Tiny orange fish with white stripes dart between the waving tentacles of a stinging anemone. Kids in the Aquarium’s Splash Zone galleries don’t pay much attention to the sign identifying them as clown anemonefish — they already know them by a different name. “Nemo!”
Thirteen years after the release of Finding Nemo, the lovable fish is back on the big screen. But the star of Finding Dory, the long-awaited sequel, is the forgetful blue tang who sets off to find her long-lost family. (“Dory!” is another common sound in our Splash Zone, as kids recognize the blue tangs on exhibit.)
The real-life marine animals that inspired Dory, Nemo and their friends need a healthy ocean to survive and thrive. So do we — because the ocean sustains all life on Earth.
Rising temperatures and ocean acidification, caused by people burning fossil fuels, make life harder for reef fish like Dory.
Reduce your own carbon dioxide emissions by carpooling, using public transit or riding your bike.
4. Keep it clean
Aquarium Science Director Kyle Van Houtanis an expert on land-based pollution and how it affects marine environments, including coral reefs. He says you can help keep Dory’s ocean home clean by:
Eating organic food that’s farmed without use of harmful chemicals
Choosing environmentally friendly laundry detergent and reef-safe sunscreen
Using a commercial car wash to prevent soapsuds from running into the storm drain
Picking up pet waste
Working together to make changes small and large, we can help preserve the health of the ocean — now, and for generations to come.
