Maritime Aquarium
Maritime Aquarium kids cruise 9-21-16

Darien Students Eligible for Environmental Education Program at Maritime Aquarium

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Nearly 2,000 students from 10 Fairfield County towns will explore how severe storms, erosion and other environmental hazards threaten their communities — and also how they can participate in lessening the effects — thanks to a three-year, $484,955 federal grant to The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. ______________

— an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium

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The grant, from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the U.S. Department of Commerce, is the largest federal award received in The Maritime Aquarium’s 28 years. It will fund an initiative called “Sound Resilience – Get On Board!” Over the next three years, The Maritime Aquarium will use the grant to involve as many as 1,875 middle- and high-school students in Greenwich, Stamford, New Canaan, Darien, Norwalk, Westport, Wilton, Weston, Fairfield and Bridgeport. Education and research will occur in school classrooms and also aboard the Aquarium’s hybrid-electric research vessel, R/V Spirit of the Sound™. In addition, professional-development workshops will benefit more than 150 teachers from those towns.

Animals
Humpback Whale Whit Welles 7-28-16

Whales Have Returned to Western Long Island Sound: What to Do If You See One

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This Maritime Aquarium blog post from Tuesday has some interesting information and advice about the whales that have returned to the Fairfield County coast:

Whales are making an appearance in Long Island Sound for the second summer in a row! One has even made an appearance at the Aquarium’s hometown in Norwalk. They’ve also been seen recently near Greenwich, Darien, and New Rochelle. We believe that the unusually high numbers of menhaden (or as you may call them, bunker) are a tempting treat luring the humpbacks into the Sound. If these are the two whales that appeared in the Sound last year, they may remember that this is a plentiful place to eat, and could be adapting their migration route.

Maritime Aquarium
Long Island Sound scene 7-28-16

Cruise Long Island Sound on Maritime Aquarium’s Boat Today, Maybe See a Whale

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With whales being sited at this end of Long Island Sound, you may see one on a Maritime Aquarium cruise — and they’ve scheduled an extra one for today at 3:30 p.m.

Today’s “scenic coastal cruise” isn’t specifically for catching sight of a cetacean — it’s simply to enjoy being on the water. But you might see a whale. Here’s the aquarium’s announcement about the cruise:

It’s perfect weather for a boat ride, so come out with us on the R/V Spirit of the Sound to take in sights along the beautiful Connecticut coastline and … if we are very lucky … get a look at one of the humpback whales recently seen in western Long Island Sound.

Animals
Sunset Maritime Aquarium 6-5-16

Book Cruise Trips in June on the Maritime Aquarium’s New Research Vessel

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Venture out onto Long Island Sound in June to meet marine animals, or see lighthouses, sunsets and even fireworks, during public cruises with The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. _______________

— an announcement from The Maritime Aquarium

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These cruises are available in June aboard The Maritime Aquarium’s R/V Spirit of the Sound, the only research vessel in the country with quiet “green” hybrid-electric propulsion:

 

• Marine Life Study Cruises — Examine fish, crabs, mollusks and other creatures brought up out of the Sound right before your eyes during these memorable 2.5-hour cruises. Participants also help find crabs, worms and other animals hidden in the muddy bottom, and view plankton using a videomicroscope linked to the boat’s giant-screen monitor. “Marine Life Study Cruises” will occur most Saturdays & Sundays through June 19, and then run daily June 25 through Labor Day. Most cruises depart at 1 p.m., but some outings at 10 a.m. and 2 and 4 p.m. will occur.