In Focus: As National Aquarium turns 40, a look back at its conservation journey

In Focus: As National Aquarium turns 40, a look back at its conservation journey

THIS WEEK ONE OF TRUE STAPLE-INSTITUTIONS OF BALTIMORE'SINNER HARBOR, IS CELEBRANGTI ABIG BIRTHDAY.

THE NATIONALAQUARIUM OPENED IN AUGUST OF198- 1*40 YEARS AGO.

TODAYWMAR-2 NEWS IS GOING IN FOCUS- FOR A LOOK AT WHAT HASCHANGED AT THE AQUARIUM IN THEPAST 40 YEARS, AND ATOWHEXPECT FOR THE NEXT 40...IT WAS NEVER*JUST A TOURISTATTRACTION - BUT WHEN ITOPENED IN 1981, THE NATIONALAQUARIUM*WAS A KEY ELEMENT OFTHE INNER HARBOR'STRANFORMATION - INTO A PLACETOURISTS MIGHT ACTUALLY WTANTO VISIT.

HERE, THEY WOULD GETFACE-TO-FACE EXPERIENCES WITHNATURE, AND LESSONS ON WHAT TMEANS TO PROTECT IT.

THOSEEXPERIENCES MOVED LAURA BANKEYA*LOT MORE IN THAT DIRECTION.SHE'S FROM ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTYAND*VISITED THE NATIONALAQUARIUM MANY TIMES GROWINGUP.

NOW, SHE IS THE HD EAITS CONSERVATION PROGRAMS.MUCH HAS CHANGED OVER THECOURSE OF FOUR DECADES... ANANIMAL RESCUE PROGRAM WASADDED IN 1991..

AND NOW MORETHAN 300 AQUATIC ANIMALS HAVEBEEN RESCUED, TREATED AT THEAQUARIUM'S FACILITIES - ANDRELEASED BACK INTO THE WILD.THE MARINE MAMMAL PAVAILLIONWAS ADDED IN 1991 - ALONG WITHTHE DOLPHIN SHOW..

WHICHAS WTHEN ENDED IN 2012..

THEEFFORT TO FIND A NEW HOME FORTHE DOLPHINS HAS TAKEN LONGERTHAN EXPECTED, BECAUSE OF THEEFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ONSOME POTENTIAL LOCATIONS - ANDTHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, LASTYEAR.

BUT ALL THE WHILE - WORKON*CONSERVATION CONTINUED..IN FACT IN 1999 THE*PUBLICWAS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE,THAT WORK.

AND THE SCOPECONTINUES TO GET WIDER..*THIS, IS A 400 SQUARE FOOTFLOATING ISLAND, IN THE IERNNHARBOR NEAR THE AQUARIUM..

INFACT ON OUR VISIT IT TOOKAQUARIUM STAFF ABOUT 30SECONDS TO FIND DOZENS OF FISHAND EELS LIVING IN AND ARNDOUTHE ISLAND.

AND THAT'S JUSTTHE A PROTOTYPE.

THEY'RE STILLDOING RESEARCH ON THE MOSTEFFECTIVE WAYS TO MANAGE IT,WITH AN EYE ON*MUCH LARRINSTALLATIONS IN THE FUTURE.WORK BEING DONE BEYOND THEWALLS OF THE AQUARIUM ONPROBLEMS THAT THREATEN AQUATICWILDLIFE IN THE INNER HARBOR,THE WIDER CHEAPEAKE BAY - ANDAROUND THE WORLD..

AND IFTHERE HAPPEN TO BE A FEWTOURISTS OVER THE NEXT 40YEARS.... WELL THAT'S O-K O.OFFICIALS WITH THE AQUARIUMWILL BE MEETING WITH STAT