Dear Friend,
I know you must be as upset as I am about the devastation occurring now in the Gulf of Mexico. It's a sobering reminder of just how precious the ocean is to all of us—and how vulnerable it can be.
Right now, there's an urgent need to care for the birds, sea turtles and other wildlife fouled with oil. Aquarium staff members stand ready if called upon to aid our colleagues from wildlife rescue organizations that are on the ground now, including California's Oiled Wildlife Care Network. We are helping in other ways as well: Our sister organization, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, just dispatched a high-tech robotic submersible that will track the spreading oil plume.
Our Seafood Watch team is also monitoring the situation closely. The secretary of commerce has declared a fishing disaster and the National Marine Fisheries Service has closed 54,000 square miles of Gulf waters to commercial fishing, though much of the Gulf remains open.
The spill will affect many popular commercial species including shrimp, snappers, groupers and oysters. If the abundance or safety of these species changes, we'll let you know. Until then, you can support beleaguered fishing communities by continuing to select Best Choices and Good Alternatives when you buy seafood from the Gulf.
One species we're most concerned about is the magnificent Atlantic bluefin tuna. Just months ago, our team pressed hard for stronger international protections for these amazing and valuable fish, but lost the battle. Sadly, through the findings from our Tuna Research and Conservation Center—a collaboration with Stanford University—we know that these fish arrive in the Gulf to spawn every year in April and May, and in waters at the heart of the oil spill. We'll learn more about how this year's spawning season was affected, and we'll continue to monitor the long-term health of this threatened species.
The oil spill is a tragic disaster. But, it also presents an opportunity to at last do the right thing by our oceans. There's a lot of work ahead of us. And you can help—by staying connected, taking action on issues and supporting our work. Rest assured: The Monterey Bay Aquarium will be involved, every step of the way, to create a future with healthy oceans.
I know you must be as upset as I am about the devastation occurring now in the Gulf of Mexico. It's a sobering reminder of just how precious the ocean is to all of us—and how vulnerable it can be.
Right now, there's an urgent need to care for the birds, sea turtles and other wildlife fouled with oil. Aquarium staff members stand ready if called upon to aid our colleagues from wildlife rescue organizations that are on the ground now, including California's Oiled Wildlife Care Network. We are helping in other ways as well: Our sister organization, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, just dispatched a high-tech robotic submersible that will track the spreading oil plume.
Our Seafood Watch team is also monitoring the situation closely. The secretary of commerce has declared a fishing disaster and the National Marine Fisheries Service has closed 54,000 square miles of Gulf waters to commercial fishing, though much of the Gulf remains open.
The spill will affect many popular commercial species including shrimp, snappers, groupers and oysters. If the abundance or safety of these species changes, we'll let you know. Until then, you can support beleaguered fishing communities by continuing to select Best Choices and Good Alternatives when you buy seafood from the Gulf.
One species we're most concerned about is the magnificent Atlantic bluefin tuna. Just months ago, our team pressed hard for stronger international protections for these amazing and valuable fish, but lost the battle. Sadly, through the findings from our Tuna Research and Conservation Center—a collaboration with Stanford University—we know that these fish arrive in the Gulf to spawn every year in April and May, and in waters at the heart of the oil spill. We'll learn more about how this year's spawning season was affected, and we'll continue to monitor the long-term health of this threatened species.
The oil spill is a tragic disaster. But, it also presents an opportunity to at last do the right thing by our oceans. There's a lot of work ahead of us. And you can help—by staying connected, taking action on issues and supporting our work. Rest assured: The Monterey Bay Aquarium will be involved, every step of the way, to create a future with healthy oceans.
 | Regards, Julie Packard Executive Director Monterey Bay Aquarium |
