Mark your calendars for this Saturday, which is designated as Underwater Parks Day.

Now in its 5th year, Underwater Parks Day is a coordinated event by aquaria and marine science centers throughout Southern California to celebrate Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and educate the public about the statewide network of MPAs and the need for these special “Underwater Parks.”

The date was chosen because one of the best times to experience California’s ocean at its finest is during the first month of the year. In addition, California’s new network of over 100 underwater parks was completed just last December, and they have planned activities and celebrations throughout the California coast at state beaches, aquaria, and nature centers. It’s perfect for kids and adults to enjoy a day surrounded by sea life and learn more about the benefits of protecting California’s prime ocean habitats.

Some events you may spot include grey whales traveling south along the coast to lagoons in Baja, California where they will give birth to calves. Some preemies and their mothers are already showing up off the coast of Los Angeles and San Diego, a total plus for whale watchers.

Further north, male elephant seals are engaging in their spectacular, violent mating rituals, while females are giving birth to a new generation of pups. Exciting stuff!

So, come learn about MPAs and why they are important to help sustain, conserve, and protect marine life populations, habitats, and ecosystems. Speakers, presentations, kid-friendly activities, short films, and arts and craft projects will be available at most locations. Visitors will learn more about the Marine Life Protection Act and the process that aims to conserve and improve California coastal marine resources.

To find an event near you in Southern (San Diego to Santa Barbara), Central (Morro Bay to Santa Cruz) and Northern California (San Francisco to Arcata), go to www.caloceans.org. Continue reading →

The first of the King Tide events for 2013 begin today, January 9th and run until this Friday, January 11th. So, grab your camera, head to the shoreline, and take some pictures!

The California King Tides initiative, sponsored by government and nonprofit groups, began 3 years ago and encourages camera-toting volunteers to photograph and document the highest seasonal tides (or king tides) as an illustration of what low-lying coastal areas could look like if predictions about the Earth’s climate come to pass.

The photographs submitted to the group will be used to help visualize the impact of rising waters on the California coast by creating a map that will catalog coastal areas that are currently affected by extreme water levels. A report containing a selection of the submissions will be available after the event.

Since our shores are constantly being altered by human and natural processes, the images can offer a living record of the changes to our coasts and shorelines and a glimpse of what our daily tides may look like in the future as a result of sea level rise.

“It’s definitely very high tides this year, and we just encourage people to use this opportunity to go out, take pictures and reflect what this means for our shoreline and the fact that’s its constantly changing even today, and how that might affect how we think about sea level rise in the future,” says coordinator Heidi Nuttles.

Photos taken during king tide events document impacts to private property, public infrastructure, and wildlife habitat across the state.

So, have fun and be safe! Take extra precautions when you walk on slippery areas or near big waves, and always be aware of your surroundings and the weather conditions. If you can’t shoot photos for this run, the next one will be February 7th-9th

For more information on how to share your photos, go to: http://www.californiakingtides.org/.
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