10th Annual Whalefest Monterey
10th Annual Whalefest Monterey Announces Additional Symposium Presenters, Exhibits, Activities and More!
The Whale Watching Capital of the World™
Monterey, CA. December, 2019. Don’t miss it! Monterey’s Old Fisherman's Wharf Association presents the 10th Annual Whalefest Monterey™ to be held at and around Old Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey, California, The Whale Watching Capital of the World™ on Saturday, January 25th and Sunday, January 26th, 2020 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
This free, fun and educational interactive family event for all ages celebrates the biodiversity of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and much more! The event, which features a 2-day Symposium with world-renowned marine experts and dozens of exhibit booths, benefits many local and national marine organizations that educate, inspire, and empower the public to protect the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS).
Enlightening and edutaining interactive exhibits at the upcoming 10th Annual Whalefest Monterey will be located along the Wharf, Causeway, Custom House Plaza and the Monterey Conference Center. There will be dozens of marine related exhibits by numerous local organizations: American Cetacean Society, California Coastal Commission, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Marine Sanctuary
The 10th Annual Whalefest Monterey Symposium, held both days at the Monterey Conference Center, will include these outstanding presentations by renowned marine science (Subject to change)
·Julie Packard, Founder and Executive Director, Monterey Bay Aquarium
·Wallace J. Nichols, Middlebury Institute of International Studies,
Author Blue Mind, "Whales are Medicine"
·Paul Michel, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Superintendent
·Chad King, "Octopus Garden and a Whale Fall: Recent Discoveries in Monterey Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Bay National Marine Sanctuary"
·Rear Admiral (ret.) Jon White, Consortium for Ocean Leadership.”Ocean Security: Breaching Challenges Through The Power Of Partnerships”
·Peggy Stap, Director Marine Life Studies & Whale Entanglement Team (WET)® “Whale Disentanglement by the General Public: Good Intentions, Bad Decisions and Updates of The Whale Entanglement Team
·Steve Mandel, Oceans 360, "Using Virtual Reality for Ocean Conservation Education"
·Tom Escher, Chairman, Red & White Fleet. “Making Zero Pollution Maritime a Reality”
·Brandon Southall, Southall Environmental Associates "Listening to California’s Whales: Acoustic Science to Inform Conservation and Inspire the Next Generation"
·Colleen Flannigan, Living Sea Sculpture / UCSC, "Art and Science for Coral Reef Restoration"
·Students from Hopkins Marine Station at Stanford University, "The Formative Stages of Becoming a Whale Researcher"
In addition, Save the Whales returns with Dee, the 43-foot inflatable whale model people can go inside of and see its internal organs, and photo ops with costumed creatures roaming the area.
There will be up to five boats at the California Dock at Monterey’s Old Fisherman’s Wharf including the Fulmar (NOAA’s research ship), Current’Sea (Marine Life Studies research and WET® vessel), the Coast Guard 43’ foot boat, the Sheila B. research vessel from Moss Landing Marine Lab and The Pearl (Monterey Fire Boat).
Monterey Abalone Company will host Abalone Races in front of Big Fish Grill and Moss Landing Marine Labs will be the non-profit recipient. Monterey Bay Whale Watching will host scrimshaw-making using soap. Chefs from the Wharf will conduct cooking demos in front of Abalonetti Bar and Grill. Discovery Whale Watching/J & M Fishing will host Gyotaku, the Japanese art of stenciling fish.
On the Causeway will be Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club boats, US Coast Guard 29’ foot boat, US Coast Guard Auxiliary exhibit, COASTIE, the Safety Boat, and the Science Seafloor ROV.
Maritime Historian Tim Thomas will conduct 90-minute free Wharf Walks at 1:00 pm on Saturday and 2:30 pm on Sunday (Meet outside of Harbor House at the head of the Wharf).
There will also be a variety of live musical entertainment as well as an information and merchandise booth, with Whalefest Monterey T-shirts and aprons for donations.
Weather permitting, whale watching tours, fishing, sailing and glass bottom boats will be operating from the Wharf (many at discounted rates). Wharf restaurants will be serving lunch and dinner. Wharf shops will also be featuring marine-themed merchandise.
Whale watchers come from around the world to view hundreds of whales, orcas, dolphins and pelicans who continue to feast on a “krill and anchovy buffet” in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Throughout the year, this Whale Watching Capital of the World offers sightings of 15 species of whales, 10 species of dolphins, 2 species of porpoise, 6 species of pinnipeds and 1 species of Fissiped (sea otter).
Corporate sponsorships are available this year. Please contact Mary Alice Cerrito Fettis at [email protected] for more details.
Ride the free MST Trolley to the Wharf from the East and West Garages. MST Trolley details click here.
Special discount Hotel Rates: Stay for the weekend!
Special Whalefest Monterey discount room rates are available at some local Monterey Hotels, including the Portola Inn and Spa. Subject to availability, guests can reserve rooms for a discounted rate. January 24, 25 or 26, 2020 at this website: https://be.synxis.com/?Chain=
Also, there will be discount room rates at the Comfort Inn Monterey Bay at 2250 North Fremont in Monterey. Please call the hotel directly to arrange the discounted rate. The Inn at 1252 Monterey is located at 1252 Munras Avenue: 831 372-2908. www.stayatmonterey.
For more information about Monterey’s Old Fisherman’s Wharf, go to www.montereywharf.com or call (831) 238-0777.
More details to come!
Thank you to our valued sponsors that include Fisherman's Wharf Association, City of Monterey, Old Fisherman’s Grotto, California Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Leavitt Central Coast Insurance, Wharf Theatre, California State Parks, Marine Life Studies, Save the Whales, United States Coast Guard, Wecker Group, KSBW TV, Central Coast ABC, Estrella TV Central Coast, Monterey Herald, Santa Cruz Waves, KAZU FM, Shagbag Radio Show, Access Monterey Peninsula (AMP Media), Letty Sloma Photography, Fashion Streaks, Monterey Signs, and Aquafina.