On Saturday, January 21 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, join the festivities at the Ty Warner Sea Center on Stearns Wharf to celebrate California’s 4th Annual Underwater Parks Day. Get an up-close look at amazing sea creatures through live ocean animal encounters, meet local organizations that work to protect our oceans, watch feeding demonstrations, and see ocean-themed student art. All festival activities are included with general Sea Center admission and visitors receive a free “My Underwater Park” poster.
The beginning of 2012 marked the official launch of a new network of MPAs in Southern California which help protect underwater marine resources such as fish and kelp forests for future generations to enjoy. Plans set forth by the Marine Life Protection Act of 1999 called for a network of MPAs along the California coast. These new Southern California MPAs help complete the network as they join other MPAs in Central and Northern California.
To celebrate this accomplishment, similar festivities are being held the same day at partner marine science centers: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro, Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, Ocean Institute in Dana Point, Birch Aquarium/Museum at Scripps in La Jolla, Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, and the SEA LIFE Carlsbad Aquarium. Together with the Center for Ocean Science Education Excellence– West (a joint project with USC and UCLA), we are all working together on Underwater Parks Day to help people learn more about our local MPAs.