New exhibits await visitors; Jellies, Sharks continue; Aquarium Adventures return.

The aquarium that �routinely makes history�* is at it again. A dramatic transformation of the Monterey Bay Aquarium's original exhibit galleries awaits visitors in 2005 when The Ocean's Edge: Coastal Habitats of Monterey Bay opens over Memorial Day weekend (May 28). Ocean's Edge will reintroduce visitors to the coastal habitats of California's central coast with a walk-through wave crash, improved touch pools and other experiences that incorporate hands-on approaches and important conservation themes in engaging and exciting ways.

It's one of many highlights in 2005. The Sharks: Myth and Mystery special exhibition will continue to fascinate and inform with its global vision and displays of living sharks and rays from around the world. The aquarium has extended its award-winning Jellies: Living Art special exhibition until fall 2006, and will again offer a summer lineup of Aquarium Adventures programs, including behind-the-scenes tours, �Science Under Sail�excursions and children's SCUBA diving in the Great Tide Pool.

Visitors can also come just inches away from the only white shark on long-term exhibit anywhere in the world. Since the young white shark arrived in the million-gallon Outer Bay exhibit in September 2004, she has awed and entranced thousands of visitors with her grace and power. Through this and other face-to-face encounters with ocean wildlife, the aquariumworks to inspire visitors to become ocean stewards who see the link between ocean conservation and human survival.

�The Ocean's Edge exhibits will connect visitors to ocean life, and protection of the world's oceans, as never before,� said aquarium Executive Director Julie Packard. �They build on our best exhibits from the original aquarium, adding new stories and engaging activities to keep them fresh for a new generation.�Signature exhibits like the three-story living Kelp Forest are the gateway to the new Ocean's Edge galleries. The Monterey Bay Habitats exhibit is home to an impressive variety of sharks and schooling fishes. Touch pools, a walk-through aviary and intimate �jewel case� exhibits will continue to invite a closer look at marine life found along the Central Coast. But visitors to Ocean's Edge will find significant and exciting changes, including a walk-through wave crash experience in the Rocky Shore gallery, a significantly larger aviary, improvements to the touch pools and the bat ray pool, and more hands-on activities than ever before.

The changes reflect 20 years of experience in developing innovative and effective marine life exhibits exhibits that earned the aquarium recognition as the best in the nation in the 2004 Zagat Survey� U.S. Family Travel Guide.High-definition video will introduce each living habitat area in the Ocean's Edge. Every gallery will celebrate not just marine life but the human connection with nature, and solutions people arefinding to preserve the marine environment. Throughout Ocean's Edge, visitors will discover ways to get personally involved in protecting the oceans for the future.

Highlights include a new and larger gallery devoted to giant Pacific octopus; aviary and wetlands exhibits integrated into an expanded Coastal Wetlands and Sandy Shores gallery; new displays for Sandy Shore and Shale Reef animals; and a Living Wharf gallery that will tell the story of the seafood we eat - especially how individual seafood choices can preserve both ocean wildlife and healthy fishing communities.

The Ocean's Edge galleries complete a re-creation of the original aquarium. They follow major renovations completed in 2004 to the aquarium's main entry and ticketing lobby, and completion of new exhibits interpreting the historic Hovden Cannery that once occupied the site.Elsewhere, the popular Sharks: Myth and Mystery features nearly two dozen living species and the rich cultural traditions they have inspired around the world. Sharks is home to some of the largest live-animal displays ever created for a special exhibition at the aquarium, and features zebra sharks, scalloped hammerhead sharks, Southernstingrays, freshwater rays, catsharks and many other species of sharks and rays.

Visitors can get closer at a touch pool with shark and ray pups, try on replica shark totem masks, and make shark-related crafts in a family activity room. The aquarium has extended its award-winning Jellies: Living Art special exhibition until fall 2006. Jellies, which has been honored by the American Association of Museums as well as the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, has captivated millions of visitors since it opened as it celebrates the beauty of living jellies.Visitors praise the unique blend of beautiful live exhibits and intriguing art, which includes a large installation by renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly. Live animals include the rare flower hat jelly and blue jelly, as well as species like the upside-down jelly, spotted jelly and black sea nettle. One highlight is a walk-through �tunnel� that surrounds visitors with hundreds of swarming moon jellies.

Exciting Aquarium Adventures programs return in late May. Families can select from a variety of more - fun and educational activities, including the popular �Underwater Explorers� modified SCUBA sessions in the Great Tide Pool for kids ages 8 to 13; behind-the-scenes tours, �Science Under Sail� excursions on a 65-foot research sailboat; historic Cannery Row walking tours and more.The aquarium, acclaimed as the finest in the United States and one of the great aquariums of the world, opened to the public on October 20, 1984. It has attracted more than 36 million visitors, and has won national awards for its permanent and special exhibitions, its architecture, and for its cultural, educational and economic impact.In addition to the new Ocean's Edge galleries, the aquarium's permanent exhibits include playful sea otters; a towering three-story kelpforest; touch pools and other hands-on exhibits; and the award-winning Splash Zone family gallery. There are daily feeding shows in the Kelp Forest and sea otter exhibits, as well as daily auditorium programs about sharks, and live video broadcasts from deep-sea exploration in Monterey Bay.

All exhibits and programs except Aquarium Adventures are included with aquarium admission of $19.95 adult; $17.95 senior (65+), youth and student (full-time college, with I.D.); and $10.95 children 3-12 and the disabled. Children under 3 are admitted free of charge. (NOTE: RATES TAKE EFFECT ON JANUARY 1, 2005.)

Discounted military tickets can be purchased at California and Nevada bases.The aquarium is located on historic Cannery Row in Monterey. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and in summer and major holiday periods from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed Christmas Day). More information is available online at www.montereybayaquarium.org; or by calling (831) 648-4888. Advance tickets can be purchased online; by phone from the aquarium at 1-800-756-3737; and all Northern California Tickets.com outlets or by phone at (408) 998-2277. For information about or to register for Aquarium Adventures programs call toll free (866) 963-9646, or (831) 647-6886.Seasonal specials, details about special events and programs, family activities and live web cams can all be found online at www.montereybayaquarium.org. The mission of the Monterey Bay Aquarium is to inspire conservation of the oceans.

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Press Contact: Ken Peterson kpeterson@mbayaq.org Ph: +1 831-648-4922

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