Conscious Choice Seattle: Prehistoric Sharks Live Among Us!

Window on Washington Waters Tank

Don’t Get Mad... Get Active!

A recent study done by the Corporation for National and Community Service (nationalservice.gov) surveyed volunteering trends in the US’s 50 largest cities—ranking Seattle at number 5 for volunteer rates and 4 for volunteer hours, well above the national average. Great job, Seattle! If you’ve never volunteered before and are looking for a way to ease into it, try virtual volunteering. All you need is an Internet connection and a telephone to make someone else’s life a little easier.

www.sustainableharvest.org

Sustainable Harvest International coordinates trained local staff, farmers and communities to implement sustainable land-use practices that alleviate poverty by restoring ecological stability. They need bilingual Spanish-English speakers to translate educational manuals and outreach materials for use in Central American countries that are dealing with rainforest destruction.

www.caresforkids.org

Cares for Kids, Inc., an organization that provides less fortunate children around the world with the basics needed to survive, seeks a broad range of volunteers to fulfill numerous duties including grant writing, marketing and fundraising.

www.commongroundrelief.org

Common Ground Collective was established the week after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast as a means to provide relief for those affected by the disaster. The organization is in need of selfless volunteers to advocate, spread awareness and raise funds for their Lower 9th Ward Project.

August 2007 | On Our Radar

Prehistoric Sharks Live Among Us!

And other facts learned on a surprising tour of the new Seattle Aquarium

By Paul Constant

Did you know that the third largest predatory shark in the world is right here in Elliott Bay? Before you cue the theme from Jaws and start worrying about shark attacks, keep in mind that our shark, the sixgill shark, which grows up to 16 feet long, prefers to stay about a thousand feet below sea level. Hiding that far down underwater might explain why scientists didn’t begin to study the beast until 2002.

The Seattle Aquarium is host to a comprehensive study of the sixgill shark, including DNA mapping and tagging the 100,000,000-year-old creatures in their own habitat. Tim Kuniholm, the Aquarium’s Director of Marketing and Community Affairs, is excited about the study, adding that “Most people don’t realize that we have a world-class research facility here.”

The study is part of the Aquarium’s recently completed $41 million dollar expansion project. If you haven’t been to the Aquarium in a while, you’ll probably be startled by its new look. On arriving to the Aquarium, the first thing you’ll see is the 120,000-gallon Window on Washington Waters tank, a replication of the ecosystem at Deception Pass. Three times daily, Aquarium volunteers scuba-dive in the tank, feeding the fish and simultaneously hosting a question and answer session with the crowds that inevitably gather to watch.

Around the corner from the big tank is the Crashing Waves Exhibit, a simulation of the roiling tidal ecosphere at Neah Bay. The long, narrow tank is rocked every minute or so by a huge wave, and children press up to the glass to watch tiny fish fighting the impressive current. Kuniholm notes that the exhibit “Passes the fingerprint test,” explaining that Aquarium designers can always tell if an exhibit is successful if they have to clean the glass frequently.

Many of the most popular aspects of the Aquarium have remained, including what the staff affectionately dubbed the “Jelly Doughnut,” a giant, clear circle filled with moon jellyfish that children are drawn to with almost magnetic strength. “This one passes not only the fingerprint test,” Kuniholm chuckles, “But the nose-print and cheek-print tests, too. Sometimes parents have to pry their kids away.”

The renovation and expansion has proven wildly successful: the aquarium has experienced record crowds since the grand re-opening on June 22nd. Events are staggered throughout the day, so at virtually any time, visitors are guaranteed to see popular events like the seal and octopus feedings, which are hosted by enthusiastic, knowledgeable volunteers. Thanks to its cutting edge research and the exciting new exhibits, Seattle finally has the world-class aquarium that it’s always deserved.

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