A message about marine conservation on Earth Day, on display at San Francisco’s Aquarium of the Bay

The original message of Earth Day, when it began more than 50 years ago, remains relevant in 2024 and staff at San Francisco’s Aquarium of the Bay want to emphasize conservation and pollution reduction for the world year-round visitors to Pier 39.

“I think consciousness needs more and more investment, research, discovery and also storytelling,” says Dr. George Jacob, the aquarium’s president and CEO. “I think they need to be aware of the simple axiom: if there is no blue, there is no green.”

The aquarium features 24,000 animals, including 200 species, many of which are on display in one of the longest tunnel systems in the country. Their underwater experience contains 750,000 liters of salt water and allows people to interact with marine life in a more intimate environment.

“One of my favorite things here is highlighting these animals that make such a difference in the bay, that most people don’t know about, and how beautiful they are, all the animals that live in the bay,” said Melissa Schouest. , the aquarium’s director of animal care. “I really feel like it immerses people. There are animals swimming around you, they’re coming right at you, you get a personal, personal encounter with them.”

Jacob says the aquarium aims to educate visitors about the values ​​celebrated on any given day on Earth Day, founded in 1970 and considered the beginning of the modern environmental movement. The aquarium strives to ensure that adequate emphasis is placed on both the water and the land. Exhibits at the aquarium focus on the effects of climate change, the damage caused by plastic pollution in the oceans and the loss of natural habitats.

“This environment essentially immerses you right into the oceans and you begin to appreciate the incredible biodiversity that exists in San Francisco Bay and beyond,” he told KPIX while giving a tour of the underground tunnels.

Earth Day’s origins lie in the ocean, and the annual event often includes a local call to action to have a global impact. Jacob says people in the Bay Area and visitors to the aquarium can reduce their carbon footprint in many ways. One of the main focuses of this year’s Earth Day is limiting the use of plastic; Jacob also suggests changes in your diet, reducing overall produce consumption and finding more recyclable items.

“Understanding the diversity, biodiversity and habitat needs sensitizes us to why we need to keep the oceans pristine,” he said.