Seattle Aquarium

It’s a new year—and an exciting one for your Seattle Aquarium. This summer, we’ll open our Ocean Pavilion expansion where you’ll be able to connect with over 3,500 tropical animals and plants. And today, we're launching our Turn Your Awe into Action fundraising campaign. With your support, we can expand our marine conservation work, reimagine Seattle's waterfront and share the wonders of the ocean with a new generation. 🐠✨ Make a donation and invest in a brighter, bluer future. All gifts, no matter the size, make a difference. Learn more and dive in: https://lnkd.in/g294Hxsh Your gift supports the work of the Seattle Aquarium as it expands with the Ocean Pavilion. #TurnYourAweIntoAction

Aquarist Kaitlin told us all about her sunfish tattoo for our web series “Tattoos of the Seattle Aquarium”: “The reason I get tattoos is mostly to mark or commemorate new chapters in my life. In some cases they celebrate new places or experiences; others helped me find closure from loss or big life transitions. Whatever the reason, they always end up being very special to me. The sunfish was one I wanted for a while. To me, sunfish represent big things growing from small things, as well as the ‘just keep swimming’ mentality. I moved around a lot as a kid because my dad was military, so I’ve done a lot of starting small and just swimming until I figured things out. Bigger things come from that. I wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD until I was 20. So I had a learning disability that impacted my grades and ability to study, to the point where I almost had to drop out of college. After I got diagnosed and figured some things out, I got my life rolling on a better track. I ended up doing an internship with Monterey Bay Aquarium and moved to Hawai‘i to pursue diving and then, finally, the job here. I think aquariums play an important role in connecting people to nature and getting them to care about it. Being part of that mission is something I really appreciate. Anytime I talk to someone and they say, ‘Oh, we love going to the Seattle Aquarium,’ it makes me happy to be part of that.” — Kaitlin Brawley (she/her), aquarist. Tattoo by Anthony Bending at Lady Luck Tattoo (@/ladylucktattoohawaii on Instagram)

The southern residents are icons of the Pacific Northwest. They're playful, social and smart—and they all have names! 🖤 To celebrate Orca Action Month, we invite you to get to know these amazing orcas and find out which one you're most like! Dive in: https://lnkd.in/gHTBjH4D

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at Splash! 🌊 Together, we raised more than $830,000 in support of the work of the Seattle Aquarium as it expands with the opening of the Ocean Pavilion later this summer. We appreciate everyone's support of our mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment and we hope to see you at Splash! again next year! There's still time to donate and support the work of the Seattle Aquarium: https://lnkd.in/git2NKND #SeattleAquarium #Splash!

Check out our Chief Conservation Officer Erin Meyer, PhD on The Courage Effect podcast! Together, Erin and Suzanne dive into topics like: • Vulnerability as strength 🌊 • The power of collaboration 🦈 • And decolonizing conservation 🌏 Listen now. Available wherever you get your podcasts. https://lnkd.in/gweWC9aq

Happy World Environment Day! 🌎 Today and every day, we dedicate ourselves to protecting our shared, diverse environment. Why? Because species within an ecosystem are connected—a threat to any one species could have widespread effects and become a threat to many. Sea otters represent a classic example of the dangers of disregarding biodiversity. During the 18th and 19th centuries, hunters and fur traders nearly drove sea otters to extinction. The decline in sea otters led to an explosion of their prey, sea urchins. Urchins, in turn, overgrazed kelp beds, which are vital habitats for many marine species, including rockfish and salmon. Sea otter populations are on the rebound thanks to conservation efforts, but recovery of these ecosystems is a lengthy process. Join us in celebrating our connected environment and dedicating yourself to its protection. Start here, by learning more about biodiversity and its importance: https://lnkd.in/g-5gqWEG

Last chance! Registration for Splash! closes on June 5! 🚨 Don't miss out on an unforgettable evening with behind-the-scenes tours, delicious, locally sourced food, Barney the harbor seal, the iconic Ivar's clam, Dick's burgers, and much more! Funds raised from Splash! support the work of the Seattle Aquarium as it expands with the opening of the Ocean Pavilion. Secure your tickets before it's too late: https://lnkd.in/g2qscW4C

Happy World Otter Day! Animal Care Specialist Kelli told us the story behind her otterly cool tattoo for our web series “Tattoos of the Seattle Aquarium”: “This is going to sound silly but, growing up, I enjoyed watching a show called The OC and in the last season, my favorite character started advocating for southern sea otters. I grew up in the Bay Area, but more inland, so I didn’t have much exposure to marine mammals. When I first saw the show, I didn’t know exactly what a sea otter was. Obviously, I thought they were cute, but I started looking into them, how they’re a keystone species and how living so close to civilization has created challenges for them. I pursued my first internship, at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, because it was with sea otters. I wanted to get experience with them and loved it right away—but it was working with other species, like harbor seals and puffins, that made me really want to stay. So l have sea otters to thank for me getting into the field and focusing on marine animals. My favorite is training with the animals, especially new behaviors. You have to be thoughtful of what species you’re working with and the individual, because everybody is different, with their own ways and speeds of learning. It’s really cool. Working with my team is also something that I really enjoy. We help each other through the ups and downs of work and our lives too. It’s great to have support like that at work.” — Kelli Lee (she/her), animal care specialist. Tattoo by Kendal Tull-Esterbrook (@/lub.dub.tattoo on Instagram)

It's not too late to register for Splash! Get your tickets to the Seattle Aquarium’s signature fundraising gala by Wednesday, June 5: https://lnkd.in/g2qscW4C Tickets will not be sold at the door, so be sure to register today and get access to all the exciting behind the scenes tours and programmatic tables led by our expert staff. Jim Wharton, PhD will see you there! #Splash2024

For our series “Tattoos of the Seattle Aquarium,” Mike told us all about his ink: “When my wife and I travel, the ocean is almost always involved. We went to the Big Island a few years back and I felt extra connected to Hawai‘i and my family there. I’d been thinking for a long time about a sleeve tattoo and after that trip, it all came together. My wife and I had been going through really tough times with our youngest kiddo, who we almost lost. So the seed of life symbol inside the sea turtle has a lot of meaning. And the turtle itself was an easy choice because they’re amazing, peaceful, beautiful creatures. A great conduit for me to appreciate life and my roots in Hawai‘i. If I go snorkeling and see one, it feels extremely personal. You’re underwater, you feel completely alone and there’s a sense of, ‘It’s only me here. I can’t talk, hear, or see anybody. I’m just in this space… and with me is this turtle.’ You can’t help but feel a super special connection. Feeling a sense of connection is a big driver for me. My job at the Aquarium is trying to help make the best possible experience for our guests through graphic design—and even if I’m just creating artwork on a computer, I know it’s connected to something larger. We have a mission and people are furthering it from every level. I like being a contributor to that.” — Mike Strassburger (he/him), senior graphic designer. Tattoo by Mua Posala at Paka Polynesian Tattoo (@/paka_polynesian on Instagram)