The Aquarium of the Pacific Celebrates 25 Years and Honors Southern California

LONG BEACH—The Aquarium of the Pacific opened its doors in 1998 and has since been connecting millions of people to the wonders of our ocean planet. This year the Aquarium is celebrating its 25th anniversary with new programming, events, exhibits, and a new podcast called “Aquarium of the Podcific,” all highlighting Southern California and the efforts we can make to restore and conserve it. The underwater exhibit, scheduled to open July 1, features habitats from kelp forests to deep-sea reefs portrayed from a diver’s perspective. The exhibits will also feature native species such as the two-spot octopus, sharks, scorpionfish, eels, and pipefish.   Going hand-in-hand with the Southern California highlight, the Aquarium’s 2023 theme is “connecting to nature.” The Aquarium is finding new ways to connect the public to nature to conserve, restore, and protect the ocean world and its association with the land.    The Aquarium’s Vice President of Education and Conservation, Jennie Dean, explained what we could do to help connect with nature and care for it. Efforts include:   – Carbon footprint: you can reduce your carbon footprint by walking, biking, carpooling, or using public transportation; composting your food waste; and making your home energy efficient.  – Enjoy at a Distance: when visiting marine habitats,...