Children watch as the Swell Sharks get fed at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium (SMPA) during  Heal the Bay's  Ocean Appreciation Celebration on Sunday, Aug 9, 2009.

With about 70 percent of the Earth’s surface covered with water, the ocean plays an integral role in our lives in a myriad ways. Special presentations and activities illustrating the ocean’s affect on our lives - and our impact on the ocean was the focus of the weekend.

About the SMPA:
The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium is Heal the Bay’s marine education facility located beach-level, just below the Carousel, at the Santa Monica Pier. The Aquarium is open to the general public  and attracts more than 85,000 visitors per year. Since Heal the Bay acquired the Aquarium in 2003 from UCLA, more than 300,000 visitors have been welcomed during public hours and approximately 80,000 students have been educated during in-house education programs.