRA's website has additional eco-friendly lawn and gardening tips.

Dive In!

Register now for these educational programs to introduce your child to the world of water and its inhabitants.

Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m.: September 16, 23, 30, October 7

Fridays at 11 a.m.: September 19, 26, October 3, 10

Tuesdays at 11 a.m.: September 16, 23, 30, October 7

Fridays at 9:30 a.m.: September 19, 26, October 3, 10

Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m.: September 17, 24, October 1, 8, 15, 22

Jellies: August 16, 2 p.m. for 5- to 10-year olds

Sharks: September 13, 10 a.m. for 5- to 7- year-olds and 2 p.m. for 8- to 10-year-olds

Is This Heaven? No, It's Boston

Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy might not have plowed over his backyard to build a diamond for a bunch of ghosts, but he does know his baseball. Join him for the final home run of the Aquarium's Grand Slam movie series at the Aquarium's Simons IMAX Theatre. Shaughnessy will introduce Field of Dreams, the evening's baseball classic, and chat with the audience about all things baseball, from insider tidbits to whether Fenway Park will once again be Boston's field of dreams. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for kids (3-11), members and anyone who has a snack or a drink at The Reef before the movie.

Labels: August 2008, Seabits

Program Features

• A brand-new Touch Tank lets you stick your hands into the exhibit and touch sharks and rays as they swim by.
  

• More than 10 species of sharks, rays and skates are on exhibit. Illuminated panels explain how these creatures live and eat, and why their presence is crucial for the health of the oceans.
  

• A Field Guide with photos and fun facts to help find sharks and rays all over the Aquarium.

• Sharks 3D at the Simons IMAX Theatre features the great white, hamerhead, whale shark and more.
  

• See how you stack up by comparing your size to sharks and ray silhouettes.
  

• Any lingering doubts can be addressed by Visitor Educators, on hand to dispel all myths and stereotypes about sharks and rays.

In the summer of 1975, one movie changed the way Americans thought about the predators of the ocean. Sharks became considered vicious hunters and indiscriminate killers. As if, Jaws' trailer suggested, "God created the devil and gave him jaws."

In the summer of 2008, the New England Aquarium will teach the public the truth: humans are far more dangerous to sharks and their cousins, rays, than they are to us, and the misconception of these animals as ferocious man-eaters has left them threatened by extinction. Sharks and Rays: Explore Their World will immerse you into the underwater world of elasmobranchs (the family of sharks, rays and skates) and bring them close enough to touch.

Each year, humans kill an estimated 100 million sharks. As a result, 20 percent of elasmobranch species are on the brink of extinction. Without predators like sharks and rays, the oceans' entire food chains would be disrupted, wreaking havoc on the population of other animals. The goal of Sharks and Rays: Explore Their World is to get the public to transfer their fear of sharks and rays into a healthy respect, so that they will help protect these creatures before it is too late.

More: Shark in the Charles River?!

Sharks Attack Boston (Boston Globe)

New England Aquarium Grand Slam

Your favorite team. Your favorite movies. Your favorite drinks. Your favorite waterfront bar.

Come to the Aquarium Thursday evenings this summer and get hit with a home run of entertainment. Watch the Red Sox slay the competition on The Reef's flat-screen TVs and fight the summer heat with a crisp Sam Summer Ale or The Reef's signature cocktails. Then head to the air-conditioned comfort of the Simons IMAX Theatre to watch classic baseball movies on the largest screen in New England!

All movies start at 8:10 p.m. Tickets are only $3 for The Reef's customers!

July 10: A League of Their Own

July 17: Major League

July 24: Eight Men Out

July 31: The Natural

August 7: The Babe

August 14: Field of Dreams

Ever think you'd get close enough to touch a legendary rock band? How about two? Spend your weekend with the cheapest concert tickets of the summer. Experience the larger-than-life stage presence of The Rolling Stones or the exhilarating face-to-face encounters with U2 at the Aquarium's Simons IMAX Theatre.

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Martin Scorsese teams up with The Rolling Stones to bring fans an exhilarating feature film event, Shine A Light. Scorsese captures the raw energy of the band and gives audiences an all-access pass to some of the most famous musicians in the world.

U23D's amazingly realistic 3D technology puts the audience face-to-face with the band as drumsticks, guitars and even the crowd appear close enough to touch. Jam along to all of their classic songs, including "Beautiful Day," "Sunday, Bloody Sunday," "Vertigo" and "With or Without You."

U23D plays at 8:10 p.m. on Fridays* and Shine A Light plays at 8:10 p.m. on Saturdays. Tickets are $12.95 per show.

*Schedule exception for the weekend of July 11-13: Both films will play only on Saturday night. U2 3D will play at 7:10 p.m and Shine a Light at 9:10 p.m.

If you're excited about saving the planet, here are some easy ways to help your favorite marine animals.

Reuse your shopping bags. Tens of thousands of marine animals die each year because our plastic bags pollute the oceans. Plastic bags can take up to 1,000 years to break down, and animals can easily become entangled in them. They can also be mistaken for food, such as jellies. Many grocery stores now have incentives for using reusable shopping bags.

Make sure you're buying the right seafood. Some seafood is caught or raised in ways that harm the populations of fish and other marine life. The Aquarium's Celebrate Seafood initiative provides the resources you need to pick the most ocean-friendly (and delicious!) seafood options.

Welcome, Baranov--Tons of Fun

It might be swimsuit season, but don't tell that to Baranov, our new male fur seal. At 500 pounds, he's more than four times the average weight of our female fur seals, but he hasn't been throwing his girth around too much. He can often be seen lounging on the rocky shore of our fur seal exhibit. Baranov is spending the summer in Boston, on temporary vacation from his home at the Mystic Institute for Exploration in Connecticut, and when he arrived, it took him barely 15 minutes (and a snack) to get adjusted. Learn more about Baranov and all of our marine mammals through our Marine Mammal Trainers' blog, and make sure to stop by and meet him before he returns home to Mystic.

Immerse Yourself in the World of Water

Gallery Behind-the-Scenes Tour

July 14, 10 a.m.

August 9, 10 a.m.

Aqua Kids Family Day

July 15

August 4

August 18

Green Masterpieces: Air and Water

July 16, 6 p.m.

The Hatch Shell on the Esplanade

The Boston Landmarks Orchestra's free classical music series goes blue with Green Masterpieces: Air and Water, featuring music inspired by nature, including Handel's Water Music, Smetana's The Moldau, and a new commission about whales by Stephen Feigenbaum. The Aquarium's traveling Tidepool Touch Tank will be at the environmental fair at the Hatch Shell prior to the event. Bring your family and join us to feel and interact with all of your favorite tidepool animals, including sea stars and horseshoe crabs. This event is free of charge and open to the public.

Family Field Trip: Boston Harbor Island Excursion

August 9, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (approximate)

Lovell's Island, Boston Harbor

On this excursion to Lovell's Island, we will spend the day tidepooling, learning about the history of the island and hiking to enjoy the sights of beautiful Boston Harbor.

Ocean Detectives Saturday Exploration: Jellies

August 16, 2 p.m. (for 5- to 10-year-olds)

Now Playing at the

Simons IMAX Theatre

New! Grand Canyon Adventure 3D: River at Risk

As new studies forecast water shortages in the U.S. and around the world, learn how to make a difference for our parched planet. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. leads an expedition through the Grand Canyon, where the Colorado River is already a victim of the severe drought cycle now facing the American Southwest. The film is narrated by Robert Redford and set against a stirring score featuring songs by Dave Matthews Band.

Dolphins and Whales 3D

Sea Monsters 3D

Deep Sea 3D

U2 3D
Shine A Light

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Ocean Wild Exhibit

Brian Skerry's Ocean Wild

Massachusetts Audubon Visual Arts Center

Through Sept. 21

Take a trip to Canton this summer to see Ocean Wild, the latest collection from National Geographic photographer--and Aquarium Overseer--Brian Skerry. The Aquarium is a proud sponsor of the Mass Audubon Visual Arts Center's exhibition, which showcases Brian's stunning imagery by taking the audience around the world and deep into the sea.

Brian says his ultimate goal is to motivate people towards ocean conservation.

"I hope that the photos make them read the story, become informed and take action. I hope it changes the way they vote or eat or raise their kids," he says. "As humans living in society, we have choices. A good, solid photo will engage its viewers to become betters stewards of the oceans."

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Check Out Those Baby Blues

In last month's Seabits, you read about the orphaned little blue penguin chick who was being hand-raised by two of our biologists. The story officially has a happy ending: the chick, recently named Lion, developed at the same rate as its fellow chicks, and all will be placed into our little blue exhibit next week!

Here's a guide to the new little blues, put together by our biologists. The definition explains why each penguin's name was chosen, and the bracelet refers to the color and location of their identification bands. Remember, they won't be juveniles for much longer, so stop by soon to check them out!

Name: Kororaa
D.O.B: 4/5/2008
Bracelet: yellow/red, right
Definition: Maori people are indigenous to New Zealand, a place where little blue penguins live. They call the little blue penguin "kororaa."


Name: Montague
D.O.B: 4/7/2008
Bracelet: green/white, left
Definition: Little blue penguins live in temperate waters and breed on coastland islands around Australia and New Zealand. Montague is one breeding island in New South Wales, a state of Australia.


Name: Bruny II
D.O.B: 4/8/2008
Bracelet: blue/white, left
Definition: Bruny is a little blue penguin breeding island off the coast of Tasmania.

Name: Lion
D.O.B: 4/14/2008
Bracelet: orange, left
Definition: Lion is a breeding island in Sydney harbor. It has the largest little blue population in the Sydney area and gets its name because the island resembles a Sphinx.

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Spotlight on Research

By Amanda Thompson, Lab Manager

This month, Aquarium researchers will start heading out to sea to assess the biological impacts the Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) ports in the Massachusetts Bay have on the local marine life.

LNG is natural gas that has been frozen into a liquid, which makes it both odorless and non-toxic. Large double-hulled ships, designed to hold substances in very cold temperatures, transport the LNG from their plants to special pipes in the ocean. The pipes in turn take in the LNG to a terminal to be distributed as an environmentally friendly source of fuel

The LNG ships and ports create noise pollution, or acoustic stress, for marine animals. Our researchers' primary focus will be on how the acoustic stress affects the behaviors of the sharks and other fish species in the Massachusetts Bay.

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World of Water in the News

Aquarium Helps Add to Teachers' Curriculum

Fishing for Sustainability

Catch of the Day?

Classic Baseball Flicks Hit Hub's IMAX

Project Helps Protect Right Whales

DMB at Aquarium's IMAX

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Labels: July 2008, Seabits