Temporarily safe haven for vulnerable fish from El Niño discovered at Birch Aquarium, Scripps Institute
Nestled on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the Birch Aquarium at Scripps is not just an interactive museum showcasing research discoveries in climate, earth, and ocean science, but also a vital hub for conservation efforts.
Currently, the aquarium is temporarily housing 300 endangered Southern California Tidewater Goby, a small fish native to the coastal lagoons and estuaries of California, rarely exceeding two inches. These fish, scientifically known as Eucyclogobius newberryi, are endangered and require a slow moving mix of fresh and salt water.
El Niño storms pose a potential threat to the habitat of the Tidewater Goby, and researchers at UCLA have expressed concern about their impact. To safeguard these fish, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton completed an emergency action plan to evacuate some of the Tidewater Goby population. Nearly 300 Tidewater Gobies were collected at multiple locations at Camp Pendleton by biologists from these organisations.
The Tidewater Gobies are being kept in 12 large tanks at Birch Aquarium, separated into two different populations. The fish are doing well in the sandy-bottomed tanks and eating brine shrimp. Some of the endangered fish may be pregnant, and if they successfully breed, the juveniles will be returned to the wild.
The aquarium's conservation efforts for the Tidewater Goby are led by Birch Aquarium as part of their mission to protect the planet and the ocean for future generations. They have established captive breeding programs to help bolster the population of Tidewater Gobies, participating in scientific research to better understand the species' biology and responses to environmental stressors such as El Niño storms.
Birch Aquarium also educates visitors and the public about the ecological importance of the Tidewater Goby and the threats it faces. Visitors can see the fish in the aquarium's nursery, located in the Hall of Fishes, and learn more about how they can help save threatened and endangered ocean animals on Endangered Species Day on May 20.
The public can also visit the aquarium's other exhibits, which feature over 60 habitats of fishes and invertebrates from the Pacific Northwest to the western Pacific. The aquarium is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and has an annual attendance of over 400,000, including 40,000 school children.
By providing a safe haven for the Tidewater Goby during El Niño storms, the Birch Aquarium at Scripps is playing a significant role in the conservation of this endangered species. Their multifaceted conservation efforts contribute to mitigating the impacts of these storms and aiding the species’ recovery.
