Monterey Bay Aquarium

Monterey Bay Aquarium Our mission is to inspire conservation of the ocean. We’re located on historic Cannery Row in Monterey and open daily except Christmas. Hours vary by season.
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The Monterey Bay Aquarium has attracted more than 47 million visitors and has won awards for its exhibits, architecture, and cultural and educational impacts. Daily schedules available at www.montereybayaquarium.org or by calling (831) 648-4888. You can find our social media community guidelines here: https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/about-us/follow-us-on-social-media/social-media-community-guidelines

This edition of Unexpected Aquarium Jobs features our bilingual editor, Rosario.Her position helps support the Aquarium'...
08/05/2026

This edition of Unexpected Aquarium Jobs features our bilingual editor, Rosario.

Her position helps support the Aquarium's mission in ways guests don't always notice. Learn how Rosario’s role on our Exhibits team helps advance the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s mission of ocean conservation—by making the experience more welcoming and accessible to our audiences.

Unexpected Aquarium Jobs is our behind-the-scenes series spotlighting the many careers that make ocean conservation possible. What role would you like to sea next?

🌎💚 We partner with planet-loving companies to ditch plastic, one product at a time!Real change can happen when we work t...
07/31/2026

🌎💚 We partner with planet-loving companies to ditch plastic, one product at a time!
Real change can happen when we work together to protect the ocean from plastic pollution. We’ve partnered up to cut plastic out of the products you love. Out of our systems, out of our stores!

👕 Liberty Graphics: We brought back our vintage otter tee with plastic-free packaging, raising funds for our important conservation programs along the way. (Shirts are still available as a gift with donation.)

🍺 Alvarado Street Brewery and Fruition Brewing: We worked together to create signature beers inspired by the ocean, with original artwork printed directly on the can to skip plastic shrink labels entirely.

☕ Captain + Stoker: We ditched plastic bags and labels in favor of fully reusable and recyclable steel coffee cans, now available for purchase in the Aquarium Store.
Small packaging changes can create a big ocean impact. We can make a world without plastic that’s healthier for people and our ocean planet.

🔗Read the full story at the link below!
mbayaq.co/4hHiS5d

06/30/2026

Heads up! 🌊 We won't be sharing our live cams on Facebook anymore, but you can still tune in anytime at YouTube.com/montereybayaquarium.

Drift away with mesmerizing jellyfish, cruise alongside sharks, peep the birds in our aviary, or sway through our kelp forest. Make it your go-to spot for a little ocean calm. 💙

Sea the similarities? 👀🌊Life underwater is full of fin-tastic strategy, from sardines schooling in formation to game-cha...
06/25/2026

Sea the similarities? 👀🌊

Life underwater is full of fin-tastic strategy, from sardines schooling in formation to game-changing keystone species like southern sea otters keeping entire ecosystems in sync. 🦦

⚽ We’re bringing our own game to the sea-lebration: which ocean animals most resemble our favorite players?

These ocean facts might give you some ideas:

Orcas are the largest of the dolphin species. Hunting together like a pack of wolves, a pod of orcas can surround a school of salmon or even overwhelm a larger whale.

S***m whales take short, 10 to 15-minute "power naps". They drift completely motionless in a vertical position just below the ocean surface.

Sardines help connect the entire marine food web. They feed on tiny plankton and, in turn, become food for larger fish, seabirds, dolphins, sea lions, and whales—making them a critical link between the smallest and largest animals in the ocean.

Sea otters have the densest fur of any animal on Earth—more than a million hairs can fit into a single square inch of their coat, compared with about 100,000 hairs on an entire human head.

Lionfish are masters of stealth hunting—they use their large, fan-like fins to corner prey before swallowing fish and crustaceans whole in a lightning-fast strike.

Green sea turtles can take a very long time to grow up—they don't reach sexual maturity until they're about 16 to 50 years old.

Octopuses like the giant Pacific octopus are like contortion artists! With 8 boneless arms, they can learn to open jars, solve puzzles, and even interact with their caretakers.

Do our oceanic comparisons take the cup, or do you have a winning alternative that blow ours out of the water? Kick us your thoughts in the comments!

And remember: whether you're cheering from the shore or making waves on the field, when we work together, we all rise with the tide. There’s wonder in ocean life and caring for it helps us all.

🌊⚽🐠

Start your day on the bay! ☀️🦦We’re opening at 9 a.m. on weekends and holidays this summer so you can dive right in and ...
06/16/2026

Start your day on the bay! ☀️🦦

We’re opening at 9 a.m. on weekends and holidays this summer so you can dive right in and make the most of your visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. From the wild beauty of Monterey Bay to dazzling deep-sea wonders, there’s so much to discover!

🌬️⛵ Sail over to our website and get your tickets in advance for the smoothest entry: https://mbayaq.co/4fPZt1

When you visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium, you’ll support our work protecting the ocean for future generations—and have lots of fun doing it! There’s wonder in ocean life and caring for it helps us all. 💙

🌺 As AANHPI Heritage Month comes to a close, we’re reflecting with gratitude on the stories and voices that continue to ...
05/29/2026

🌺 As AANHPI Heritage Month comes to a close, we’re reflecting with gratitude on the stories and voices that continue to shape our connection to the ocean.
🦀 From fishing traditions and cultural knowledge to marine science, education, and stewardship, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities continue to inspire how we care for the ocean.
🌎 While this month may be ending, our appreciation for the perspectives and stories that shape ocean spaces daily does not. We look forward to learning from and celebrating these communities throughout the year.
Thanks for being part of it with us.💙

05/28/2026

So pinni-precious. 🥺🦭

Pupping season is winding down as summer begins, but the harbor seal spectacular is just getting started!

After giving birth, harbor seals will linger at the rookery as mothers bond with their pups and teach them the ways of the water. The little ones follow in mom’s flipper-steps, learning important life skills like hunting, galumphing, and riding waves onto the beach for a well-deserved nap. It’s tough work, but somebody’s gotta do it! 🦭

Harbor seals are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, a key U.S. law that protects seals, whales, otters, and other beloved aquatic species from harmful human activity.

If you venture out for some seal spotting this summer, stay quiet and keep a distance of 50 yards. It’s more than just the right thing to do–getting too close to marine mammals like harbor seals can mean big fines and even jail time for a law-breaking human!

So mellow out, settle in, and enjoy your day on the bay with the chill vibes of a sleepy harbor seal. 🏖️☀️

05/27/2026

🧊🦦Pass the otter pops—it’s !

The last Wednesday of May is a yearly celebration of otters, raising awareness and inspiring people around the world to help protect these irreplaceable aquatic mammals.

This year we’re showing up to the party with lots of love for our resident southern sea otters and the exceptional team that makes sure our girls are happy, healthy, and ready for their close up!

Opal, Ivy, Selka, Suri, and Willow are all on exhibit together right now, but that’s not always the case—for a great reason. 💙

Our non-releasable resident otters sometimes spend time behind the scenes as part of the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Sea Otter Program. We aim for all of our resident otters to also serve as surrogate mothers to orphaned otter pups, raising them with the skills and behaviors they need for a second chance at life in the wild. 🥹

Today, almost 300 rescued southern sea otters of all ages have been released back to their ocean home after being cared for in our Sea Otter Program, helping restore their populations and revive the beautiful coastal habitats they call home. 🌊🦦 There’s wonder in ocean life and caring for it helps us all.

Join the World Otter Day sea-lebration on our live Sea Otter Cam, streaming the lovable antics of these five otter conservation superstars from 7 to 7: https://mbayaq.co/4e5Uok0

How are you celebrating otters today?

How does love for the ocean turn into a career at the Aquarium? 👀Meet Dalton, a senior aquarist whose curiosity, kindnes...
05/22/2026

How does love for the ocean turn into a career at the Aquarium? 👀

Meet Dalton, a senior aquarist whose curiosity, kindness, and love for the ocean shine through in everything he does at the Aquarium. His journey into marine science is thoughtful, unexpected, and deeply inspiring in the best way.
During AANHPI Heritage Month, we’re especially grateful for stories like his that reflect the many voices, experiences, and paths that shape our Aquarium community and ocean conservation.

Trust us, after reading his story, you’ll want to be friends with Dalton, too. Follow the link below to learn more about his journey.
https://mbayaq.co/4ds6rIi

Address

886 Cannery Row
Monterey, CA
93940

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

(831) 648-4800

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