Tiny aquarium leads charge to heal coasts

By Kim McGill

The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro focuses on education, research and conservation to connect people to the underwater world of Southern California.

School visits, beach cleanups and interactive exhibits put people in contact with some of the region’s smallest aquatic species.

Despite the happy chaos, one section of the aquarium remained quiet—the aquatic nursery—where the gurgling of the huge cylinders “growing live foods” stretched to the ceiling could be heard.

The aquarium is using its nursery to raise criticallyendangered species that can be reintroduced to the wild, including the white abalone. Native to Southern and Baja California, the marine snail was the first invertebrate on the endangered species list.

“A lot of the invertebrates found in the tide pools are taking the biggest hit,” Research and conservation curator Brenton Spies said.

The larvae being reared in the nursery exhibit how climate change impacts marine life.

The aquarium researches how to properly intervene.

Other marine life rely on smaller animals for food. The destruction of the tide pools is altering the ecosystem, making algae dominant. Climate change, overdevelopment, severe weather and pollution has created a cycle that’s throwing off the ecological balance.

“Tide pools are getting filled in or deteriorating … That impacts a lot of the animals,” Spies said humans manipulate the coast.

Spies said development has dominated the coast, leaving little space for wildlife.

“For example, the barrier walls built to protect the cliffside homes are increasing erosion,” Spies said.

Instead of soaking into earth, the waves hit the walls and they bounce back stronger, increasing erosion.

El Camino student Glenys Rich has been working and volunteering at the aquarium for over three years.

Rich described how new currents bring pollution. Sediment runoff from agriculture and the streets also poisons the ecosystem. Erosion is shrinking the beaches.

“Climate change has affected a lot of the tide pools,” Rich said. “The water comes up too high, causing erosion that pulls away the sand on the beaches.”

Spies urges South Bay communities to become more active, get educated on climate change and eat sustainable seafood.

“Vote with the environment in mind,” Spies said.