The Aquarium of the Pacific reopened to the public on Sunday, June 14, allowing a reduced number of guests to enjoy its latest addition: a reimagined Tropical Pacific Gallery featuring new exhibits that explore coral reefs and the important role they play in the ecosystem.
The gallery, Coral Reefs: Nature’s Underwater Cities, explores the many coral reefs across the globe and the biodiversity they support, the threats they face, and what visitors can do to help save them.
The aquarium’s newest residents — a green sea turtle, flashlight fish and the seabird Animal Ambassador, Sula the red-footed booby — were eager to show themselves off to visitors.
Micah Stowell, 7, and Lilah Stowell, 3, watch the exhibit at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach as the aquarium reopens after being shut for weeks because of Covid-19 on Saturday, June 13, 2020. The Aquarium reopened on Friday June 12th and Saturday June 13th for member preview days and for the rest of the public on Sunday June 14th while they keep special safety measures in place by limiting the number of visitors, requiring reservations, face masks and temperature checks. (Photo by Ana P. Garcia, Contributing Photographer)
Head of security Roger Rees takes a temperature check for people to enter the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach as the aquarium reopens after being shut for weeks because of Covid-19 on Saturday, June 13, 2020. The Aquarium reopened on Friday June 12th and Saturday June 13th for member preview days and for the rest of the public on Sunday June 14th while they keep special safety measures in place by limiting the number of visitors, requiring reservations, face masks and temperature checks. (Photo by Ana P. Garcia, Contributing Photographer)
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The gallery will resume inseconds
Micah Stowell, 7, and Lilah Stowell, 3, and their parents Adina Stowell and Josh Stowell watch the exhibit at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach as the aquarium reopens after being shut for weeks because of Covid-19 on Saturday, June 13, 2020. The Aquarium reopened on Friday June 12th and Saturday June 13th for member preview days and for the rest of the public on Sunday June 14th while they keep special safety measures in place by limiting the number of visitors, requiring reservations, face masks and temperature checks. (Photo by Ana P. Garcia, Contributing Photographer)
Olivia Kuri, 7, and Ethan Kuri, 6, take a temperature check to enter the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach as the aquarium reopens after being shut for weeks because of Covid-19 on Saturday, June 13, 2020. The Aquarium reopened on Friday June 12th and Saturday June 13th for member preview days and for the rest of the public on Sunday June 14th while they keep special safety measures in place by limiting the number of visitors, requiring reservations, face masks and temperature checks. (Photo by Ana P. Garcia, Contributing Photographer)
People line up on each marker to keep social distance as they wait to take a temperature check to enter the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach as the aquarium reopens after being shut for weeks because of Covid-19 on Saturday, June 13, 2020 . The Aquarium reopened on Friday June 12th and Saturday June 13th for member preview days and for the rest of the public on Sunday June 14th while they keep special safety measures in place by limiting the number of visitors, requiring reservations, face masks and temperature checks. (Photo by Ana P. Garcia, Contributing Photographer)
Micah Stowell, 7, points out frogs as he and his family watch the exhibit at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach as the aquarium reopens after being shut for weeks because of Covid-19 on Saturday, June 13, 2020. The Aquarium reopened on Friday June 12th and Saturday June 13th for member preview days and for the rest of the public on Sunday June 14th while they keep special safety measures in place by limiting the number of visitors, requiring reservations, face masks and temperature checks. (Photo by Ana P. Garcia, Contributing Photographer)
People line up on each marker to keep social distance as they wait to take a temperature check to enter the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach as the aquarium reopens after being shut for weeks because of Covid-19 on Saturday, June 13, 2020 . The Aquarium reopened on Friday June 12th and Saturday June 13th for member preview days and for the rest of the public on Sunday June 14th while they keep special safety measures in place by limiting the number of visitors, requiring reservations, face masks and temperature checks. (Photo by Ana P. Garcia, Contributing Photographer)
A family watch the exhibit at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach as the aquarium reopens after being shut for weeks because of Covid-19 on Saturday, June 13, 2020. The Aquarium reopened on Friday June 12th and Saturday June 13th for member preview days and for the rest of the public on Sunday June 14th while they keep special safety measures in place by limiting the number of visitors, requiring reservations, face masks and temperature checks. (Photo by Ana P. Garcia, Contributing Photographer)
A man takes a temperature check to enter the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach as the aquarium reopens after being shut for weeks because of Covid-19 on Saturday, June 13, 2020 . The Aquarium reopened on Friday June 12th and Saturday June 13th for member preview days and for the rest of the public on Sunday June 14th while they keep special safety measures in place by limiting the number of visitors, requiring reservations, face masks and temperature checks. (Photo by Ana P. Garcia, Contributing Photographer)
Lilah Stowell, 3, takes a temperature check to enter the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach as the aquarium reopens after being shut for weeks because of Covid-19 on Saturday, June 13, 2020 . The Aquarium reopened on Friday June 12th and Saturday June 13th for member preview days and for the rest of the public on Sunday June 14th while they keep special safety measures in place by limiting the number of visitors, requiring reservations, face masks and temperature checks. (Photo by Ana P. Garcia, Contributing Photographer)
A family takes a temperature check to enter the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach as the aquarium reopens after being shut for weeks because of Covid-19 on Saturday, June 13, 2020 . The Aquarium reopened on Friday June 12th and Saturday June 13th for member preview days and for the rest of the public on Sunday June 14th while they keep special safety measures in place by limiting the number of visitors, requiring reservations, face masks and temperature checks. (Photo by Ana P. Garcia, Contributing Photographer)
Brody Lacey, 2, takes a temperature check to enter the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach as the aquarium reopens after being shut for weeks because of Covid-19 on Saturday, June 13, 2020. The Aquarium reopened on Friday June 12th and Saturday June 13th for member preview days and for the rest of the public on Sunday June 14th while they keep special safety measures in place by limiting the number of visitors, requiring reservations, face masks and temperature checks. (Photo by Ana P. Garcia, Contributing Photographer)
A woman checks-in at a distance at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach as the aquarium reopens after being shut for weeks because of Covid-19 on Saturday, June 13, 2020. The Aquarium reopened on Friday June 12th and Saturday June 13th for member preview days and for the rest of the public on Sunday June 14th while they keep special safety measures in place by limiting the number of visitors, requiring reservations, face masks and temperature checks. (Photo by Ana P. Garcia, Contributing Photographer)
The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach reopens after being shut for weeks because of Covid-19 on Saturday, June 13, 2020. The Aquarium reopened on Friday June 12th and Saturday June 13th for member preview days and for the rest of the public on Sunday June 14th while they keep special safety measures in place by limiting the number of visitors, requiring reservations, face masks and temperature checks. (Photo by Ana P. Garcia, Contributing Photographer)
David Macias, Sophia Macias, 2, and Tracie Sakahara watch the exhibit at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach as the aquarium reopens after being shut for weeks because of Covid-19 on Saturday, June 13, 2020. The Aquarium reopened on Friday June 12th and Saturday June 13th for member preview days and for the rest of the public on Sunday June 14th while they keep special safety measures in place by limiting the number of visitors, requiring reservations, face masks and temperature checks. (Photo by Ana P. Garcia, Contributing Photographer)
People walk by a Covid-19 safety sigh at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach as the aquarium reopens after being shut for weeks because of Covid-19 on Saturday, June 13, 2020. The Aquarium reopened on Friday June 12th and Saturday June 13th for member preview days and for the rest of the public on Sunday June 14th while they keep special safety measures in place by limiting the number of visitors, requiring reservations, face masks and temperature checks. (Photo by Ana P. Garcia, Contributing Photographer)
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“You’ll find many of these new coral reef animals in our newly renovated, Aquarium Vice President of Husbandry Sandy Trautwein said during a Friday press conference. “As you explore you’ll not only witness the incredible diversity and beauty of the animals living on coral reefs, but you’ll learn about the importance of these critical ecosystems.”
New safety guidelines were implemented to ensure the safety of visitors, which include requiring face masks, practicing social distancing and limiting party sizes to six people. Visitors will also have their temperatures checked upon arrival. Information: aquariumofpacific.org.
