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Julie Packard

@juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org
1.6K followers 311 following 168 posts

Trustee, Monterey Bay Aquarium. Chair, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute board. Vice chair, David and Lucile Packard Foundation board. she/her www.MontereyBayAquarium.org

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Reposted by Julie Packard
Bryan Gaensler @scibry.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
According to US News & World Report, UC Santa Cruz is: - 1st in the world for highly cited research in biology & biochemistry - 8th in the world for highly cited research in molecular biology & genetics - 1st in the nation for marine and freshwater biology - 7th in the nation for space science 🔭🧪
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Jenny Gray @jenny-gray.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
With California poised to implement #SB54, the most far-reaching law to reduce plastic packaging and pollution, it’s so encouraging to have the effort led by a talented individual like @calrecycle.bsky.social's Zoe Heller: bit.ly/4h4Re0g #CircularEconomy #PlasticPollution #EnvironmentalJustice
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Leadership at a pivotal moment
Throughout her career, Zoe Heller, director of CalRecycle, has been focused on the human connection to environmental effects. That focus
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Reposted by Julie Packard
MBARI @mbarinews.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
I am the terror that floats in the dark.⁠ I am the immortal plastic toy that's growing its own ecosystem.⁠ I am deep-sea duck! 🦆🌊😱⁠ ⁠ Our ROV cameras spotted this unlikely deep-sea visitor on the seafloor. Even miles beneath the ocean’s surface, we find trash, much of it plastic.
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Reposted by Julie Packard
Happy Eco News @happyeconews.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
🌊 What began as Dr. Sylvia Earle's 2009 TED Prize wish is now the world's largest community-led ocean conservation network: 170 Hope Spots across 115 countries, covering 35M+ sq km. At 90, she's still leading the charge. Full story: buff.ly/Xp4kI2j 📸 Mission Blue buff.ly/7IPJsH1 #OceanConservation
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Reposted by Julie Packard
Monterey Bay Aquarium @montereybayaquarium.org · 09/09/2026
Since 1984, we've welcomed more than 2.7 million students on free Aquarium field trips. We’re proud to help inspire the next generation of ocean stewards. 💙 Learn more about the impact of our ocean education programs: mbayaq.co/3SQl8gL
Several kindergarten students sitting while listening to someone speakLooking down on a group of students sitting in front of the Kelp Forest Exhibit watching their teacher speakStudents wearing backpacks looking at a school of anchovies in the AquariumStudents looking in awe at the Kelp Forest exhibit
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Reposted by Julie Packard
Monterey Bay Aquarium @montereybayaquarium.org · 09/09/2026
What happens when young people get the chance to experience marine life, learn together, and realize their own power to make a difference? 🌊 They build connections to the ocean, to their communities, and to a future they can help shape.
A young student wearing a big red bow looks down in awe into an aquarium exhibitA student and chaperone look at exhibit labels in the aviary of an AquariumFour middle school students lean over the bat ray touch pool at the Aquarium, with one girl reacting particularly excited and surprised after touching a rayAn elementary school student holds a magnifying glass while looking into an aquarium tank with purple sea urchins
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Reposted by Julie Packard
Jenny Gray @jenny-gray.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
We're fortunate to work in a place where our daily efforts can contribute to the future of something as important as the ocean. On this #LaborDay2026, I celebrate all of our staff and volunteers who are part of this continuing story.
A woman with long, wavy blonde hair holds a flashlight to a tank of jellies that she is working to raise behind the scenes at Monterey Bay Aquarium.
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Reposted by Julie Packard
Jenny Gray @jenny-gray.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
What I find especially meaningful is that all of this work comes together around something bigger than any individual job: our mission to inspire conservation of the ocean.
A father in a blue top holds his young daughter in a pink top in front of the Kelp Forest exhibit at Monterey Bay Aquarium while a leopard shark swims past among the kelp fronds.
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Jenny Gray @jenny-gray.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Some of our staff work directly with animals, guests, students, or scientists. Many keep the buildings running, manage finances, support our people, raise funds, tell our stories, develop technology, or make sure all the details come together. Every part of it matters.
A woman on the Education staff at Monterey Bay Aquarium with a black long-sleeved top and dark hair bends over to work with a seated young woman wearing a white hoodie in one of the Aquarium's teen programs.
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Reposted by Julie Packard
Jenny Gray @jenny-gray.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Now the Aquarium is part of that story. I think about that when I walk through the gallieries and see the extraordinary range of talents that bring this place alive.
Five people from the Life Support team at Monterey Bay Aquarium stand amid a tangle of seawater pipes in the Aquarium basement.
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Reposted by Julie Packard
Jenny Gray @jenny-gray.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
In Monterey, for thousands of years, people have lived and worked along the shores of this extraordinary bay: indigenous peoples with deep knowledge of and relationship with the land and sea. Later came many others whose hard work shaped this community.
A commercial fishing boat motors from right to left on calm water against a backdrop of a fog bank and peach-colored sunset sky.
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Reposted by Julie Packard
Jenny Gray @jenny-gray.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
As we mark the #LaborDay holiday, I’ve been thinking about the meaning of the day and the people whose work has shaped the places we live. This year, I'm especially reflecting on the talented people who work at @montereybayaquarium.org.
Young man in blue jacket shows a tube of moon jellies to visitors in a red t shirt and green top at Monterey Bay Aquarium.
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Reposted by Julie Packard
Jenny Gray @jenny-gray.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Research teams at @montereybayaquarium.org are paying close attention to troubling ocean warming and other trends affecting marine life, including the growth of needlelike plankton species Pseudo-nitzchia that are linked to serious neurological disorders in marine mammals and humans. #MarineLife
A microscope slide shows many needle-like brownish filaments of Pseudo-nitzchia plankton, scattered like pick-up sticks across the image.
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Reposted by Julie Packard
Monterey Bay Aquarium @montereybayaquarium.org · 28/08/2026
Then Assemblymember Dave Jones was inspired to create the fund after learning about the threats facing sea otters during a 2005 visit with his family to the Aquarium. Laird co-authored the original legislation. www.dailynews.com/2006/04/03/a...
dailynews.com
Assemblyman tries to save sea otters
SACRAMENTO – Assemblyman Dave Jones, D-Sacramento, was visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium last summer when he and his family learned that the threatened California sea otter population is not thriving...
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Reposted by Julie Packard
Monterey Bay Aquarium @montereybayaquarium.org · 28/08/2026
While the fund doesn't directly support the Aquarium’s Sea Otter Program, it has raised $5 million since 2006 for other organizations whose work complements all that we’re doing to recover this iconic species. bit.ly/3Upflix #WildlifeConservation #MarineMammal #SeaOtter #ActForTheOcean
A staff member at Monterey Bay Aquarium cradles a rescued sea otter pup and hand-feeds it formula from a baby bottle. The pup is brown; the staff member wears a black outfit with yellow trim and green medical gloves.
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Reposted by Julie Packard
Monterey Bay Aquarium @montereybayaquarium.org · 28/08/2026
Huge thanks to @governor.ca.gov for signing into law a bill by State Sen. John Laird to re-establish California Sea Otter Voluntary Contribution Fund. The Fund will again appear on the 2026 state income tax return; to remain active, it must attract at least $250,000 in contributions each year.
A group of brown sea otters floats amid golden-brown kelp amid blue ocean water off the back deck of Monterey Bay Aquarium.
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Reposted by Julie Packard
Jenny Gray @jenny-gray.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Increasingly, we’ll rely on resilient coastal ecosystems as a buffer against impacts from climate change. California's world-renowned management program protects those ecosystems. As a science- and place-based organization, @montereybayaquarium.org will stand up to safeguard our living coast.
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Reposted by Julie Packard
Jenny Gray @jenny-gray.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
California’s coastline is a place of breathtaking beauty filled with remarkable wildlife. It's a place of respite and a source of inspiration. It’s the foundation for a strong tourism economy, vibrant and sustainable fisheries, and myriad industries that depend on a healthy ocean to thrive.
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Monterey Bay Aquarium @montereybayaquarium.org · 27/08/2026
Coastal management programs protect waters nationwide, from the Great Lakes to both coasts. They're a key tool for states to safeguard coastal resources, blending federal-state partnership with local economic and environmental protection. California's program is a global model.
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Monterey Bay Aquarium @montereybayaquarium.org · 27/08/2026
We're concerned this politically motivated review, timed with rising interest in offshore drilling, sets a dangerous precedent. If it proceeds, any state's coastal protections could be challenged by the federal government simply for enforcing their own laws.
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Reposted by Julie Packard
Monterey Bay Aquarium @montereybayaquarium.org · 27/08/2026
As zoos, aquariums & rescue institutions, we engage millions of visitors on why healthy ecosystems matter. We're grateful for your support as we work toward a future where the ocean flourishes and people thrive. Read the statement here: mbayaq.co/4xqd99a
mbayaq.co
U.S. animal care organizations unite to defend the integrity of the…
Monterey Bay Aquarium joined 23 organizations to speak up for state and local knowledge in protecting coasts.
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Reposted by Julie Packard
Monterey Bay Aquarium @montereybayaquarium.org · 27/08/2026
Monterey Bay Aquarium joined 24 wildlife care & conservation orgs across the U.S. in a letter urging @noaa.gov to withdraw its review of California's federally approved Coastal Management Program. NOAA already reviewed and reaffirmed the program just last year.
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Reposted by Julie Packard
Monterey Bay Aquarium @montereybayaquarium.org · 19/08/2026
It's the culmination of 30+ years of work by Aquarium teams whose leadership – across policy, science, outreach, and inspiring exhibits – helped lay the foundation for this triumph. mbayaq.co/4wFICmz #OceanConservation #SustainableFisheries #BluefinTuna #OceanLeadership #EnvironmentalPolicy
People in white hardhats slide a tagged Pacific bluefin tuna from a white sling into the ocean off the coast of Japan.
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Reposted by Julie Packard
Monterey Bay Aquarium @montereybayaquarium.org · 19/08/2026
This is an historic achievement for a species once depleted to just two percent of its population. It replaces vulnerable annual negotiations with pre-agreed rules rooted in science. Thanks to the global community of scientists, fishers, and delegates who championed this 14-year recovery effort.
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Reposted by Julie Packard
MBARI @mbarinews.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Where curiosity finds connection 🌊🎓✨ For 30 years, MBARI’s Summer Internship Program has welcomed students and educators from around the world to participate in hands-on ocean research. Our former interns are transforming ocean exploration. Learn more: www.mbari.org/news/where-c...
mbari.org
Where curiosity finds connection: Celebrating 30 years of MBARI’s Summer Internship Program • MBARI
MBARI interns participate in hands-on ocean research, experiencing careers in marine science, engineering, and education firsthand and helping transform ocean exploration.
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Reposted by Julie Packard
Jenny Gray @jenny-gray.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Please use YOUR voice and join us! It takes just five minutes to make a difference: www.montereybayaquarium.org/about-us/sto...
montereybayaquarium.org
Protect California’s coastline
Take two actions to stop federal offshore drilling off California's coast.
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Reposted by Julie Packard
Jenny Gray @jenny-gray.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
My first press conference in my new role at @montereybayaquarium.org was an important one: standing with local and federal leaders to oppose offshore oil and gas drilling. Exposing this pristine coast to the unacceptable risks of #OffshoreDrilling is, quite simply, beyond comprehension.
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Reposted by Julie Packard
Monterey Bay Aquarium @montereybayaquarium.org · 10/08/2026
The draft proposal includes 34 potential offshore drilling lease sites nationwide—six of them right here off of California. Monday's press conference, held overlooking Monterey Bay, made clear that the community stands united against the proposal.
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Reposted by Julie Packard
Monterey Bay Aquarium @montereybayaquarium.org · 10/08/2026
Thank you Rep. Panetta, Mayor Tyller Williamson, Supervisor Kate Daniels, Katie Thompson (Save Our Shores), Ted Balestreri (Cannery Row Company), and Janine Chicourrat (Portola Hotel & Spa) for standing together to protect the ocean, economy, and communities that depend on a healthy coast.
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Reposted by Julie Packard
Monterey Bay Aquarium @montereybayaquarium.org · 10/08/2026
When the next draft proposal drops, a 90-day comment period lets us make our voices heard! Sign up for our ocean action emails to know the moment it happens: mbayaq.co/4gpSpIk
mbayaq.co
Sign up for ocean action emails
Get the latest ocean news, sustainable living tips, and simple ways to take action for a healthier ocean.
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Reposted by Julie Packard
Monterey Bay Aquarium @montereybayaquarium.org · 10/08/2026
Today, Representative Jimmy Panetta and local leaders gathered at the Aquarium to speak out against the Administration's plan to expand offshore oil and gas leasing on the Central Coast.
Representative Jimmy Panetta speaks at a "House of Representatives" podium during an outdoor coastal press event, with local leaders to his right and Dr. Jenny Grey to his left, with rocky tide pools and the ocean visible behind them.Prepresentative Panetta (in a brown blazer) shakes hands with a Dr. Jenny Grey (in a black blazer) at an outdoor podium bearing a "House of Representatives" seal, with the ocean and rocky shoreline visible behind them.A wide shot of a seated audience listening to a man speak at a "House of Representatives" podium during an outdoor press event on a rocky, oceanside deck, with several officials standing nearby and the Monterey Bay Aquarium building in the background.
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Monterey Bay Aquarium @montereybayaquarium.org · 04/08/2026
🌊 Nearly 90 California lawmakers have sent a clear message: No new offshore drilling and continued strong protection for California’s iconic coast! 🧵
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Reposted by Julie Packard
Monterey Bay Aquarium @montereybayaquarium.org · 04/08/2026
Senate Concurrent Resolution 136 celebrates 50 years of the California Coastal Act, which created the California Coastal Commission and State Coastal Conservancy—protecting our coast and public access while helping communities plan for a resilient future. Read more: mbayaq.co/4hMZhka
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Monterey Bay Aquarium @montereybayaquarium.org · 04/08/2026
Senate Joint Resolution 12 affirms bipartisan opposition to the Trump administration’s proposed offshore oil and gas leasing plans, calling for California to be excluded from any future leasing + a full environmental review and opportunity for public input. Read more: mbayaq.co/4xiFqOr
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Reposted by Julie Packard
Monterey Bay Aquarium @montereybayaquarium.org · 04/08/2026
Thank you, Sen. John Laird and the legislators who co-authored these measures, for your continued leadership protecting California’s coast! 🎉
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Monterey Bay Aquarium @montereybayaquarium.org · 04/08/2026
This week, the California Legislature adopted two resolutions by state Sen. John Laird. One opposes any new offshore drilling, and one celebrates 50 years of the California Coastal Act.
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Jenny Gray @jenny-gray.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
By supporting, @montereybayaquarium.org, you'll help us continue this vital work as we shape a future where the ocean flourishes and people thrive in a just and equitable world. mbayaq.co/4wCAJPC #MPADay #MarineProtectedAreas #biodiversity #MarineLife #OceanEcosystems #ClimateChange #ActForTheOcean
mbayaq.co
Our conservation work
For more than 40 years, the Aquarium has worked to protect the ocean that shapes our lives.
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Jenny Gray @jenny-gray.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
@montereybayaquarium.org played a key role in California’s process to create the first science-based, statewide MPA network in the United States. It was a globally significant accomplishment. California's 124 MPAs protect marine life and habitats for current and future generations. bit.ly/4wyP8fs
Sea otters raft together amid fronds of golden kelp in blue water of Monterey Bay.
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Jenny Gray @jenny-gray.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Throughout the year, and especially today on #MPADay, the team at @montereybayaquarium.org promotes sustainable fishing and aquaculture, helps recovers species like the southern sea otter, and, through science and advocacy, works to protect essential habitats such as kelp forests and seagrass beds.
A lush stand of giant kelp rises toward the sunlit surface in waters of California's Channel Islands. Photo c. Douglas K. Klug
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Jenny Gray @jenny-gray.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
By managing human activities, MPAs reduce pressure on marine ecosystems and strengthen their resilience in the face of climate change. And they contribute to the long-term health of people and communities who depend on a healthy ocean. #MPADay #OceanResilience
Fishermen haul in a net on the beach at sunrise in La Gi, Bình Thuận Province, Vietnam. Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh via Pexels.
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Jenny Gray @jenny-gray.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
It's #MPADay, an opportunity to celebrate marine protected areas that protect critical ecosystems, help vulnerable ocean species recover, and support the long-term sustainability of fisheries and other ocean resources. mpaday.org
mpaday.org
MPA Day website
Celebrating local actions for global impact 1 August
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Monterey Bay Aquarium @montereybayaquarium.org · 31/07/2026
The Trump administration's plan for new offshore oil and gas drilling in federal waters is expected any day. If finalized, drilling could begin off the California coast next year. 📣 Take action! Contact your California representative and send your concerns to NOAA today: mbayaq.co/4fFiaV3
Man on paddle board with dog on front of paddle board standing up on the Monterey Bay
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Monterey Bay Aquarium @montereybayaquarium.org · 11/07/2026
We joined 15 partner aquariums to oppose this change and speak up for a strong ESA and foundational protections for marine life. Read more here: mbayaq.co/4furc6T
mbayaq.co
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Monterey Bay Aquarium @montereybayaquarium.org · 11/07/2026
For more than 50 years, the ESA has been successful at preventing extinction because it protects habitat. This change sacrifices science-based management for industrial development.
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Monterey Bay Aquarium @montereybayaquarium.org · 11/07/2026
Development that degrades or destroys a species’ habitat is no longer considered “harm” to their survival or recovery.
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Monterey Bay Aquarium @montereybayaquarium.org · 11/07/2026
Today, the federal government finalized a major change to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to remove vital habitat protections for endangered species.
Closeup of a snowy plover sitting in the sand
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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 26/05/2026
I’m excited to welcome Jennifer Gray as CEO of @montereybayaquarium.org! She has such passion for wildlife conservation, demonstrated during her years at Zoos Victoria. I can't wait to see what she and the Aquarium team accomplish under her leadership. www.montereybayaquarium.org/about-us/sto...
montereybayaquarium.org
Q&A: Julie Packard and Dr. Jenny Gray
A conversation between incoming Chief Executive Officer Jenny Gray and founding Executive Director Julie Packard.
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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 14/05/2026
Fifty-one years after "Jaws," it's great to see white sharks getting some love: www.latimes.com/california/s... #eloasmobranchs #MarineLife #ApexPredators #sharks #ElNino #WarmingOcean
latimes.com
Great white sharks are surging off Southern California. It's actually good for the ocean
With an uptick in great white shark activity at SoCal beaches, a team from the Cal State Long Beach Shark Lab tags the giant fish with a goal of gleaning insights that can improve ocean safety.
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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 06/05/2026
California has taken an important step to reduce single-use plastic waste! Big thanks to @calrecycle.bsky.social and CalEPA, to @senbenallen.bsky.social & other members of the legislature, and to local communities who fought efforts to weaken #SB54 regulations. calrecycle.ca.gov/2026/05/01/p...
calrecycle.ca.gov
California approves new plastic and packaging rules that put consumers first
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — CalRecycle today announced approval of regulations that deliver the change Californians demand to cut plastic waste. The regulations implement this bold recycling law in a way tha...
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Reposted by Julie Packard
Monterey Aquarium PR @montereyaqpr.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Choosing #SustainableSeafood can be challenging. The @montereybayaquarium.org Seafood Watch program shared with @apnews.com how it's taking new approaches to make it simpler, apnews.com/article/sust...
apnews.com
Consumers are lost at sea as seafood sustainability grows more complex
What makes seafood sustainable? It used to be defined more simply. The emphasis was on not overfishing and on keeping the seabed and aquaculture healthy.
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