Monterey Bay Aquarium to reopen, and it otter be good
The iconic Monterey Bay Aquarium is set to reopen in May after being closed for more than a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But will the sea critters notice?
“For a lot of our animals — say, the sponges and sea urchins — it is very hard to tell,” said Julie Packard, the aquarium’s executive director. “But for sure, the sea otters absolutely love to have human interaction . ... I’m sure it’ll be enriching for them to have all those people back in the building.”
The aquarium on Monterey’s Cannery Row will reopen to members May 1, then to the public May 15.
The facility is able to open — at 25% capacity — because of declining numbers of new coronavirus cases and rising vaccinations in
Monterey County, which earlier this month moved out of the most restrictive, purple, tier of the state’s four-phase reopening plan.
The aquarium shut down March 13, 2020. A grand reopening was planned for last July 9, but it was scrapped a few days beforehand as the pandemic continued. In the end, the aquarium — an international tourist destination and pillar of the Central Coast economy that typically draws 2 million visitors a year — did not reopen for a single day.
“There has been much anticipation for the reopening of the beloved Monterey Bay Aquarium from both visitors and the community, and its opening is an important step in Monterey County’s economic recovery,” Rob O’Keefe, chief executive of the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said in an email. “The aquarium has always been an asset for our destination both nationally and globally, and plays an important part in our multiyear tourism recovery plan.”
Since its closure, the aquarium has lost $55 million in revenue, it said. Although it offset some losses through reductions in operating expenses, layoffs, pay cuts and donations, it had to spend $1.3 million every week to care for more than 81,000 animals and maintain the facility.
The aquarium laid off or furloughed 40% of its prepandemic staff of around 580 people, including a round of job cuts in January. Because the nonprofit had more than 500 employees last year, it did not qualify for a forgivable aid loan through the federal Paycheck Protection Program, Packard said.
“We are extremely excited about being able to reopen . ... It’s just not right to have the aquarium be empty. It’s there to be full of people,” Packard said.
Admission for members and the general public will be by advance registration through the aquarium’s website. Member reservations from May 1 through June 30 will become available at 9 a.m. on April 26. General admission tickets for May 15 through June 30 will be available at 9 a.m. on May 5.
The facility will have timed entries and one-way paths; guests will be required to wear face masks and confirm twice that they are showing no symptoms of COVID-19.