Tropical Gulf Stream travelers take center stage at Save The Bay???s Exploration Center and Aquarium this month??
NEWPORT, R.I. ??? Aug. 2, 2018 – Tropical fish are swimming into both Narragansett Bay and Save The Bay???s Exploration Center and Aquarium this August. During Tropical Travelers month, visitors to the hands-on center can observe and learn about the warm-climate fish that travel into Narragansett Bay.
The summertime influx of warm water currents from the Gulf Stream has recently begun to carry millions of eggs and tropical fish up the Atlantic coast, only to leave the creatures stranded in a mismatched climate when the seasons change and the waters cool. Save The Bay shelters some of these Gulf Stream orphans???among them the newly-acquired barrel fish???at the Exploration Center and Aquarium, ensuring they survive our cold winters and giving the community an opportunity to see first-hand how climate change is impacting the biodiversity of Narragansett Bay.
During the month of August, plenty of Tropical Traveler-themed sights and activities will entertain both young and adult guests???from a story hour, craft project and scavenger hunt to the fascinating ???Bay of the Future??? exhibit, which offers a glimpse into how the Narragansett Bay habitat may change over time as rising water temperatures attract more tropical species to the area.
While at the Exploration Center and Aquarium, visitors will also be introduced to a variety of exciting new arrivals, including a collection of seahorses and their distant relative, the blue coronet fish; green file fish; and an extremely rare (one in 30 million) calico lobster. Curiosity and questions about these, and all Bay species, are welcomed and encouraged by the center???s staff of marine biologists, environmental scientists and student interns.
To get a better view of Narragansett Bay creatures in action, Bay lovers won???t want to miss this month???s Feeding Frenzy at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 16. This exciting after-hours event allows guests to get involved with the aquarium creatures??? favorite time of day: feeding time. Buy your $10 tickets ($8 for members) at www.savebay.org/feedingfrenzy and come see what all the splashing is about!
The Exploration Center and Aquarium is located in the Easton???s Beach Rotunda at 175 Memorial Blvd. in Newport, Rhode Island. The center is open daily 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Memorial Day-Labor Day. General admission is $8, and $7 for military and senior citizens. Save The Bay Family Members can enjoy FREE admission for two adults and up to four children.
For more information about the Exploration Center and Aquarium, visit savebay.org/aquarium or call 401-324-6020. The Exploration Center and Aquarium is supported, in part, by Corvias Solutions.
Founded in 1970, Save The Bay works to protect and improve Narragansett Bay and its watershed through advocacy, education, and restoration efforts. It envisions a fully swimable, fishable, healthy Narragansett Bay, accessible to everyone and globally recognized as an environmental treasure.??