Shorelines Fall/Winter 2025 by MontereyBayAquarium

THE MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM MEMBER

OUR NEWEST SEA OTTER Meet Opal, the youngest on exhibit and a possible future surrogate mom

KEYS TO KELP RECOVERY

Our researchers are learning how kelp rebounds in a changing ocean UNITED NATIONS OCEAN CONFERENCE

We made waves, advancing policy and using art to inspire action

Anchovies, Engraulis mordax, open their mouths wide to feed on plankton as they swim.

VOL.41 NO.2 FALL/WINTER 2025

We’re planning a new exhibit and launching new initiatives on the global stage

Studying and protecting kelp forests and sea otters, with allies like Dr. Jane Goodall

Sustainability Successes

We’re well on track to meet our goals for reduced emissions and waste across all our operations

United Nations Ocean Conference

With our MBARI colleagues, we moved the needle to protect and restore the living ocean 8 Creature Feature

A swell shark in the Kelp Forest has laid a viable egg case — without a male partner

The newest addition to our Sea Otters exhibit is learning what it will take to become a surrogate mother

New professional development workshops for classroom teachers focus on climate literacy

Eugene “Gene” Y. Cheng and Maribeth “Buffie” A. Colloton-Cheng create a named endowment fund

SHORELINES® is published for members of the Monterey Bay Aquarium; 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, California 93940-1023; P: 831.648.4800.

Monterey Bay Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Tax ID #94-2487469.

Change and continuity

CHANGE IS IN THE AIR as we bask in the beautiful fall weather around Monterey Bay. I hope you were able to enjoy our extended member hours and special evening events during summer to visit and make memories with friends and family — including meeting our newest sea otter, Opal!

Your support is so important to us. It’s what enables us to make progress on so many critical ocean issues. We’ll continue to offer member-only opportunities for you to experience the Aquarium, learn about the conservation work you’re supporting, and connect with our amazing staff. Check the member calendar on the back page for a list of the many in-person and virtual member events coming up in the next few months.

Change is also happening on our exhibit floor, where we’ve begun construction of a fantastic reimagining of our Splash Zone galleries. Over the next year — with your help — we’ll create a new exhibit experience with special appeal for our youngest guests and their families. Ocean in Motion / La Danza del Mar is sure to delight everyone, with new and larger exhibits of animals in a living coral reef, a bigger and better habitat for our African penguins, and the return of favorites like big-belly seahorses, garden eels, flamboyant cuttlefish, and many more. Splash Zone broke new ground 25 years ago as a first-ever “children’s museum inside an aquarium.” It’s been a hit with all our guests ever since. Ocean in Motion / La Danza del Mar will be an inspiring place to build empathy for ocean life — the foundation for connecting with, and caring for, our ocean planet.

We’ve received generous support from several lead donors to create this amazing new experience. I’ll be asking for your help to get us over the finish line as we build toward opening Ocean in Motion / La Danza del Mar late in 2026.

As busy as we’ve been here in Monterey, our team has been equally active on the global stage. I joined several members from both the Aquarium and MBARI in France for the UN Ocean Conference in June. I’m pleased to report that the meetings there were productive. They delivered new international commitments to create large marine protected areas, brought us closer to a binding global agreement to manage fisheries beyond national boundaries, and produced declarations of support for an ambitious Global Plastics Treaty.

Margaret Spring, our chief conservation and science officer, was actively engaged before and during treaty negotiations in Geneva over the summer. Though the talks ended without an agreement, we will continue to press for strong global action. We also took a leadership role as fishing nations worked to assure the long-term recovery of Pacific bluefin tuna.

We will continue to press for progress internationally and to defend critical environmental policies here in the United States. These are top priorities for us and will continue to be under the leadership of our next chief executive officer. The process of identifying our next CEO is on track, and you can expect an announcement from our Board of Trustees by the end of the year. Once selected, I’ll work closely with my successor to ensure a smooth transition before I step into a leadership role with the Board.

With all the changes swirling around us, you can be certain of this: Monterey Bay Aquarium will remain the best in the world. That’s due in large part to our supporters like you.

Julie Packard Executive Director

Left: Giant Pacific octopus, Enteroctopus dofleini, engage our guests with their graceful movements. The largest octopus, they can learn to open jars and recognize the aquarists who care for them.

Connecting and protecting kelp forests and sea otters

OUR LIVING EXHIBITS and field research help inspire protection of key habitats and species like kelp forests and sea otters. We’re gaining new insights into the connections essential to the health of both and gaining new allies, including renowned conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall.

A deep dive into kelp forest health

Kelp forests are an essential California ecosystem. They support a diversity of marine species, buffer our coastlines and coastal communities from strong waves and currents, and reduce the impacts of climate change. They’re also the inspiration for our iconic two-story Kelp Forest exhibit.

But wild kelp forests are in trouble. For the past decade, they’ve suffered catastrophic declines due to warming waters and the loss of sea stars and other species that keep the ecosystem in

balance. Aquarium scientists are conducting essential research in Monterey Bay to better understand kelp forest ecosystems and the factors that contribute to their recovery and resilience.

Our scientific divers are surveying different sites with kelp forests in varying conditions: some that persisted through marine heatwaves, some that declined but have started recovering, and others essentially devoid of kelp and now dominated by urchins on bare rock (called “urchin barrens”). In 2024, researchers collected data to assess the density of kelp,

and the movement, health, and density of invertebrates and algae on reefs in each of these habitats. They returned to the field this past summer to revisit survey sites from 2024, which will allow them to compare the spatial distribution of kelp and other species to the prior year. With these comparison data, we’ll gain greater insight into the factors that support recovering and thriving kelp forests.

Donor contributions support the work of our Conservation and Science programs, including this critical kelp forest research.

Our researchers and scientific diving interns just completed their second season studying the health of kelp forests around the Monterey Peninsula.

From the jungle to the kelp forest: Jane

Goodall visits Julie Packard

On a recent visit to Monterey, famed conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall stepped behind the scenes of our Sea Otters exhibit with our executive director, Julie Packard. They chatted against the backdrop of a panoramic view of the ocean, where a thick canopy of kelp floated on the surface of Monterey Bay. Jane is renowned for her work with chimpanzees in the jungles of Tanzania, while Julie is known as an innovative leader in ocean conservation and kelp forest recovery. The pair discussed the interconnectedness of their work, as Jane called forests and the ocean “the two great lungs of the planet.” Julie asked Jane how she stays

Dr. Jane Goodall and Julie Packard talk sea otters and environmental optimism during Goodall’s visit to the Aquarium.

hopeful in the face of the looming environmental threats like climate change.

“Despite the political goings-on throughout the ages, individuals are the ones who make a difference,” Jane replied.

“My message of hope is what I call the indomitable human spirit. Each person makes an impact on the planet every single day, and we get to choose what sort of impact we want to make.”

Sounds of the sea

To help make the animals living in wild kelp forest habitats accessible to all guests, we recently added a new interactive element. Next time you visit the back deck, look for our “TuneIn” kiosk by the Wildlife Viewing Station. With text in English, Spanish, and braille, the audible and tactile elements enable more visitors to meet animals that frequent Monterey Bay.

Connections between ecosystems

A new study led by our research team revealed cascading effects of species loss between ecosystems. In 2013, sea star wasting disease decimated ochre sea stars (Pisaster sp ) along the West Coast. Since sea stars eat mussels, their loss caused mussel numbers to grow in the rocky intertidal zone. With more mussels available, sea otters in the nearby kelp forest ecosystem began eating more of them. This helped the otter population grow a bit over the next ten years — from about 373 to 535 otters in the area. We found that losing a key predator in one ecosystem (sea stars in the intertidal zone) affected predators in a nearby ecosystem (sea otters in the kelp forest). Scientists call this “keystone interdependence.” These changes may only last for a short time, but they show why protecting nature means understanding how ecosystems are connected. This helps us make better choices to maintain resilience and protect biodiversity.

Reasons to celebrate!

WE’RE MAKING A SPLASH for ocean conservation in so many ways — by improving the sustainability of our operations to speaking out on the world stage. We’re extending our impact in collaboration with other aquariums across North America and delivering real results for the ocean.

Aquarium sustainability commitments on track

We’re committed to achieving net-zero emissions and waste by 2035. During Earth Month, we launched a new webpage detailing the actions we’re taking across our campus and a dashboard to track and share our progress.

We’ve already reached 65 percent of our net-zero emissions

target. This means we’re close to balancing the emissions we emit with what we remove. Our top priority is reducing emissions at the source and offsetting the rest through innovative carbon capture efforts. We also support low-carbon transportation options for our team members and guests.

To date, 47 percent of the waste we generate on-site is being reused,

Meet Claudia Pineda Tibbs

recycled, repurposed, composted, repaired, or donated instead of going to the landfill. We’re also eliminating single-use plastics in our gift shop, cafe, and Aquarium operations, and taking many other steps to demonstrate what meaningful, campus-wide waste reduction can look like in practice.

Claudia Pineda Tibbs is a driving force behind sustainability innovation and impact. As our senior sustainability program manager, they lead with heart to make sustainability a part of everything we do.

Claudia supports ambitious goals across the Aquarium’s 35-building campus: eliminating single-use plastics, achieving net-zero waste and emissions, operating on 100 percent renewable electricity, and sourcing sustainably.

Their work reflects a deep commitment to community well-being and climate justice. By bridging science, culture, and advocacy, Claudia ensures that sustainability efforts are not only effective, but also transformative. Their leadership reminds us that protecting the planet is a shared responsibility and a promise we carry forward, together.

Aquarium Conservation Partnership multiplies our impact

The Aquarium is proud to be a founding member of the Aquarium Conservation Partnership. We helped launch the partnership in 2016 to unite aquariums, share knowledge, and create a greater

impact together. This collaborative effort has become a powerful coalition of 35 aquarium and zoo members in 23 states and two countries that collectively welcome over 40 million visitors a year. Member organizations advance conservation policies that protect the ocean, lakes, and rivers, mobilize

our audiences to take action, and demonstrate our commitment to conservation in our business practices. This includes a climate commitment by all ACP members to reach net zero emissions, and to share strategies and resources to help each member meet their goal.

Driving change at the United Nations Ocean

Conference

At the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in June, the Aquarium and MBARI helped shape global solutions for a healthy ocean future. During sessions in Nice, France, we gave plenary remarks, joined expert panels, and shared insights on developing sustainable and socially just fisheries, advancing women in ocean science leadership, and inspiring action for science-based ocean policy. Our immersive exhibits highlighted for participants the biodiversity and vulnerability of deep-sea ecosystems. In partnership with PangeaSeed, we commissioned two ocean-themed murals, using art to amplify global momentum for bold, science-driven ocean action. We celebrated outcomes from the conference: 95 countries backed a strong Global Plastics Treaty and 37 nations called for a pause on deep-sea mining.

Top: We partnered with PangeaSeed to create two murals during the UN Ocean Conference, including “Interconnected Waters” below an underpass in Nice, France. Above: Detail from the second mural by Nice-born artist Jen Miller, on the walls of the Palais des Expositions where the conference took place.

Creature Feature

Swell shark, Cephaloscyllium ventriosum

There are no male swell sharks in our Kelp Forest exhibit, so imagine our surprise when one of our female swell sharks laid a viable egg. Testing found that mom and daughter are genetically identical, meaning this was our very own case of parthenogenesis — the scientific term for asexual reproduction or the development of offspring from an unfertilized egg. To hear more of the story, watch the March 2024 Aquarium Live in your member account.

Opal’s big opportunity to shine

In March, we celebrated the arrival of our newest exhibit sea otter. In an internet-breaking online poll, almost 30,000 voters decided that Opal was the perfect name for this gem of an otter!

Since her dazzling debut, Opal has quickly settled into her new home and bonded with her raftmates Ivy, Ruby, and Selka. She has enchanted guests as she floats, twirls, and dives in the crystal-clear waters of our Sea Otters exhibit.

Now, Opal is ready to tackle her next big learning opportunity. She’s taking a break from being on exhibit to spend time behind the scenes and observe as Selka rears an adoptive pup. This is Opal’s first step toward (hopefully) becoming a surrogate mother herself one day, just like our other exhibit otters.

Opal is our youngest sea otter at just over one year of age. This critical time off exhibit with Selka and other female otters will expose her to social dynamics similar to what she would experience in a raft of wild otters.

Opal was found stranded as a pup near San Luis Obispo, 100 miles south of Monterey, and was deemed unreleasable by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. As an aspiring surrogate mother in our Sea Otter Program, she may one day give young pups a second chance for a life in the wild by teaching them the survival skills they need, like grooming and foraging.

Our surrogacy program is the first of its kind — an innovative approach to rescuing, rearing, and returning sea otter pups to the wild, with our non-releasable exhibit otters serving as surrogate mothers.

Our work with sea otters has a real impact on their survival — and the vital coastal habitats they

call home — as the two are inextricably linked. The sea otter is a keystone species, which means that the health of sea otters is a good indication of the health of other species and ecosystems nearby.

Together, we can work to revitalize our wild southern sea otter population so California’s kelp forests and other marine habitats are healthy and thriving. As a member, your generous support helps further our efforts with otters like Opal as we work to recover California’s threatened sea otter population. We wish Opal luck as she learns from surrogate superstar Selka!

Opal (right) and her surrogate super-mom, Selka, behind-the-scenes

Nurturing kids, mobilizing teachers

OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS have been a priority since the Aquarium opened. With generous donor support, we continue to grow our impact. We’re inspiring students from around Monterey Bay and beyond, through classroom visits and special programs. And we’re supporting classroom science educators with professional development workshops that help them teach climate literacy. It all helps in building a new generation that’s science-literate, confident, and ready to act so we can create a future where people and nature thrive together.

Program for preschoolers marks a milestone

For 25 incredible years, the Aquarium’s education program serving Head Start preschoolers has opened a window to the ocean for these young learners and their families, sparking awe, curiosity, and a lifelong love of nature. This milestone marks a quarter-century of inspiring young learners in their classroom and as they reach into touch pool treasures, marvel at sea creatures, and feel the excitement of their very first Aquarium visit. These early encounters with the ocean become powerful moments of connection — not just to marine life, but to each other and the world around them.

By making ocean science accessible, joyful, and relevant, our collaboration with Head Start strengthens early childhood

development while encouraging family engagement in learning. This community-centered program fosters lifelong learning, environmental stewardship, and the next generation of ocean advocates.

Above: A generation of preschoolers in regional Head Start programs have discovered the wonders of the ocean while visiting the Aquarium with their famiies.

Supporting local educators in teaching climate change

Our programs for educators mobilize teachers to develop lesson plans highlighting ocean conservation in their classrooms. This summer, we offered two programs for Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD) educators to elevate their science curriculum as they teach students about climate change. This is in preparation for the California Science Test and to fulfill a directive set out by Assembly Bill 285, which requires all California educators to teach climate literacy. Professional educators are

Connecting with urchins

essential and respected partners in fulfilling the Aquarium’s mission to inspire conservation of the ocean. We’ll continue to work with MPUSD and the Monterey County Office of Education around ways we can best support current educator needs.

During our education programs, some of our community’s youngest ocean advocates get to experience the intriguing, vibrant, and almost otherworldly purple sea urchin up close. Not only are the spines protection on their own, the teeth and spines can dig holes in stone, which become the sea urchin’s hideaway. They’ve even been seen drilling into metal! At the touch pools, kids safely feel the spines that protect the urchin from hungry predators and help them feed, creating an experience they will never forget.

Gifts with a purpose, for people and pets!

AFTER AN AQUARIUM visit, we want families to go home with souvenirs they feel good about. We’ve eliminated singleuse plastic packaging across more than 4,000 gift shop products. Today, our plush animals are made from 100 percent recycled materials with stitched eyes and our apparel is made from minimal synthetics to reduce microplastic shedding. Now, even pets can join the eco-friendly fun! In partnership with Pacific Pet Treats, we’re turning once-discarded premium seafood trimmings into all-natural dog treats — locally made, and available at our cafe in fully compostable packaging. The result? Smart, sustainable gifts for every member of the family.

Leaving a legacy for the ocean

THE AQUARIUM’S Endowment Fund provides essential revenue today, while also ensuring that our cutting-edge science, education, and conservation programs endure in perpetuity. Gifts from members of our Betty White Ocean Legacy Circle form the core of our endowment giving. These contributions are especially meaningful as we continue to grow our Endowment Fund. Trusts, retirement plans, insurance policies, and real estate are examples of the types of gifts donors have provided to sustain our ongoing work to protect and restore the living ocean. Please contact Ann Dabovich at LastingLegacy@mbayaq.org or 831.648.4913 to learn more.

Eugene “Gene” Y. Cheng and Maribeth “Buffie”

A. Colloton-Cheng

Commitment to the Aquarium’s mission

Loyal supporters Eugene “Gene” Y. Cheng and Maribeth “Buffie”

A. Colloton-Cheng served as volunteers, showcasing their commitment to the Aquarium’s mission. Gene found respite at the Aquarium during his Stanford fellowship, while Buffie experienced a profound connection on her first visit. Gene and Buffie have included the Aquarium in their estate plans and have also established a named endowment fund. With five children between them and eight grandchildren, they aim to pass on the values of ocean conservation, creating a lasting legacy that encourages future generations to advocate for the ocean. They encourage others to do the same.

Gifts to the Betty White Ocean Legacy Circle leave a lasting impact

WE EXPRESS our appreciation for the 869 members of our Betty White Ocean Legacy Circle for their dedication to the Aquarium. Gifts through the bequests and trusts of our members will be critical in securing a healthy ocean for future generations. With deep gratitude and sadness, we acknowledge the kindness and generosity of our friends and Betty White Ocean Legacy Circle members who passed away in recent years. Their legacy gifts will have a lasting impact. With profound respect, we recognize the following donors:

Randall Lee Brown

Shirley J. Hall

Janice M. Holsbo

Nicholas E. Ord

Gilbert F. Raposo

Dorothy Hope Stivers

Russell R. Tripp

Anonymous

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Aline Akelis

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In honor of Elizabeth Ellenor Belanus

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Altona (Toni) Mefford

Bruce and Sandra Mehringer

Jeff Mentzos

Lenore Meyer and Dale Meyer

Donna E. Meyers and Roberta S. Hunter

W. J. Michaely and Jancy Rickman

Marilee Mifflin and Richard Smart

Ken Mignosa and Tammy McCrory

Tom and Robin Milam

Lewis and Shirley Milkavich

Dave and Norah Miller

Joann L. Miller

Nathaniel J. P. Miller

William O. Minter III

Ania Mitros and Seth LaForge

Don and Toni Moccia

Timothy I. and Diane M. Molter

Douglas Molyneaux

Mr. and Mrs. Larry Moore

Susan B. Moore

Vicki Moore

April Moranville

Erica Morris and Joseph Knapp

Beverly and Larry Moyer

Mary Mullen

Patricia Mulvey

Heather Murphy and William Ivie

Norah Murphy and Grier Johnson

Janet M. Musson Charitable Trust

Victoria Naidorf and Michael Gibson

Yumi Nakagawa and Paul Bartlett

Greg Nelson

Ken and Dorothy Nelson

Linda Nelson

Jennifer Neumann

Peter Neumeier and Gillian Taylor

Claudia Newbold and Howard Schopman

Anais C. Nguyen and Michael P. Lepisto

Tom M. Nguyen and Justin M. Scott

Andrea Boussy Noble

Mr. and Mrs. Gus Norton

Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Nunes

Lori S. Nye

Kelly and Patti O’Brien

Laura Okawa

Kevin and Bea Olsen

Anthony Onorati and Brian Benamati

Sara Ontiveros

Beverly Ort, DVM, and Al Sekol

Serina and John Ortega

Russell S. Orten and Catherine G. Orten

Sharon Osberg

Duncan and Robin Owen

Julie Packard

Hosahalli and Ganga Padmesh

Lindsey Parkhurst and Jim Mack

Patti Parks

Tim and Cathy Pasek

Karen Patchen

Mrs. Jeanne E. Pauley

John and Vicki Pearse

Tisa M. Pedersen

Susan and Perry Peers

Carolyn H. Pendery

Robert and Mara Perkins

Janet Perry

Judd and Sharon Perry Family

James W. Peterson

Pamela and Gary Peterson

Shirley and Tom Phelan

George and Laureen Philipp

James Piburn and Donna Kaspar

Jaime and Makayla Pilanca

Margaret Plumley

Alan Pomatto and Alison Jones-Pomatto

Cynthia H. Ponce & David R. Martinez Trust

Deborah Port and Michael Heymann

The Postadan Family—Randy, Haidee, Kayla, and Kalea

Robin Potchka in memory of Shaun Lewis

Jodi Pratt and Lyn Hood

Elizabeth Jorvina Proctor

Lorie Prouty

Teri Lynn Provence

Jane Przeslica

In memory of Joaquin S. Quenga, Sr.

Brent Ramerth and Kalinda Lisy

Alan D. Rammer

Paul and Yuanbi Ramsay

Gary and Ellen Rauh

JoAnn M. Reed

Deborah Reichman

Don and Dorothy Reinke

Noelani Reinker and T. Kevin Cotter

Marijeanne Rende

Barbara J. Rettig

Michael and Liane Reyes and Family

Ron and Sherry Rhinehart

Jeffrey M. Rice

Alice Rich and Kathleen Aswell

Bob and Betty Ricks

Dennis W. Riddle

Larry and Kathi Ridley

The Family of Bob and Nicky Riehl

The Riley Family Trust

William and Verginie Riley

Smeeta Rishi and Jayashree Katharadekar

Janet Roberts

Craig and Laurel Robertson

Nick and Sian Robertson

Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Robidoux

Leigh and Eddie Robinson

Regina Rodriguez

Jason and Amy Rogers

Dr. Robert Roland and Gina Gianfala

Joseph, Paz, and Judah Rondez

Mark Roos and Catherine Rossi-Roos

Vicki Rosa and Octavio Gonzalez

Laury M. Rosenthal

Jack and Doreen Roth

Joan Roudenbush

Bob and Carol Rowberg

Rich and Janet Rowley

Kim Rubin and Jan Hollander

Carol Ruff

Heather Runes and Rodney Prell

Todd E. Ruston and Bridgette M. Ruston

Rutigliano Nance Family Trust

Geoff and Katie St. John

Holly Jill St. John and Paul Mackley

Alex Sales, Cathy Potts-Sales, and Amanda Sales

Daryl and Mandy Salm

Karin Salomon

Trudy and Charles Salter

Martha and John Salvador

Dr. Terry Santos

Jeannette Saporito

Kevin and Carol Sawchuk

Wesley and Bruce Sawyer

George Scarmon and Jeanne Clark-Scarmon

Michael Scharfenstein

Jack Schiffhauer

Ruth and Walter Schillinger

Stuart and Lisbet Schlitt

Sara and Patrick Schmitz

Steve Schramm and Diane Schweitzer

San Schreiber and Zoe Fenson

Kay Schroer

Robert Schroer

Jeanine Schryer

Terry Schuller and Dave Reid

Jeanette B. Sechrist

Glenn Seiler and Pamela Kearby

Larry and Shirley Selzle

Gail Sera and Janet Storz

Linda and David Sexton

Chirld Shagena and Jo Dennis

Tina and Nasir Shakour

Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Sharp

Suzanne Cotter Shaug

Ann Sheehan

Charles and Sherry Shepardson

Jennifer Shevock

Kathy Shields

In loving memory of Dr. Carol Shinmoto

Lori Shoemaker and Kent Smith

Al and Joyce Siegling

Mr. and Mrs. Jack M. Sikorski and Family

C. Diane Silva

Pamela Silver and Jeffrey Way

Steven Silver

Judy and Phillip Silverstein

Manuel C. Simas

Laura and Doug Simcox

Suzette Cavanaugh Singer

Sally Hance Sirocky

Grete Skjellerud

Evan Smallwood and Aaron McPherson

Douglas R. Smith

Julie D. Smith

Patricia Smith

Te Smith

Rebecca and Donald Snelling

Cheryl and Owen Snyder

Kathryn Snyder and Gerald Kutchey

Sally and Walter Snyder

Maurine and Mark Solomonson

George Somero and Amy Anderson

Judith and Gary Sorgen

Amor Soruis, Leonard Deleon Guerrero, and children

Sally and Neville Spadafore

John S. and Jacqueline A. Spaulding

Jeff and Tricia Spires

Mark, Suzanne, Rachael, and Erin Spradley

Barbara Spreng

Marty Springer and Keldyn West

Jerilyn Stalford

Myra and James Steinwinder

Cynthia A. Stephenson

Jennifer Stern and Jeffrey Pugh

Denise Stevens and Quentin Panek

Carol Marie and Robert E. Stille Jr.

Sabina Stoltz and Aaron Thornton

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas H. Stratton Jr.

Dennis Strobel

In loving memory of Audrey Sturgess

Jane and Tom Sullivan

Robert Sullivan and Meg Best-Sullivan

Cathy and Chris Swanson

Vikki Swanson

James Szabo and Irina Nekrasova

Raymond Szczesny and Paul Weintraub

Jill K. Tajima and Keith K. Onodera

Kathleen Talbert-Hill

Jane and Paul Taylor

Scott and Patricia Teaford

James and Cheryl Teare

Alice and Robert Tepel

Sharon Tereshka and Jorene Moratto

Michelle D. Terry and Samuel W. Terry

Pamela and Curtis Thayer

Barbara J. Thomas

Paul Thompson

Anne and Peter Thorp

Earl D. Thorp

Terri Tienken

Elaine Tobosa

Davis Todhunter

Mary Towns

Ron and Kimberly Tremmel

Marion Trentman-Morelli and Robert Morelli

May Hien Truong and Cecilia Chung

Tina M. Tuma and Gilbert Chang

Van Tunstall and Susan Churchill

Dr. Louise D. Turkula

John H. Tyler

Brian and Pamela Uitti

Marianne and Margaret Unruh

Mr. and Mrs. Ronnie D. Usrey and Family

Susan and Jack Uydess

Gayle Uyeda and Johnathan P. Lord

Alma Valencia and Ronald Gross

Ricardo and Maria Vallejo

Donna Van Diepen

Vanderbeek Family

John and Ann Varady

Cristina Betancourt Vargas

Celeste A. Ventura

Brendan Vermillion

Cynthia L. Vernon

Scott and Jamie Vincent

Carol and P. Shelton Virden

Rick and Franca Voegelin

Betty von Maszynski

Thao Vu-Dring and John Dring

Jeff and Dana Wagner

Harold and Wanda Wake

Mr. and Mrs. Chance Wales

Pamela J. Wangsness

Arnold and Jeri Wartena

Andrea Wasko and Meaghan Gilbert

Mr. and Mrs. James Watanabe

Steven G. Watkins and Pamela Wilkes

Xoa and James Weber

David and Doris Weindorf

Eric and Emily Weis

Larry D. Welling

Dona Rose Weyrauch

Lisa and Robert Wheatley

Anne Wheelis

Jim and Marj Whinery

Michael and Marilynn Whitcomb

Beth White and Curt Huber

Lisa D. White

Jocelyn B. Whitney

Skip Wickiser and Liza Horvath

Mary “Bunny” Wickum

Russ and Linda Wiitala

Anne Mary Wilke

Amanda and Marc Williams

Cynthia K. Williams

Diana Williams

Mr. and Mrs. John A. Williams

Kraig and Suzan Williams

Christen Wilmer

Sean and Eline Wilson

Sebastian and Tin Tin Wisniewski

Bill Wohler and Lori Heyman

Judith and Milton Wolf

Roger Wolf and Joann Johnson

Diane Wong and Evan Kirkpatrick

Ed Wong

Lily Wong

Doug Wood and Laura Burns-Wood

Marilyn Woods

Pamela Wootten

Karen and Henry Work

Jim and Diane Wotus

Renate-Karin Wunsch

Karen and John Wynbeek

Chunlin Xue and Bin Yan

Sherri Yarp and Garlan Prater

Bill, Zack, and Carol Fulton Yeates

Adam and Eva Zeno

June Zhu

Carolyn Zinnerman

886 Cannery Row

Monterey, California 93940

Time-dated materials enclosed

Member Calendar

PLEASE JOIN US for fun events this fall and winter. We hope to see you soon!

Early entry for members

Members get exclusive early access at 9:30 a.m. on select weekends and school holidays: Oct. 11-13, Nov. 11, Nov. 22-30, Dec. 20-31, Jan. 1- 4, Jan. 17-19, and Feb. 14-16.

Please check for early opening hours on specific dates before you visit at: MontereyBayAquarium.org/Schedule

Betty White Ocean Legacy Circle Breakfast

Friday, October 17, 2025, 8:30-10 a.m.

We’re hosting a special breakfast to honor our Betty White Ocean Legacy Circle donors who have generously included the Aquarium in their will or trust.

Halloween Member Nights

Friday & Sunday, October 24 & 26, 2025, 7-10 p.m

Show off your costumes in an Aquarium full of your favorite people. Whether you’re going as an ocean animal or a Halloween favorite, we can’t wait to sea you.

Aquarium Live

November 2025

Join us for this exclusive, online, members-only interactive program celebrating our underwater operations! We’ll share the date soon by email.

December Member Night

Friday, December 5, 2025, 7-9 p.m.

Enjoy our special end-of-the-year celebration. Stroll through our exhibits, enjoy live music, dine in our cafe, and shop for that special something in our gift store.

18+ Member Night

February 2026, 7-9 p.m.

Mingle with our staff in the return of our popular, adults-only member evening.