Monterey Bay Aquarium
Nonprofit public aquarium in Monterey, California, United States / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Monterey Bay Aquarium is a nonprofit public aquarium in Monterey, California. Known for its regional focus on the marine habitats of Monterey Bay, it was the first to exhibit a living kelp forest when it opened in October 1984. Its biologists have pioneered the animal husbandry of jellyfish and it was the first to successfully care for and display a great white shark. The organization's research and conservation efforts also focus on sea otters, various birds, and tunas. Seafood Watch, a sustainable seafood advisory list published by the aquarium beginning in 1999, has influenced the discussion surrounding sustainable seafood. The aquarium is the home of the current oldest living sea otter, Rosa, and the birthplace of Otter 841.
Monterey Bay Aquarium | |
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36.6181°N 121.9019°W / 36.6181; -121.9019 | |
Slogan | To inspire conservation of the ocean |
Date opened | October 20, 1984; 39 years ago (1984-10-20) |
Location | Cannery Row, Monterey, California, U.S. |
Floor space | 322,000 square feet (29,900 square meters)[lower-alpha 2] |
No. of animals | ~35,000 |
No. of species | 550+ |
Volume of largest tank | 1.2 million U.S. gallons (4.5 million liters) |
Total volume of tanks | 2.3 million U.S. gallons (8.7 million liters) |
Annual visitors | 2 million |
Memberships | Association of Zoos and Aquariums[1] |
Major exhibits | Kelp Forest, Sea Otters, Jellies, Open Sea |
Public transit access | Monterey–Salinas Transit |
Website | montereybayaquarium.org |
Early proposals to build a public aquarium in Monterey County were not successful until a group of four marine biologists affiliated with Stanford University revisited the concept in the late 1970s. Monterey Bay Aquarium was built at the site of a defunct sardine cannery and has been recognized for its architectural achievements by the American Institute of Architects. Along with its architecture, the aquarium has won numerous awards for its exhibition of marine life, ocean conservation efforts, and educational programs.
Monterey Bay Aquarium receives around two million visitors each year. It led to the revitalization of Cannery Row, and produces hundreds of millions of dollars for the economy of Monterey County. In addition to being featured in two PBS Nature documentaries, the aquarium has appeared in film and television productions.