Saturday, January 18, 2014 is California's 6th annual Underwater Parks Day
The network consists of 124 Marine Protected Areas (MPA) along California's 1,000-mile coastline.
The creation of a statewide network of Marine Protected Areas is a marine resource management program. While an individual MPA functions to protect organisms and ecological linkages within a specific area, a network of MPAs is designed to sustain marine life at a regional scale by supporting important processes such as dispersal of larvae among sites and protecting ecosystems, such as kelp forests, at multiple locations. An MPA network includes individual MPAs of different sizes and degrees of protection and can complement single-species fisheries management to maintain and improve ocean health.
Celebrate underwater, shoreline and near-shore parks. There
are lots of opportunities to get in or
on the water, participate in a
photography contest with great prizes,
or learn about local sea life through
aquarium exhibits and lectures.
South coast aquaria started Underwater
Parks Day in 2009, and continue to
celebrate the event with interactive
exhibits, games, lectures and movies.
They will also have information for
residents that want to get involved in
marine protected area monitoring
programs or other volunteer work.
POINT LOBOS pointlobos.org Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014
Point Lobos celebrates the importance of Marine Protected Areas (MPA's) by participating in Underwater Parks Day. Divers will set up an exhibit for visitors to touch, feel and learn about some of the spectacular underwater wildlife in Whalers Cove from 10:00 to noon. The Marine Mammal Center, PISCO, Reef Check, BAUE and the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation will be present and have displays for visitors. Normal entry fees apply.
LONG BEACH
Saturday, January 18, 2014, 9 a.m. -
5 p.m.
Aquarium of the Pacific: 100 Aquarium
Way, Long Beach, CA
Guests will be able to learn about the
commercial and recreational activities
permitted in Southern California's
network of MPAs. MPA stories will be
told using film, lectures, and
interactive exhibits. Learn more about Southern California's network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
that went into effect January 1, 2012. The event will also feature educational booths and activities in the Great Hall. Free with
admission.
MORRO BAY - Underwater Parks Day at the Museum of Natural History in Morro Bay on January 13, 2014
Time: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. The California Ocean Science Trust, together with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, invites you to engage in an open, informal dialogue to help inform continued marine protected area (MPA) monitoring in the Central Coast, including the Central Coast MPA Monitoring Plan.
All members of the Central Coast ocean community are welcome, including those interested in the monitoring, evaluation, and management of the region's MPAs and oceans. Local, state, and tribal government representatives, fishermen, researchers, nonprofit organizations, citizen scientists, divers, surfers, paddlers, wildlife enthusiasts, and all other ocean stewards are encouraged to join
in. Lear about your monitoring questions and priorities related to MPAs,
including species, fisheries, and
ecosystems that are important to gather
information on; Exploring the role of
local expertise and traditional
ecological knowledge in monitoring;
Beginning to exchange ideas and discuss
opportunities for partnership-building
and collaboration. RSVP appreciated, but
not required: (805) 776-3982
DANA POINT - Ocean Institute
Saturday, January 18, 2014
24200 Dana Point Harbor
Drive, Dana Point, CA
Time: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. ocean-institute.org
The Ocean Institute will join in the
celebration of Underwater Parks Day to
educate the public about the statewide
network of MPAs and explain the need for
these underwater parks. Explore the
species, habitats and resources that
make our ocean exceptional. Free with
admission. Learn about and explore the species, habitats, and resources that make our ocean exceptional.
Admission price is $6.50 for adults (13 yrs+) and $4.50 for children (3 -12 yrs); Children 2 and under are free. Members
are free.
SANTA BARBARA - Ty Warner Sea Center Saturday, January 18, 2014
Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara, CA
Time: 12 - 3
p.m.: 211
Observe feeding of local marine critters
and learn how marine protected areas are
providing safe habitats for animals to
thrive. Celebrate these unique aquatic
environments through hands-on science
investigations. Ty Warner Sea Center's
Underwater Parks Day Festival is providing free admission to all children 12 and
under accompanied by a paid adult. There
will be marine animal feeding
demonstrations throughout the day and
free reusable tote bags while supplies
last.
LA JOLLA - SEA Days at Birch Aquarium at Scripps Saturday, January 18, 2014
Time: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.:
2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, CA, aquarium.ucsd.edu
Meet animals that live in the La Jolla
Ecological Reserve, find out the best
ways to enjoy our underwater parks and
discover the importance of these
underwater treasures. Free with
admission. Sat, January 18, 11am – 3pm
Where Birch Aquarium at Scripps (map)
Description SEA Days 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Underwater Parks Day Celebrate the
fourth annual Underwater Parks Day. Meet
animals that live in our local La Jolla
Ecological Reserve, learn about the
importance of our underwater treasures,
and explore the best ways to enjoy our
Underwater Parks! FREE with admission.
SAN PEDRO - Cabrillo Aquarium January 18, 2014
Time: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. 3720 Stephen M. White
Drive, San Pedro, CA
6th Annual Underwater Parks Day includes speakers, presentations, interactive activities and handouts for visitors so they can learn more about MPAs, how MPAs work, and where MPAs are located in Southern California.
Similar activities are being held the same day at partner marine science centers including Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, Ocean Institute in Dana Point, Birch Aquarium at Scripps in La Jolla, SeaLife Aquarium in Carlsbad, Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, Ty-Warner Sea Center in Santa Barbara and Centers for Ocean Science Education Excellence - West.
SANTA MONICA - Santa Monica Pier Aquarium Saturday, January 18, 2014
1600 Ocean Front Walk, Santa Monica, CA 1-5 p.m. healthebay.org
Dorothy Green room grand opening at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium invites the public to visit the Aquarium for free, sponsored by Cirque du Soleil. The newly renovated Dorothy Green Room brings a holistic approach to water and a fresh focus on the watersheds of the Santa Monica Bay while celebrating Heal the Bay's founder - and founding - through interactive displays and two new exhibits of live animals. A ribbon cutting at 1 p.m. Special guest presenters will showcase animals typically found throughout the watershed, including Gary Bucciarrelli of UCLA's Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, who will bring California newts to accompany his talk about healthy watersheds. An Orange County nonprofit, Inside the Outdoors, will bring a menagerie of animals for a special presentation.
PAST EVENTS
ARCATA - Celebrate Underwater
Parks Day, Saturday January 19, 2013, Noon - 2 p.m.
at the Humboldt Coastal Nature
Center. friendsofthedunes.org
CARLSBAD - Legoland SEA LIFE Aquarium: 1 Legoland
Drive, Carlsbad, CA
Saturday, January 19, 2013, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
More than 200 species of sea creatures
call SEA LIFE Aquarium home. Learn
about these wondrous animals and how
Southern California's new
underwater parks will help protect them
for the future. Fun games and
activities for families and kids will
teach about the ocean and the
importance of conservation. Free with
admission.
SAN FRANCISCO -
Celebrate Underwater Parks Day
Saturday, Jan 19, 2013, 11:30 a.m.
"Aquarium of the Bay" at Pier 39 San
Francisco, CA
Join us on Underwater Parks Day to learn
about Marine Protected Areas on
California's coast. Experience our
underwater parks through the lens of
Marc Shargel – slide show and lecture
featuring underwater photography at
11:30 a.m. Activities for kids throughout
the day in the Aquarium of the Bay's Bay
Theater.
SAUSALITO -
Underwater Parks Day Saturday, January 19, 2013, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
The Museum joins with the Ocean
Conservancy to celebrate the fifth
annual Underwater Parks Day at
Bay Area Discovery Museum , Sausalito CA
557 McReynolds Rd., Sausalito, CA, 94965
(415) 339-3900 baykidsmuseum.org
WATSONVILLE - Special day of recognition
at Elkhorn Slough January 19, 2013 at Elkhorn
Slough National Estuarine Research
Reserve and Point Lobos Reserve.
Funded by the Monterey Bay Sanctuary
Foundation, Underwater Parks Day invites
the public to see
special displays at both locations.
At Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine
Research Reserve, the visitor center
will feature information on the marine
mammals that thrive in the 1,700-acre
slough reserve. These include the
southern sea otter, a threaten species
that is critical to the health of kelp
forest environments. The Elkhorn Slough
currently hosts the largest
concentration of southern sea otters on
the coast of California.A presentation on marine
mammals in the slough will be held 11
a.m. to noon in the reserve's conference
room. elkhornslough.org.