Join the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Making a Difference This Earth Day

By Kasia Deuel 

Monterey, CA - Seems like going green is becoming increasingly popular these days, which is something we love to hear at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where we hope to inspire people to take action for our oceans.

Our own work was recognized for Earth Day 2009 when the influential green website, TreeHugger.com, named Seafood Watch as the Best Source for Sustainable Seafood Information in its first-ever Best of Green Awards (www.treehugger.com/best-of-green).

The aquarium believes in walking its talk and being a good steward; it’s always looking for innovative ways to “green up our act.” Though there’s always room for improvement, we’ve set our sights high. The aquarium is reviewing an audit of all its activities and exploring ways to improve in as many areas as possible – including energy use, water use, building materials —that might contribute to the size of its ecological footprint. 

“We think this is especially important as we find new ways to talk to our guests about climate change,” said Cynthia Vernon, vice president of education, guest and research programs. “We should definitely show that we have limited our own impact as far as possible, before asking our guests to do likewise.”

One step toward this was the aquarium’s recent participation in Earth Hour, March 28th. At 8 p.m. the aquarium switched off all non-essential life support functions. In addition to contributing to the spirit of this global awareness-raising event, the aquarium hopes it can use this data to modify some of our energy requirements when its not in use by the public.

The aquarium’s Gift & Bookstore celebrates Earth Day every day with its “Think Green” section, which has recently expanded, as has the range of eco-friendly gifts available. Eco-shoppers can choose from soy and kapok plush toys or soy and bamboo socks, apparel made from recycled or organic cotton, even hats made from plastic bottles! The companion book to “The Secret Lives of Seahorses” special exhibition is Forest Stewardship Certified (FSC), and its Eco Audit indicates that four fully grown trees and 1,683 gallons of water were saved in its production. You can also order the book by calling the aquarium’s bookstore at 877-665 on the aquarium’s website at www.montereybayaquarium.org/store/.

During lunchtime on Earth Day, Bon Appétit Management Company, the aquarium's in-house food service provider at its Portola Cafe and Restaurant, will celebrate its second Low Carbon Diet Day. Each food area will illustrate a key principle of reducing climate change. There will be extensive choices but diners will be encouraged to taste new items that are more climate-friendly than some regular features. You can use Bon Appétit’s online Low Carbon Diet Calculator to help determine the impact of your individual food choices at www.CircleofResponsibility.com.

The Portola Cafe will also be selling reusable water bottles and encourage guests to consider using those over disposable paper choices, and cut down on future use of plastic and paper cups.

Join the Monterey Bay Aquarium in making a difference this Earth Day. The first and best way is to carry and use the aquarium’s Seafood Watch cards – also available for the iPhone and for internet-enabled mobile devices. It’s an easy way to use consumer buying power to shift the seafood market in ways that promote healthy oceans.

You can find new ways to take action for the ocean at www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr, and for daily ocean inspiration check out our blog www.seanotesblog.org

In 2009 the Monterey Bay Aquarium celebrates 25 years of inspiring ocean conservation.

To view Monterey Bay Aquarium's web page on Z&A, go to: http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-560-Monterey_Bay_Aquarium