New coral reef exhibition is ready for guests
AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC
After careful planning and discussions with the City of Long Beach, the Aquarium of the Pacific reopened to the public on June 14, with special safety measures in place.
The Aquarium has been offering a variety of programs for people at home through its Online Academy during its closure due to COVID-19 and plans to continue to do so.
It will also debut a new exhibition on coral reefs.
“On behalf of all of us at the Aquarium, we are very pleased to be able to welcome our members and visitors back. We have missed them and look forward to our community being able to enjoy the tranquility of our exhibits and to learn about our ocean planet. We are pleased to reopen with a new exhibition, Coral Reefs: Nature’s Underwater Cities,” said Dr. Jerry Schubel, Aquarium of the Pacific president and CEO.
The Aquarium invites people to explore the beauty and diversity of coral reefs and their animal residents in a new exhibition. Coral Reefs: Nature’s Underwater Cities features new animals, programs, and exhibits where visitors can learn more about the importance of coral reefs and how to protect them.
Guests can journey through the newly redesigned Tropical Pacific Gallery and experience a stunning virtual dive in the Honda Pacific Visions Theater. A green sea turtle, flashlight fish that glow and clownfish are among the more than one dozen new animal species that are highlighted. Also featured are various coral reef environments with these and other species, from pufferfish to cuttlefish and the new seabird— Sula the red-footed booby. Sula is one of only two red-footed boobies known to be living at a zoo or aquarium.
The Aquarium is limiting the number of visitors, requiring advance timed reservations for everyone, and managing traffic flow to ensure appropriate social distancing; requiring face coverings for everyone age two and older and temperature checks for everyone, including staff; providing numerous hand-sanitizing stations for visitors and staff; will be constantly sanitizing all touched surface; and much more.
Clear partitions have also been installed in key areas where staff interact with guests, such as the main entrance, member services and retail areas. The Aquarium has also temporarily paused shows and presentations and closed several exhibits to ensure social distancing.
More details are available on the Aquarium’s website at http:// www.aquariumofpacific.org/visit/ aquarium_safety. According to current health guidance from the City of Long Beach, all people residing within the city who are age 65 or older and all people of any age who have underlying health conditions are strongly urged to remain in their residences.
The Aquarium has installed social distancing signs throughout the facility, set up for one-way foot traffic in the main galleries, and is stationing staff to monitor and enforce social distancing. Exit with re-entry will not be allowed during this initial phase of reopening.
Anyone who wants to visit must make an online reservation. Members and those holding tickets or who want to redeem a coupon must still make a free reservation time. The Aquarium will be open 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and will extend its hours Friday through Saturday to 9 p.m.
Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, has a general admission of $34.95, adult (12+); $29.95, senior (65+); $24.95, child, and free to children under age three and Aquarium members For more information, call (562) 590-3100 or visit aquariumofpacific. org.
Some of the animals that will be highlighted include numerous species of coral and colorful reef fishes such as this parrotfish.
