Truly Their Oyster

And just like that...nearly nine years goes by.

When I look at old pictures of every time we've gone to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, I can't help but smile. That's because every time we've gone we've learned something new about the all the sea creatures they care for there, many that are being rehabilitated to be released again into the Monterey Bay. We've been proud members for a long time. 

Today, our youngest Bryce is very interested in marine biology, just like her mom a long time ago. Whether or not that passion continues remains to be seen, but it doesn't matter, because just like when Bryce wanted to be an astronaut, she's passionate about learning. Our oldest Beatrice is just as passionate about learning as well, and our latest trip to the aquarium included watching a short film called "Behind the Glass." It was about the work they do at the aquarium and how they try to create environments for the fish and mammals that are similar to their wild habitats. They pump 2,000 gallons per minute into aquarium that fills the exhibits for nearly 80,000 plants and animals.

Some of what we see each time reminds us that as humans, we have a big impact on the wildlife ecosystems around us. Take plastic for example. According the Monterey Bay Aquarium website, early 7 billion of the 9 billion tons of plastic that have ever produced ends up as waste. In fact, the average American creates 270 pounds of plastic waste every year. And most is never recycled. 9 million tons of plastic make their way from land into the sea every year. That’s like dumping a garbage truck full of plastic into the ocean every minute. Ugh. This is why we've worked hard to do our part by reducing our plastic usage. 

Also, 90% of fish populations are currently fished at, or above, their sustainable limits. And even with 50% being farmed seafood, it's not always done in the most eco-friendly way and can damage the environment further. In fact, when fish are farmed, there is an increased risk of disease and parasite outbreaks. To combat these diseases, some farmers use antibiotics or pesticides. Lots of fish housed together also produces concentrated waste. Many farmers release this waste into nearby waterways. In addition, experts are concerned with antibiotic resistance. The aquarium also has a search engine where you can find sustainable seafood recommendations and what to avoid. 

Of course we love all the animals we see when we visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium. We love watching the sea otters play, the alien jellyfish dance, and turtles and sharks gliding away in the deep sea tank. The girls also still love going to the touch tanks in the children's area to feel the starfish, sea cucumbers, crabs, and more. 

More than the fun, it truly is the importance of continuous learning about our backyard Monterey Bay that keeps us coming back. We want our children to know the realities of the world around, the role they play in those realities, and the sometimes elusive truths that evolve as our scientific understanding of them evolves, including the mysterious sea and the creatures therein. The world is truly their oyster. 

After writing this, I told the girls during our weekly family meeting how I've noticed over the years how much fun they've had at the aquarium, and how they've always learned something new. 

They both then asked, "What did we learn?"

We laughed and I told them to write us a 5-page essay on what they've learned over the years. They didn't like that idea very much. Oyster indeed.