Out TA, Elliot, also enjoyed the aquarium.
Sophia Ludwig
The New England Aquarium has committed to assisting the maintenance of the Phoenix Islands in Kiribati and the South Pacific islands of Fiji in effort to sustain marine life throughout the world.
Along with the Monterey Bay Aquarium and other conservationist programs, the New England Aquarium ventures to Fiji every year to collect data on the well-being of its coral reefs, pollution frequency, and local conservational efforts carried out by the locals. Their extensive research extends their knowledge on the regional marine life and aids in the implementation of initiatives that support and strengthen the delicate aquatic ecosystem. This plan is much needed due to the delicacy of Fiji’s marine life as well as the severity of climate change and its effects on these ecosystems.
Furthermore, as a part of “the blue network”, a system of research and conservation efforts established by The New England Aquarium, the nation of Kiribati and the aquarium have created the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA). Located 1,000 miles southwest of Hawaii, these islands are critical for studying the impacts of climate change on marine life as there is little local disturbance on the areas. Created in 2008, PIPA is now considered to be one of the worlds largest marine protected areas and has been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The PIPA excursions lead by the aquarium have occurred annually and focus on specific ecological issues each time. For example, in 2015 the expedition team discovered that areas that were once abundant with clean and pure coral, were now covered with dark and fine algae; a widespread occurrence known by scientists as “black reefs”. After this discovery, the team has continuously been making strides on determining the cause of this event and possible prevention for future marine areas.
Florida Huff
The New England Aquarium is helping protect marine ecosystems through the establishment of marine protected areas. In 2006, the Aquarium partnered with the island nation of Kiribati and Conservation International to form the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA). At 157,626 square miles, the PIPA is one of the largest marine protected areas, and it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The PIPA is especially important in the study and protection of coral reefs and ecosystem biodiversity. Coral reefs dissipate wave energy during storms and enable island growth despite rising sea levels, protecting the coasts. However, they are under pressure due to overfishing, coastal development, traffic, pollution, ocean acidification, and climate change. As the PIPA reduces pressure on the reefs from overfishing and coastal development, the New England Aquarium’s scientists have determined that the local reef communities are more likely to recover from bleaching events caused by global warming.
The PIPA also facilitates the protection of mangroves, which play an important role in coastal defense by slowing storm surges and preventing erosion. Mangroves also protect marine ecosystems by trapping mud and sediment that would suffocate coral reefs and filtering out harmful pollutants from agricultural runoff. However, mangroves are being destroyed due to conversion for agricultural use, overfishing, and climate change impacts. Through the establishment of the PIPA in Kiribati, as well as the coastal conservation efforts the New England Aquarium engages in in that area, mangroves are more protected from those harmful impacts.
In addition to its global programs, the New England Aquarium raises local awareness of the importance of coral reefs and mangroves and encourages its visitors to support conservation organizations, stay informed about conservation issues, and vote with the ocean and the environment in mind. Through this education outreach, the Aquarium promotes sustainability among its visitors.
Yazmin Ochoa Flores
The New England Aquarium is a scientific institution with the power to engage the public. The aquarium is committed to global change through effective advocacy for vital and vibrant oceans, marine animal conservation, and many other projects. Visiting the aquarium was such a wonderful experience because I was able to see many marine animals. I was able to connect what we have learned in class with the visit and learn more about the ocean ecosystems. During my visit to the aquarium the thing that captured my attention was the work the aquarium is doing with sea turtles.
Sea turtles tend to like warmer waters better but for some reason some turtles are swimming as far north as Massachusetts. Because the water temperatures are way colder that what the turtles are used to it is giving them hypothermia. Each fall hundreds of turtles wash up to the shore of Cape Cod because of hypothermia. In the late fall 2014 over 1,200 sea turtles washed ashore. The New England Aquarium along with the Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary have worked together for many years to rehabilitate and release thousands of the sea turtles that wash ashore.
One of the sea turtles that the aquarium currently has in exhibit is one of these rescues. She is a Green Sea Turtle, currently weighs a little under a ton and and has been with the aquarium since 1971. This beautiful sea turtle would not be alive if it wasn’t for the aquarium. Many species of sea turtles are currently endangered. The work that the New England Aquarium and other aquariums and institutions are doing are vital for our oceans. Many endangered species are beginning to recover because we are choosing to care, protect and change our planet.
Julia Jackson
For over 35 years, the New England Aquarium has studied the North Atlantic right whale, a critically endangered species with fewer than 500 individuals total. The current main causes of death for these whales are ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear. After studying right whale deaths in Massachusetts Bay, scientists found that many were due to the fact that the whales’ migratory routes intersected with the shipping lanes leading in and out of Boston. The Aquarium researchers then worked with Irving Oil, government agencies, fishers, and environmental groups to reroute Canadian shipping lanes to avoid ship collisions with right whales. The change was implemented in 2003 and has since reduced the risk of collisions by 90%. This is an example of successful marine spatial planning. Changing the shipping lanes allowed both the shipping industry and the whales to continue using the same space more effectively and without collisions.
The New England Aquarium also has a Right Whale Sponsorship Program whereby people can sponsor specific individual whales such as Aphrodite, Manta, and Phoenix. When you sponsor a whale, you receive information about the origin of the whale’s name, its family history, and its behavior/personality. This program is not only an attempt for the Aquarium to raise money for research, but also an attempt to increase political will regarding right whale conservancy. When people are given information about a specific individual, they become personally connected to that whale, and, therefore, personally connected to the protection of the species. This is also an example of the “warm glow” effect; people want to sponsor these whales because it makes them feel good about themselves. Regardless of people’s motives, however, the right whale sponsorship program is a successful method of increasing both funds and political will.
Myrtle the Turtle in the Giant Ocean Tank