Visit to Apo Island

Since 1998, Shedd Aquarium has been a key partner with Project Seahorse, a marine conservation organization dedicated to studying and protecting seahorses while helping people who depend upon them for their livelihoods. While Project Seahorse has programs all over the world, it has maintained an active presence in the Philippines since its inception. Recently Shedd’s conservation and research leadership team visited the Philippines to meet with our conservation partner to see how the program has grown since our last visit many years ago. In the next few weeks we’ll share some of the trip highlights, with the first stop being an Apo Island visit.

Flight of Fantasea

More than 30 feet in the air, dangling in darkness over 2 million gallons of cold salt water, Rick Maloney takes a deep breath and prepares for the plunge.

Rick is a member of the Marine Mammals Department and a featured performer in the new aquatic show, Fantasea. In this magical production, dolphins jump and summersault, beluga whales tail walk and breach, and marine mammal trainers fly and freefall into the water from breathtaking heights.

Oceanarium Reimagined: A Look Back

 
Here's a look back at the renovation of the reimagined Oceanarium. Thanks for supporting Shedd and visit us soon!



Posted by Jay Geneske, web editor

Coral reproduction

As a steward of the natural world, Shedd takes our responsibilities very seriously. We are determined and passionate about conservation and research, which is why we participate in SECORE (SExual COral REproduction), an initiative that supports coral research, husbandry,and conservation.

Leaving the Bahamas

As the High School Marine Biology Program reaches its final week, students share how the experience in the field impacted his views on science: 



Now that the trip is almost over I can tell you my view on science has changed. Science is not just all fun and games. To get results you really need to work hard and put forth your best effort to make sure your data will come out completely unhampered in order to get actual results.

Snorkeling in Cat Cay

More from Shedd's High School Marine Biology participants studying in the Bahamas:

Today we journeyed to a part of Cat Cay that is under construction. It intrigued us to snorkel on this part of the island because we were unsure as to the affect that the construction had upon the natural habitats. Jumping into the water, we began surveying the area and were shocked to see that as we drew nearer to the alleged shore, we could barely see any signs of life at all. We also noticed that the shallow water was quite foggy, which made it hard to see. As we got closer to the shore line we began to notice that dredging that had already occurred from construction. Recognizing this, we were able to decipher from the apparent dredging that most animal life had vanished from the area.

Visiting a shark lab

The second group of High School Marine Biology students have landed in the Bahamas. Here is a blog by two of the participants:

Today we visited a shark research lab on Bimini. We met a researcher named Kat who worked on not only protecting lemon sharks, which is the main species that they study, but also identify a number of other shark species that live in Bimini. She took us out to a pen and showed us some of the baby lemon sharks that they were studying. Some other shark species that live on Bimini are the tiger, bull and the occasional hammer head.

Last day in the Bahamas

The High School Marine Biology program participants share their discoveries from their last day in the Bahamas, and reflect on their entire experience. Here’s a blog post from two of the participants:

We can’t believe that today is our last day in the Bahamas! It has been an amazing trip that none of us will forget. Today we went to Cat Cay to do a beach seine, and had the opportunity to look at the homes being built on the island. Each of us wondered how the building development will affect Cat Cay’s surrounding environment.

Snorkeling above a shipwreck

The High School Marine Biology program participants are in their first week of study in the Bahamas. Here's a blog post and video from two of the participants:

This afternoon we headed to Turtle Rocks and saw starfish, conch shells, laughing gulls, and tons of crabs. After a short ride to the other side of the rocks, we got in the water for a late afternoon snorkel to start our fish ID research project.

First day aboard R/V Coral Reef II

Today on the R/V Coral Reef II, we learned more on the importance of focusing our research on how man-made changes in the environment can affect biodiversity. We decided to research habitats of Bimini that could be affected by future developments and compare it to ecosystems that have already been altered by development.