Progress and promise for the ocean in 2019

It’s a new year, with so many opportunities to make a lasting difference for the future of the ocean. Because of the many people who are part of the Monterey Bay Aquarium family, we are better able to take action on the biggest issues facing the ocean today, to discover and share more of the ocean’s fascinating stories, and to build on the many successes of the past 12 months.

We’ve shown that it’s possible to make a real difference—and quickly. The sustainable seafood movement has made tremendous progress globally since we launched our Seafood Watch program nearly 20 years ago. Action to address the threat of single-use plastic pollution also accelerated in 2018.

Today, we need urgent action on global climate change—the gravest threat to marine life, and all life on our planet. With your help, I know we’re up to the challenge.

I’m particularly proud of the many ways that young people are finding their voices as ocean advocates—whether on the stage at global climate talks in Poland or in campaigns to reduce single-use plastic. We look forward to unleashing more of their talent and energy when we open our new Bechtel Family Center for Ocean Education and Leadership later this year. I’m excited that the Aquarium will soon have the capacity to prepare even more students, science teachers and emerging teen leaders to be effective advocates for our ocean planet.

We need their voices more than ever, on so many fronts.

Last year, the Aquarium worked closely with California leaders to put ocean issues on the agenda at the Global Climate Action Summit. We must continue to advance policies—at the local, state and international level—to create a clean-energy future.

We’ve made commitments to operate the Aquarium more sustainably, with a goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2025.

Working collaboratively, we’ve made great progress addressing other threats to the ocean. Global fishing and aquaculture have moved dramatically in more sustainable directions thanks to consumer action, the involvement of chefs and other thought leaders, the support of business leaders who are using their buying power to transform supply chains, and through science-based fisheries management policies. Last year, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program brought on board new business and government partners, including Red Lobster (the world’s largest seafood restaurant chain) and two major seafood processors in Southeast Asia.

We've seen progress on ocean plastic pollution from California and local Monterey Bay communities, to nations around the world. “Single-use” was declared the word of the year in 2018 as people stepped up for sustainable living. We displayed a life-size blue whale made of recycled plastic near San Francisco’ Golden Gate Bridge to raise awareness of the issue.

We’re learning more—and sharing more—about ocean life, too. Our scientists were part of an expedition to the White Shark Café to learn why these top ocean predators make their epic migration from California to Hawaii, and created an Ocean Memory Lab, where our researchers analyze tissues of long-dead marine creatures to learn about past conditions in the ocean.

We’re working closely with our colleagues at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, to monitor the impacts of climate change on life in the deep sea, and to share amazing discoveries, like a live stream of the sounds made by deep-ocean animals.

We continue to find ways to bring inspiring ocean life to the Aquarium, from hammerhead sharks to rescued seabirds like Sula the red-footed booby, who may soon become an ambassador for sustainable seafood issues. We recently expanded our Animal Care Center, to better meet the needs of animals at the Aquarium and in the wild.

My thanks to everyone who is connected with the Aquarium—whether as a member or a donor, a visitor or a friend who stays in touch through our webcams, social media and email. You are making a difference for the ocean. I look forward to accomplishing even more together in 2019.