Endangered Blue Whales Spotted off Long Beach

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Photos by Diana Lejins

On Aug. 1 , Aquarium of the Pacific and Harbor Breeze Cruises invited the media on a boat excursion to see blue whales and explore recent conservation issues with experts–an event intended to announce the Aquarium’s award winning Whales: Voices in the Sea multimedia exhibit as well as inform readers of the cruises for blue whale watching. Experts from the Aquarium’s blue whale research project will provide updates about the endangered population found off the coast of Southern California.

Whales: Voices in the Sea multimedia exhibit is now available at seven institutions around the nation, including most recently added to the New England Aquarium and Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium. The Aquarium of the Pacific is also debuting new components to this exhibit, which highlight the endangered North Atlantic right whale and humpback whale and include rare footage and interviews with leading scientists. As guests explore this exhibit, they will learn about the environmental threats facing blue, North Atlantic right, gray, humpback, sperm, and other whales. Press can preview the bilingual English-Spanish exhibit prior to their blue whale cruise. This exhibit update was made possible by the Pacific Life Foundation and was developed by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography with the Aquarium of the Pacific.  A new website and social media outreach are now available for this exhibit.

The Aquarium of the Pacific and Harbor Breeze Cruises offers three hour whale watch excursion with Aquarium experts daily at 12:00 p.m. & 3:30 p.m. The Blue Whale & Sea Life Cruise combo ticket is available for purchase on-site at Aquarium of the Pacific and may be purchased in advance by calling 562-590-3100. Prices are $59.95 adult 12+, $54.95 senior 62+, and $38.95 child (includes whale watch & Aquarium admission). Guests will be able to listen to the whales they see and can learn more about whale communication through the Aquarium’s interactive Whales: Voices in the Sea kiosk exhibit featuring the largest and smallest whales on the planet—the blue whale and the vaquita.  For more information, visit the Aquarium of the Pacific website.

Venue: Aquarium of the Pacific
Location: 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach