The tidewater goby, an endangered species only found in California’s streams and estuaries, were debut at Heal the Bay’s Santa Monica Pier Aquarium on June 5, 2014.  The Aquarium is one of just two public aquaria to receive permission to exhibit the tidewater goby, a tiny fish only found in the streams and estuaries of California. The tidewater goby, Eucyclogobius newberryi, is listed as an endangered species and serves as a poster child for threatened waterways.

Partnering with the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro, Heal the Bay’s marine science center recently obtained the gobies from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s toxicology department in Carmel.  On June 6th, the fish becomes the centerpiece of the recently installed watershed exhibit in the Aquarium’s Dorothy Green Room. Gobies are threatened with extinction because of loss of habitat – a product of coastal development and diversions and modifications to the streams and estuaries that the fish lives and breeds in.

This diminutive fish, rarely longer than two inches in length, is silver and brown with a sleek shape. The goby’s fins are distinctively long and flowing for the size of its body, and its tiny eyes protrude prominently – all features that give the goby more presence than expected for such a small fish. 

The Aquarium’s Watershed Exhibit demonstrates the perils of urban development on waterways and on the animals that inhabit them – particularly the tidewater goby. Debuting June 6th, an exhibit of gobies will be featured in the natural watershed component of the exhibit, alongside displays featuring other riparian and estuarine organisms.

Redesign funds for the Dorothy Green Room and the watershed exhibit were provided by an Annenberg Foundation grant and funds from Proposition 84, a state storm water grant program.

Visit the tidewater gobies – and the more than 100 other species of local marine life at the Aquarium – Tuesday through Friday from 2 to 5 p.m. and weekends from 12:30 to 5 p.m. In July and August, enjoy an extra hour of exploration when the Aquarium remains open until 6 p.m. Kids 12 and under are admitted free; for all others, admission is $5 per person or $3 per person for groups of 10 or more, regardless of age. Call 310-393-6149 for more information. 

Santa Monica High School Student Hailey Hoffman (Soprano),  first place winner in the High School Vocal division,  sings, "Frühlingsstimmen" ("Voices of Spring") during the Kiwanis Club of Santa Monica's 65th Annual Music Awards at the Santa Monica Library on Tuesday, June 3, 2014.  Twenty-seven students, grades 6th through 12th competed from the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District to receive $11,775 in scholarships for musicianship in vocal, wind and string instrument categories. First place winners Hailey Hoffman (soprano), Mollie Bernstein (oboe), Jeffrey Ho (cello) performed representing the 11th and 12th grade winners.  Isobel Anthony (Soprano), Isaac Horwitz-Hirsch, (Trumpet), and Caroline Ho, (Cello) represented the 9th and 10th grades.  Rachel Lamell, (Soprano), Annie Huang, (Flute), and Juliet Pooler, (Violin) represented the middle school students. 

VOTE 2014 - Images by Fabian Lewkowicz

Santa Monica residents cast their vote at City Hall on Tuesday, June 3, 2014.

Sunil Shah, Armin Samii and Philip Norman pose for a photo after just completing a 7-day bike ride from San Francisco to Santa Monica on Monday, June 2, 2014.

Former two-time NBA All-Star Baron Davis spins at the Santa Monica Pier during the 4th annual Pedal on the Pier 100 Mile-A-Thon' on Sunday, June 1 2014. This event was organized to raise funds for the Harold Robinson Foundation which provides underprivileged children the means, free of cost, to attend a safe, nurturing and non-competitive camp environment where they will experience nature and participate in diverse recreational programs designed to strengthen confidence and independence, build character and develop leadership skills. It is the vision of the Harold Robinson Foundation to provide a level playing field for our community's underserved children.

National Animal Rights Day - Images by Fabian Lewkowicz

Dozens of activist stand in formation cradling the bodies of deceased animals including pigs, chickens, rabbits, cats and kittens, rats and mice, wild birds, turtles and many others at Santa Monica Beach during observance of National Animal Rights Day on Saturday, May 31, 2014

After the ceremony the Declaration of Animal Rights, a 70-foot long scroll declaring the rights of all animals bearing thousands of signatures from people from all over the world was unveiled, read by the children in attendance, and signed. 

Participating in Observe National Animal Rights Day was approximately 150 local residents representing a diverse coalition of animal and environmental protection organizations including Our Planet. Theirs Too., Animal Protection and Rescue League, Animal Defenders International, Expand Animal Rights Now, Farm Animal Rights Movement, In Defense of Animals, Last Chance for Animals, PETA, and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society California.

Our Planet. Theirs Too. was formed in 2011 to bring the internationally observed Animal Rights Day to the United States, and since then, events have been held across the country to give a voice to the billions of animals who suffer and die by human hands; mourn their losses and this adverse impact on them, the environment, and human health; reiterate their rights to live happy and free; and celebrate the progress being made towards changing this reality. Similar events are held in Spain, Germany, Austria, Italy, Israel, and Australia, among others.