Face to Face With Sharks at the New Seattle Aquarium
The first thing I noticed was the crisp, salty air and the hushed lap of water just beyond the glass. Neon blue light shimmered on my shoes, hinting at the world below, while silhouettes drifted silently in the depths. Suddenly, I stood face-to-face with the sharks at the new Seattle Aquarium.
This Fall, my fiancé and I visited the new Seattle Aquarium. I’d been to the old aquarium many times, which remains open and is connected to the new one. So I already knew all about the Salish Sea and its creatures—the inland sea around Seattle and much of western Washington, also called Puget Sound. The aquarium is a top Seattle attraction, and you can walk a few blocks to other famous spots, like the first Starbucks, Pike Place Market, and popular restaurants. The old aquarium features the iconic cold-water wildlife of the Pacific Northwest: sea otters, harbor seals, octopus, and endemic fish.
In contrast to the old exhibits, the new tropical ocean pavilion takes you to the other side of the world. Here, you can see creatures you've only encountered on the BBC’s Blue Planet.
The ocean pavilion features a 500,000-gallon tank with a living tropical reef and a viewing window that immerses you in the ecosystem. The new aquarium houses two of the most endangered sharks alive today: the Indo-Pacific leopard shark and the Bowmouth Guitarfish (a type of shark). The Indo-Pacific leopard shark is listed as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List due to overfishing and habitat loss. The Bowmouth Guitarfish is on the brink of extinction and classified as "Critically Endangered." It is believed to number only a few thousand worldwide. Up close, the leopard shark moves with the grace of the big cat for which it's named, while the rare Bowmouth Guitarfish, shaped like the instrument, is striking to see. Both species face constant threats from overfishing and habitat loss. The Seattle Aquarium supports a breeding program to help them survive and to study their life cycles and habitat needs. The world's rarest sharks are just one reason to visit the new Seattle Aquarium, with many more discoveries waiting as you explore.
By Evan Marshall
Photos by Evan Marshall
