#kelp forest

It's a win for habitat restoration. It's a win for marine life. It's a win for all of the people who helped make it happen.

It's a fucking win and it makes me happier than words can describe.

Sea star wasting disease has been brutally decimating sea star populations up and down the West Coast for about a decade. It's been a frustrating and devastating mystery for a long time.

Sunflower sea stars are one of the hardest hit species, with 87% of the population wiped out in some areas and total extinction in others. Sea star die offs are particularly bad, because they prevent sea urchin populations from getting out of control. Sea urchins feed on the kelp that forms the basis of the whole ecosystem, so without sea stars the kelp forests take a big hit.

Now scientists have identified a bacteria that is very likely causing the disease, which is related to the bacteria that causes cholera in humans.

While this is just a first step for recovery, it means that sea stars and habitats can be tested for this bacteria before reintroducing them to previously diseased habitat. Scientists can also begin to study this bacteria more intensely and potentially find a cure.

The collab you didn't know you needed has arrived 🦦🍺 

🪨 Grab your favorite rock and crack open a cold one for the otters!  

We've joined forces with Alvarado Street Brewery to brew up something truly special. This collab not only supports our Sea Otter Program, but also our sustainability goals. 

Our work with threatened southern sea otters was established even before we opened our doors in 1984. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Sea Otter Program is the first of its kind, and we’ve made some serious headway in sea otter research and rehabilitation. When you visit the Sea Otters exhibit at the Aquarium, you’ll meet some of our otters that act as surrogate moms! Each one helps orphaned pups learn vital skills to survive in the wild.

But we’re not just passionate about otters… 

At Monterey Bay Aquarium, we’re all-in on plastic-free seas, which is why for this collaboration with Alvarado Street Brewery, Raft was packaged with sustainability in mind. Each 6-pack uses compostable, biodegradable holders, offering an alternative to traditional plastic packaging and helping reduce the risk of ocean-bound waste. Because caring for the ocean is a community effort, and every little bit counts.

 🌊♻️🍻 Cheers to our ocean-loving community, collaborations for conservation, and cleaner seas! Check out this timeline of our Sea Otter Program and learn how we're helping sea otters thrive here in Monterey Bay!

Kelp forests in the Channel Islands National Park, California

Hilda: Under The Sea

art commission by Maxiluna on Instagram