2026 Aquarium Monthly Newsletter — From supporting sustainable seafood and fisherfolk in the Philippines to two new candidates for sea otter surrogacy, these stories of hope will have you feeling good about the future.
Aquarium updates
It takes a village
The Philippines is one of the largest producers of blue swimming crab in the world, and the industry supports thousands of fishing families. But the fishery is currently rated red by Seafood Watch. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is working closely with local organizations and fisherfolk to implement a model village plan that supports not only the ocean but also the people and animals that depend on it.
Over a decade ago, a devastating sea star wasting syndrome decimated sea star populations along the West Coast. Since then, the Monterey Bay Aquarium has joined other institutions and the Sunflower Star Laboratory to raise captive-bred sunflower sea stars. Together, our work brings hope of recovery for a species that plays an important role in keeping ocean ecosystems balanced.
Last October, we welcomed incredible content creators from around the world for our very first Creators Workshop. They got to see, breathe, and dive into the unforgettable experience of our conservation work. Since then, they’ve joined us as ambassadors to speak up for the ocean and share these important messages on their social media platforms.
We’re thrilled to welcome TWO new sea otters to our raft! Both Suri and Willow were rescued as orphaned pups by the Aquarium in 2022. After rehabilitation, they spent time together at aquariums in Chicago and southern California. They now return to us as both exhibit otters and stellar candidates to become surrogate mothers to rescued pups one day.
Join us this Saturday, April 18, for Sea the Future: A Climate Dance Party. Spend an evening surrounded by the living systems we’re working to protect and people like you who love protecting them. Because hope loves a good dance floor!
Earlier this year, thousands of people spoke up against the Trump administration’s proposal to open parts of California’s waters to offshore oil and gas drilling. The work is not done, and your voice will be important in the months ahead. Stay tuned, and our team will let you know how to make your voices heard at critical moments.
The northern elephant seal was once hunted for its blubber, which decimated its population from tens of thousands to less than 20 individuals. Thanks to protections in Mexico and the U.S., as well as the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the numbers have expanded to over 150,000 today! A reminder that recovery can happen if we work together to protect what we love.
