iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 06/05/2026

Despite industry carveouts, the law's goals are the strongest in the world. In time, we expect to see the real-world impact with less single-use plastic packaging and new, more sustainable alternatives. Our communities & our ocean will be healthier for it. #CircularEconomy #ActOnPlastic

Colorful metal beverage cans sit on shelves in a cold case at the Monterey Bay Aquarium cafe under the words "The solution to plastic pollution is in our hands. - Executive Director Julie Packard

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 06/03/2026

I'm incredibly proud of this work! It's making a real difference in people's lives. You can read more here: mbayaq.co/4d5w2Xp

Two grayish shrimp with black stripes on their tails lie on a bed of ice and green leaves in a woven basket.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 24/02/2026

Thanks also to the Monterey County Hospitality Association, Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust, Monterey County Business Council, and Big Sur Chamber of Commerce for spelling out what offshore leasing could mean for the health of our economy.

A bicyclist at lower right rides on a paved coastal bikepath in Pacific Grove against a backdrop of a split-rail fence, offshore rocks, blue ocean water, and green grass and trees.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 18/02/2026

Jenny is passionate about @montereybayaquarium.org's conservation mission, a leader in the zoological community, and committed to advancing our vision of a future where the ocean flourishes and people thrive in a just and equitable world. With her at the helm, the Aquarium is in great hands.

Two people stand in silhouette with the Kelp Forest exhibit in the background. The black lines of bridge railings and mullions on the exhibit windows cross the image vertically and horizontally.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 18/02/2026

I couldn’t be more excited to welcome Dr. Jenny Gray as the new CEO of @montereybayaquarium.org. I’ve gotten to know Jenny over the years through her work with the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the IUCN. She is a fantastic person. bit.ly/4kEsDRe

Dr. Jenny Gray, a white woman with blonde hair and a dark dress, stands with her hands clasped against a background of green trees and other plants.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 02/02/2026

Congratulations to Meghan Hertel, the new director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife! Many thanks to @governor.ca.gov for choosing an exceptionally qualified individual to fill this important role. Our @montereybayaquarium.org team looks forward to working with her. mbayaq.co/46ism0l

Silver and blue-grey fishes swim over rocks covered with multi-colored invertebrates as giant kelp fronds rise in a background of green-blue ocean water. Photo by Patrick Webster.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 30/01/2026

With donor support, we completed a new Sea Otter Conservation Center in 2025 so we can return even more rescued otter pups to the wild. Thank you, @katharinehayhoe.com for highlighting the important role wildlife plays in climate solutions. bit.ly/4c34NfD

A mother sea otter with a pale muzzle holds a fluffy dark-brown pup on her belly as both animals float in blue water.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 30/01/2026

The team at @montereybayaquarium.org knows the critical role sea otters play in solving the #ClimateCrisis. We've spent 40+ years documenting their contributions and working to rescue, rehabilitate, and return stranded sea otters -- including rescued pups -- to the wild. bit.ly/4qcPrc6

A raft of brown sea otters floats amid golden fronds of kelp in blue ocean water off the back deck of Monterey Bay Aquarium.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 29/01/2026

We had a lot of fun showing @schiff.senate.gov around @montereybayaquarium.org last week. Our sea otter exhibit and our work to rescue, rehabilitate, and return stranded animals to the wild captured his heart. We're grateful for all the Senator is doing so people and the ocean can thrive together.

A white woman with white hair, off-white scarf, and tan coat stands next to a white man with gray hair, weariing a gray windbreaker and blue shirt. The ocean is in the background.

A group of people stands outside on a concrete deck above the Sea Otter Exhibit at Monterey Bay Aquarium. One level below them, visitors are visible through the exhibit windows, looking at sea otters swimming in the water.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 05/01/2026

When we stand together and use our voices, we can stop this leasing plan and create the future we want for our children: one where the ocean flourishes and people thrive, here in California and beyond. Many thanks to ocean champion Leon Panetta, my co-author on this commentary. bit.ly/3Lo2hWp

A yellow and whitle anemone dominates the foreground, with an orange sea star and pinkish encrusting algae on rocks. In the background, giant kelp towers against light blue water. Photo by Patrick Webster.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 05/01/2026

Once more, it’s time for us to act. Between now and Jan. 23, the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is taking public comments on this deeply flawed proposal. The administration needs to hear — in no uncertain terms — that its leasing plan is dead on arrival. bit.ly/49FRhNq

A humpback whale breaches in Monterey Bay. Its white flippers extend to the left and right of its dark-gray belly. Ocean water is dark blue and mountains and pale blue sky are visible in the background.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 14/11/2025

Yes, we need to meet a growing demand for the technology we've come to depend on. But we can do so without the damaging extraction of raw minerals from the seafloor. Innovations are reducing the need for this environmentally risky and economically suspect approach.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 14/11/2025

The new research concludes that sediment plumes extending far from the site of seabed mining could affect plankton abundance. Plankton support myriad other species and commercially important fisheries in the Pacific Ocean for tunas and mahi mahi. #CommercialFisheries #tuna #MahiMahi #FoodWeb

Silvery gray bluefin tuna swim in a school from right to left in dark blue-green ocean water.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 01/10/2025

Dr. Jane Goodall was a remarkable individual – as a scientist, as an advocate for wildlife and wild places, and as a source of profound hope for the future of our planet. She brought such a joyful spirit and unfailing optimism to her work. #inspiration #hope #wildlife #conservation

Two white-haired women stand outdoors facing each other in conversation. The woman to the left is shorter. In the background are the concrete buildings of Monterey Bay Aquarium and a distant view of the ocean.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 18/09/2025

A few years ago, @montereybayaquarium.org researchers documented clear disparities in the places where the greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change are being produced and the places that will disproportionately feel the impacts. www.montereybayaquarium.org/stories/clim...

A map of Earth colored red and blue. Large red areas contribute comparatively few greenhouse emissions yet experience more severe warming. Smaller blue areas emit far more emissions yet experience relatively less warming.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 23/06/2025

Guess who else loves kelp? Orcas in the Pacific Northwest! Cool findings from @whaleresearch.bsky.social: www.science.org/content/arti... #algae #ToolUse #nereocystis #SalishSea #allokelping

A black and white orca swims through blue water from left to right with a piece of bull kelp balanced on the back of its head. Text on the screen identifies the images as created by the Center for Whale Research, under permit 27038 from the National Marine Fisheries Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 19/06/2025

Our representatives recognize that opening more of our waters poses an unacceptable risk to rich ecosystems and our strong economy. @montereybayaquarium.org has also submitted public comments opposing the addition of California waters in future #OuterContinentalShelf leasing plans.

Blue and silver rockfishes swim over rocks encrusted with purple and yellow invertebrates in sunlit ocean water that is pale green.Giant kelp plants angle from right to left in the background. Photo by Patrick Webster.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 19/06/2025

Many thanks to the members of California’s congressional delegation and to California’s Governor who stood up for the health of the ocean and California’s future with their opposition to expanded offshore oil and gas leasing along our coast. #ActForTheOcean #FossilFuels #OuterContinentalShelf

From left to right, a blue ocean wave covered with yellow-white foam crashes toward brown rocks at bottom right. The sky above is blue and the wave trails white spindrift as it rolls toward shore.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 27/05/2025

@mbarinews.bsky.social celebrates her life and accomplishments in the work carried out on our coastal research ship, the R/V Rachel Carson. www.mbari.org/our-work/shi... #SilentSpring #WomenInScience #OceanConservation #OceanInspiration

In a photo showing scenes above and below the ocean's surface, the R/V Rachel Carson floats in the background against a blue sky filled with clouds. In the foreground, a scuba diver works underwater with a yellow-colored remotely operated vehicle. Photo courtesy MBARI

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 27/05/2025

Today is the birthday of Rachel Carson, a personal hero and one of the most important conservation voices of the 20th century. Her talent as a writer and researcher drew attention to the wonders of ocean life and alerted the world to the ecological dangers of indiscriminate use of toxic pesticides.

In a black-and-white photo, a dark-haired, short-haired white woman stands at right with a fishing net hanging behind her. She wears a white blouse and holds a pair of binoculars as she looks to the left. In the background is a calm body of water, a dock, and a shoreline with trees and a building.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 29/04/2025

We have a big win to celebrate! Thanks to California's bold leadership in enacting #SB54, we can say goodbye to plastic foam takeout food containers. The statewide ban took effect because producers didn't reach a 25 percent recycling rate by Jan. 1. #PlasticPollution #ActOnPlastic #CircularEconomy

Two golden-brown waffles and two clear plastic containers of syrup sit inside a white polystyrene foam take-out container. They rest on the lap of a person holding the container in the front seat of a car. A black steering wheel is in the background. Photo by David Tran under a creative commons license, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 28/04/2025

My mother, Lucile Packard, was a lifelong volunteer. (When I was growing up, I thought she had a full-time job, she spent SO much time volunteering in the Santa Clara Valley.) She was the driving force behind creation of the @montereybayaquarium.org's incredible volunteer program. #volunteers

Black and white photo of a man and woman, David and Lucile Packard, sitting on the hearth in front of a flagstone fireplace. The man is on the left wearing a dark suit and tie; the woman is on the right and wears a plain button-up dress.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 22/04/2025

While the current administration works overtime to undermine environmental protections achieved over the past half-century and more, we remain undeterred. These attacks only reinforce the urgency of our mission — and the importance of collective action. www.montereybayaquarium.org/stories/eart...

In as photo showing a view both below and above the ocean surface, g
Golden fronds of giant kelp float underwater in the foreground against a backdrop of green ocean water. Monterey Bay
Aquarium is seen in the background.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 22/04/2025

I’m so proud of all the ways the @montereybayaquarium.org team is moving forward and helping shape that future for our beautiful ocean planet. We're grateful for the policy initiatives and progress that have brought us so far — and filled hope for all we can continue to accomplish. #EarthDay2025

The blue ball of Earth, covered in ocean and with white clouds swirling above the surface, floats against a black background. Photo courtesy NASA.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 22/04/2025

On #EarthDay2025, join @montereybayaquarium.org and take a stand for our planet’s future. Please urge Congress to defend foundational environmental protections, stand up for science, and protect vital federal services. www.montereybayaquarium.org/stories/eart... #ActForTheOcean #EarthMonth2025

Three people in silhouette stand at sunset with their hands and arms raised in the air. The sky behind them is golden-orange and the ocean surface is dark.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 25/03/2025

The #IMLS has always received strong bipartisan support, yet now the Trump Administration seeks to eliminate it and drastically reduce the vital functions it provides. We proudly join museums and libraries across this country in calling on members of Congress to intervene and sustain the IMLS.

A brown-haired, brown-skinned mother and daughter look with fascination at a clear cylinder containing small moon jellies. The cylinder is held by a young woman with brown-blonde hair and pale skin.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 25/02/2025

Protecting the ocean has always been a bipartisan effort, in Congress and across multiple White House administrations. In the face of ill-conceived attacks on @noaa.gov, it's time to raise our voices. My thoughts in defense of NOAA and #OceanScience: mbayaq.co/4k8vEsx

A wave curls and crashes from left to right as it swells toward the shoreline in Monterey Bay. the water is blue and the foaming wave front is white.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 15/01/2025

After 40 years as executive director, it's time for me to pass the torch to a new leader who will chart @montereyaq.bsky.social's course in the decades to come. Once we find a successor, I'll transition to a new leadership role on the board of trustees. www.montereybayaquarium.org/newsroom/pre...

Julie Packard, a smiling woman with long white hair and pale skin, stands on the back deck of Monterey Bay Aquarium with grey buildings and blue ocean in the background. She's wearing a blue-grey jacket and blue scarf.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 14/01/2025

You can keep up on the latest when you sign up for the @montereyaq.bsky.social quarterly #OceanAction enewsletter here: www.montereybayaquarium.org/about-us/sub... #ActForTheOcean #enewsletter #OceanConservation

A brown sea otter pup lies on its mother's belly as both float amid a golden kelp canopy in the bluish-gray waters of Monterey Bay.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 09/01/2025

Kudos to the NCEAS team for this important work and to the people of California whose wisdom shaped an MPA network that preserves ocean resources for people and nature. #MPAs #MarineProtectedAreas #CoastalEcosystems #MarineLife #ScienceBasedManagement #California #OceanBiodiversity #Fisheries

A rock covered with colorful invertebrates, including orange sponges and sea stars, and red anemones, stands in the foreground. Yellow-brown giant kelp towers in the background, backlit by blue water.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 09/01/2025

Is California’s network of science-based marine protected areas (MPAs) effective at conserving marine fish populations? The answer is a resounding yes, according to a new study from the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS). conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

A school of blue rockfish swim in the Kelp Forest exhibit at Monterey Bay Aquarium. Their gray and white patterned scales stand out in stark contrast against the darker golden brown blades of the kelp.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 06/01/2025

Here's the @montereyaq.bsky.social statement about the decision: www.montereybayaquarium.org/newsroom/pre... #OffshoreEnergy #CoastalProtection #ActForTheOcean

A pelican flies right to left, with its wings uplifted against a background of golden ocean waters tinted by the sunset.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 30/12/2024

And California moved closer to implementing #SB54, which holds plastic producers responsible for their products throughout their lifecycle. This marks California as a global leader in addressing the #PlasticPollution crisis: www.montereybayaquarium.org/newsroom/pre...

A sculpture by artist Benjamin Von Wong depicts a water tap pouring out a stream of plastic debris, which spreads like a puddle on the ground. The plastic is blue, the background is of trees, buildings, and sky at twilight. The tap floats in the air.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 30/12/2024

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a national strategy to address the #PlasticPollution crisis at all stages, from production through its impacts on communities, human health, ecosystems, and wildlife: www.montereybayaquarium.org/newsroom/pre...

A mix of plastic debris and wave-tossed kelp sits on a white-sand beach in California.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 30/12/2024

@montereyaq.bsky.social had good news to share, too. Our 30+ years of work to recover Pacific bluefin tuna saw positive results as a rapid population rebound continued: www.montereybayaquarium.org/stories/paci... #Fisheries #FisheriesManagement #SustainableSeafood

A school of dark silvery Pacific bluefin tuna swims against a background of dark bluish-green water.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 19/12/2024

@montereyaq.bsky.social and a large coalition worked hard to enact SB 54 in California in 2022, holding producers responsible for managing plastic waste. The state is now finalizing the rules to make the law a reality. This is a moment to celebrate. www.montereybayaquarium.org/newsroom/pre...

Red, orange, yellow, green, and white pieces of plastic debris are scattered amid a mass of dry brown kelp on a white-sand beach.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 21/11/2024

Huge thanks to President Biden and the EPA for their new National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution. It’s a bold step to address the plastic pollution crisis, from production to the harm it causes for communities, ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. mbayaq.co/3YZHN9l #ActOnPlastic

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 20/09/2024

🌊Ready to make some waves?🌊 Voter registration deadlines are coming up! Register, check your registration status, and pledge to vote at VoteForTheOcean. org mbayaq.co/3MKQtL8

A crashing wave curls across the picture from left to right.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 24/07/2024

At @montereyaq.bsky.social, we're cutting our own emissions and supporting #NatureBasedSolutions in California and beyond -- including harnessing the power of sea otters. We know what to do. It's time to act. #OceanClimateAction #ActOnClimate www.montereybayaquarium.org/stories/thre...

Sea otter mom and pup float in a California kelp forest. Otters are dark brown with wet fur. Floating kelp is golden-brown on grey-blue water.

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 24/07/2024

This week, our planet experienced the hottest day in recorded human history. The #ClimateCrisis is here and it's imperative that we #ActOnClimate now -- for ourselves and for the future of our children and grandchildren. The ocean is central to everything we do. #OceanClimateAction

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Julie Packard @juliepackard.montereybayaquarium.org · 04/06/2024

Plastic pollution threatens the health of the ocean and people everywhere. The team at @montereyaq.bsky.social is working hard to advance a strong #GlobalPlasticTreaty. The latest negotiations put us on the right path: www.montereybayaquarium.org/stories/path... #BridgeToBusan #ActOnPlastic

A pile of plastic bottles and other trash sits in a pile on a beach covered with pale, round, white rocks. There is blue water, blue sky, rocky shoreline outcrops, and a rocky island in the distance.

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