C O N S E R VAT I O N
Stepping Up for Sustainable Seafood Generous donation funds the startup of the sustainable seafood program.
A SEA TURTLE’S COMPLEX CASE Last December, a cold-stunned sea turtle came to National Aquarium Animal Rescue suffering from hypothermia and a fractured shell. Blade, as the team named him, began to heal, but in mid-February, staff noticed that his health had started to decline. After running diagnostics, they discovered that Blade had a bacterial infection in his blood—a resistant strain of Enterococcus bacteria. The digit joints on his front flippers began to swell, and he stopped using his front limbs—a rarity in sea turtles. Digit infections don’t usually impact their ability to swim. A CT scan and radiograph showed that the same bacteria in Blade’s blood was causing the digit infections, which had spread to his shoulder joints. Through aggressive antibiotic therapy, our veterinarians were able to heal the infections, but Blade still refused to use his front flippers. Thus, the team initiated physical therapy. Following an MRI to make sure there were no organ or brain abscesses, he was given the all-clear, but his shoulder joints appeared abnormal. The team continues to work with Blade in the hope he’ll one day be ready for release. Follow his full story at aqua.org/blog.
Bringing Back Bay Habitats This past June, in partnership with
“Biohuts provide a solution to bring
ECOCEAN and Biohabitats Inc., eight
back lost aquatic habitat to the urban
Biohuts were installed in the water
waters of the Inner Harbor,” explains
along the National Aquarium’s Pier 3.
National Aquarium General Curator
A Biohut is a cage filled with oyster
Jack Cover. They provide a base for
shells that acts as a substitute for lost
filter feeders—such as oysters, mussels
oyster reef habitats.
and barnacles—to attach and grow.
Before this section of the Patapsco
These species act as water filters,
river basin was developed, it consisted
removing algae from the Bay and
of shallow tidal mud flats with slop
creating a healthier harbor.
ing shorelines and abundant marsh
The Biohuts also provide food and
grasses. Healthy waters sustained an
refuge for neighboring species, includ-
array of life.
ing larger predatory fish like American
To support the development of
eels, white perch and striped bass.
a growing city and robust shipping
Our team is monitoring the Biohuts,
industry, the harbor bottom was
and they’ve already seen positive
dredged to allow ships greater access
results. During a recent check, they
to the shoreline. The once gradual
found white-fingered mud crabs, grass
sloping shores were replaced by steep
shrimp, white perch, banded killifish, an
vertical walls.
Atlantic silverside and American eels.
Thanks to a gift from the Dana DiCarlo and Scott Plank Family Foundation and their urban development company, War Horse, the National Aquarium is launching a sustainable seafood program this year. As part of this program, the Aquarium will develop enhanced education programs to help people better understand their seafood options. It will also work to expand those choices through partnerships that link local fishermen to local markets, improve opportunities for restaurants to serve local seafood and explore enhancement opportunities associated with sustainable local aquaculture. “We are excited to be undertaking this important program and appreciative of this generous investment,” says Eric Schwaab, senior vice president and chief conservation officer for the National Aquarium. “Connecting people to local, sustainable seafood is good for our community, good for our oceans and a great way to get people to think about our role in addressing ocean challenges and opportunities. This program will complement renewed national attention to sustainable seafood and improved traceability.” Through a focused effort to build an integrated, local sustainable seafood program, those in the Chesapeake Bay community will be at the forefront of a national movement to protect the quality of local waters, support sustainable seafood production, reduce dependence on imported seafood and enjoy increased health benefits. The National Aquarium aspires to be a leader in combating mislabeling, seafood fraud and the entry of black market, non-sustainable fish into our restaurants and markets. Says Aquarium board member Scott Plank, “The National Aquarium’s location on Baltimore’s Inner Harbor is daily motivation to act locally within our own Chesapeake Bay watershed and to think nationally and globally, driving our mission.” Updates on the sustainable seafood program will be posted at aqua.org/blog.
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