2012-11-12T12:48:16-06:00 2011-12-31 GRANT THORNTON LLP ONE CALIFORNIA STREET SUITE 2300 SAN FRANCISCO CA 94111 990 2011-01-01 942487469 Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation % EDWARD E PROHASKA MONT 8316484800 886 CANNERY ROW MONTEREY CA 93940 EDWARD E PROHASKA 8136484800 2012-11-07 true CHRISTINA BECKWITH 4159863900 2011 2016-02-24 21:20:13Z JULIE PACKARD 886 CANNERY ROW MONTEREY CA 93940 129289017 false X WWW.MONTEREYBAYAQUARIUM.ORG X 1978 CA The Mission of the Monterey Bay Aquarium is to Inspire conservation of the oceans. (See schedule O for further detail) 17 16 575 1296 5889 26601004 25494301 33816321 35389480 779664 -988330 1647445 1939611 62844434 61835062 484516 504801 0 0 28485621 29919692 795153 241208 1839559 29157586 32346439 58922876 63012140 3921558 -1177078 305851550 302117793 12293261 12276450 293558289 289841343 X SEE SCHEDULE O false false 26142561 49278 32706015 MARINE LIFE EXHIBITION AND CARE - SEE SCHEDULE O 9246715 49731 2012855 EDUCATION AND OUTREACH - SEE SCHEDULE O 6420403 352435 626348 CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH - SEE SCHEDULE O 12953976 53357 332230 54763655 true true false true false false false false false true true true false false true true false true false false true true false true false false false true true true false false false true false false false false true false false false false true true true false false true 273 0 true 575 true true true true CJ false false false true true false false false false false false X 17 16 true false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true true false CA X X EDWARD E PROHASKA 8316484800 886 CANNERY ROW Monterey CA 93940 X Julie Packard 28.0 X X 235834 0 44641 Dr Peter S Bing MD 1.0 X X 0 0 0 stephen c neal 1.0 X X 0 0 0 Susan Ford Dorsey 1.0 X 0 0 0 Susan Orr 1.0 X 0 0 0 James E Canales 1.0 X 0 0 0 Margaret Caldwell 1.0 X 0 0 0 Mark Wan 1.0 X 0 0 0 Pietro Parravano 1.0 X 0 0 0 Michael Mantell 1.0 X 0 0 0 Caroline Getty 1.0 X 0 0 0 Connie Martinez 1.0 X 0 0 0 Chris Scholin 1.0 X 0 0 0 M R C Greenwood 1.0 X 0 0 0 Joan Lane 1.0 X 0 0 0 Samantha Campbell 1.0 X William Landreth 1.0 X Gordon Smith 1.0 X 0 0 0 Paul Davies III 1.0 X 0 0 0 James Hekkers 40.0 X 252171 0 43591 Edward E Prohaska 40.0 X 231122 0 33996 Barbara Wright 1.0 X 0 0 0 Cristina Fekeci 40.0 X 196319 0 38730 Don Hughes 40.0 X 170647 0 37318 Cynthia Vernon 40.0 X 158504 0 31872 George Michael Sutton 40.0 X 179256 0 44847 Teresa Jeanine Merry 40.0 X 146417 0 45922 James Westbrook 40.0 X 144931 0 23753 Randall Hamilton 40.0 X 144507 0 23858 Marian Martha Hahn 40.0 X 139526 0 23187 1999234 0 391715 22 false true false Engine Company 1 451 Pacific Avenue SAN FRANCISCO CA 94133 Media and Service 2646601 Stocker Allaire Inc 21B Mandeville Ct MONTEREY CA 93940 Construction 2047134 Arthur Gallagher Co Inc 505 N Brand St Suite 600 GLENDALE CA 91203 Insurance Broker 1346347 Impacts Research and Development 3720 Falcon Ridge Drive MEDINA OH 44256 Market Research 1284198 Rudolph Sletten Inc 1600 Seaport Blvd Suite 350 REDWOOD CITY CA 94063 Construction 1076652 51 8910472 1000000 6609330 8974499 293478 25494301 ADMISSION FEES 611600 32183245 32183245 PRIVATE EVENT REVENUE 713990 522770 519170 3600 OTHER PROGRAM REVENUE 900099 2012855 2012855 FOOD SERVICE 722320 670610 668321 2289 35389480 1766954 1766954 0 13462 13462 2422500 127500 898357 1524143 127500 1651643 1651643 63800314 66555598 -2755284 -2755284 -2755284 0 0 0 FEDERAL CONTRACT REVENUE 541620 531348 531348 LOSS ON FIXED ASSET DISPOSAL 900099 -492151 -492151 MISCELLANEOUS 900099 235309 235309 274506 61835062 35671559 5889 663313 465164 465164 15825 15825 23812 23812 0 1474742 398340 841354 235048 0 21561069 18822125 2120685 618259 1843438 1612346 177435 53657 3371274 2827427 424124 119723 1669169 1430302 182315 56552 0 152780 90648 51745 10387 221833 221833 183096 183096 241208 241208 153282 153282 5803989 4905634 883709 64646 4895663 4548067 347596 4942568 4351703 339920 250945 390837 362977 27195 664 0 1716154 1565860 148441 1854 1536312 1295597 110352 130363 0 192429 136348 50332 5749 0 0 8916902 8617414 291471 8017 460131 442229 17311 591 MARINE LIFE ACQ/CARE 1296004 1296004 DONATED GOODS 735086 718441 16645 MERCHANT FEES 676478 651227 25251 MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES 72895 3069 69826 63012140 54763655 6458926 1839559 10881697 19124827 0 0 30988458 19909212 1247876 1688708 230000 230000 0 0 0 0 0 0 445122 551422 243529119 113400440 129331463 130128679 0 0 131990844 129797814 0 0 0 0 736090 687131 305851550 302117793 5705108 5989766 20000 0 6272162 6002803 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 295991 283881 12293261 12276450 X 245712734 255198476 34708800 20321559 13136755 14321308 293558289 289841343 305851550 302117793 X -1177078 -2539868 X false true true X true true X 49074566 31383828 29244577 26601004 25494301 161798276 30981649 30564881 35048913 33755253 35412176 165762872 80056215 61948709 64293490 60356257 60906477 327561148 31599703 7156080 7010760 1266744 1252164 48285451 0 0 0 0 0 0 31599703 7156080 7010760 1266744 1252164 48285451 279275697 5204656 4621089 4410388 4190912 4330416 22757461 5204656 4621089 4410388 4190912 4330416 22757461 0 0 0 0 0 0 34748 130145 81975 170064 766657 1183589 85295619 66699943 68785853 64717233 66003550 351502198 0.79452 0.78111 0.06474 0.07009 X In 2011, the majority of other income was earned from contract work relating to (1) research for the federal government on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and (2) research on sustainable fisheries related to the Seafood Watch program. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 9736 221023 230759 62768291 62999050 1000000 250000 true 1000000 1000000 1000000 1000000 4000000 6000000 132859 142964 152064 230759 658646 250000 250000 250000 250000 1000000 1500000 15585 4660 11346 9736 41327 77434508 1786573 -467240 476082 78277759 75328843 1018399 1550640 463374 77434508 74637452 165475 902723 376807 75328843 65871281 8766171 74637452 0.81700 0.18300 false false 10083878 10083878 143642364 61507419 82134945 756385 756385 0 26205669 20523168 5682501 62840823 30613468 32227355 130128679 MULTISTRATEGY COMMODITY FUND 82111856 F HEDGE EQUITY FUNDS 18924646 F MULTISTRATEGY COMMODITY FUND 4273615 F PRIVATE CAPITAL FUNDS 665095 F MULTISTRATEGY FIXED INC FUND 12200516 F COMMONFUND - NON MARKETABLE 11593958 F MONEY MARKET 28128 F 129797814 0 GIFT ANNUITY PAYMENT LIABILITY 283881 283881 Form 990, Schedule D, Part V, Line 4 The earnings of the Aquarium's endowment funds support education and conservation programs and the mission of the Aquarium. Form 990, Schedule D, Part X, Line 2: The Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation has identified and evaluated their significant tax positions for which the statute of limitations remains open and determined there are no material unrecognized tax benefits or liabilities to be recorded. The open tax years are generally the years ended December 31, 2008 through December 31, 2011 for federal tax purposes and the years ended December 31, 2007 through December 31, 2011 for California tax purposes. Earlier tax years are open to the extent of any net operating losses from unrelated business income carrying forward from those years. There have been no material changes in unrecognized tax positions as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, nor are any material changes anticipated over the twelve months following December 31, 2011. true Sub-Saharan Africa Grantmaking Animal Research 11000 East Asia and the Pacific Grantmaking Aid to Fuktishima Aq. 12812 East Asia and the Pacific Program Services Fuktishima Aq. Reopen 15828 East Asia and the Pacific Program Services Mola and Tuna Research 13883 East Asia and the Pacific Program Services Open Sea Exhibit 6544 East Asia and the Pacific Program Services Sustainable Seafood 3592 East Asia and the Pacific Program Services Int'l Symposiums 4494 North America Program Services Animal Collecting 21228 North America Program Services Sustainable Seafood 13415 North America Program Services Graphic Design Review 2009 North America Program Services Guest Dive Research 2362 North America Program Services Open Sea Exhibit 1917 Europe (Including Iceland and Greenland) Program Services Sustainable Seafood 9276 Central America and the Caribbean Program Services Climate Change Conf 2196 Central America and the Caribbean Program Services Tuna Research 4373 South America Program Services Sustainable Seafood 5891 130820 130820 Sub-Saharan Africa Animal Research 11000 wire East Asia/Pacific Earthquake Aid 12812 wire 2 2 false false false false false false Form 990, Schedule F, Part I, Line 2: The Aquarium requires potential grant recipients to submit formal applications which are reviewed by the program manager and Director of Finance for consistency with the Aquarium's mission and compliance with the annual budget. Furthermore, the Aquarium requires a written report from the grantee providing detail about how funds were used to accomplish the grant objectives. Reports are reviewed by the program manager as well as the Director of Finance for compliance with grant conditions. X X X X X X X true blackbaud inc PO Box 930256 Atlanta GA 31193 consulting false 48060 charles r feldstein co 737 N Michigan Ave Chicago IL 60611 consulting false 132000 SDA TELESERVICES INC 5757 W Century Blvd 300 Los Angeles CA 90045 TELEPHONE false 370254 56898 313356 370254 236958 313356 CA Part I Line 2b Invoices from fundraisers are reviewed to determine if a component of the fees paid are for a reimbursement of expenses. Of the $236,958 reported in part 2b, none was for reimbursement of expenses. true Environmental Media Assoc 5979 W Third Street Los Angeles CA 90036 954268867 501(C)(3) 10000 Environmental Media Award Sponsorship Smithsonian Institution PO Box 37012 MRC 101 RM77A Washington DC 20013 560206027 501(C)(3) 10000 Sponsorship of Demytifying Seafood Event AZA Executive Office 8403 Colesville Road Silver Springs MD 20910 550526930 501(C)(3) 7500 Annual Conference Sponsorship San Luis Obispo Visitor Bureau 811 El Capitan Way 200 San Luis Obispo CA 93401 770221126 501(C)(3) 6000 Savoring Central Coast Event Standford University Ocean View Blvd Pacific Grove CA 93950 941156365 115 135081 White Shark Research University of Hawaii 2777 Kalakaua Avenue Honolulu HI 96815 966000354 115 125298 Research Cal State University Long Beach 6300 State Univ Dr 332 Long Beach CA 90815 237110314 115 41256 White Shark Tagging Ocean Foundation 1990 M Street 250 Washington DC 20036 710863908 501(C)(3) 37228 Research collaboration City of Pacific Grove 300 Forest Avenue Pacific Grove CA 93950 946000388 22000 New Visitors Center UC Santa Cruz 1156 High Street EMS Bld Santa Cruz CA 95064 941539563 115 15000 Tagging of Mobulids Aquarium of the Bay Pier 39 San Francisco CA 94133 900401015 501(C)(3) 9620 Climate Change Coalition Alaska Sealife Center PO Box 1329 Seward AK 99664 920132479 501(C)(3) 9227 Climate Change Coalition North Carolina Aquarium One Roosevelt Blvd Pine Knoll Shores NC 28512 561512990 501(C)(3) 8000 Climate Change Coalition 8 4 Scholarships 18 15825 Form 990, Schedule I, Part I, Line 2: The Aquarium requires potential grant recipients to submit formal applications which are reviewed by the program manager and director of finance for consistency with the Aquarium's mission and compliance with the annual budget. Furthermore, the Aquarium requires a written report from the grantee providing detail about how funds were used to accomplish the grant objectives. Reports are reviewed by the program manager as well as the director of finance for compliance with grant conditions. X X true true X X X false false false false false false false false false Julie Packard 234453 0 395 0 986 0 24068 0 20573 0 280475 0 0 0 James Hekkers 243948 0 790 0 7433 0 24500 0 19091 0 295762 0 0 0 Edward E Prohaska 229591 0 790 0 741 0 23308 0 10688 0 265118 0 0 0 Cristina Fekeci 194588 0 790 0 941 0 20141 0 18589 0 235049 0 0 0 George Michael Sutton 178119 0 790 0 347 0 18641 0 26206 0 224103 0 0 0 Don Hughes 168896 0 790 0 961 0 17677 0 19641 0 207965 0 0 0 Cynthia Vernon 157138 0 790 0 576 0 16113 0 15759 0 190376 0 0 0 Teresa Jeanine Merry 144303 0 790 0 1324 0 15664 0 30258 0 192339 0 0 0 James Westbrook 143877 0 790 0 264 0 14585 0 9168 0 168684 0 0 0 Randall Hamilton 143225 0 790 0 492 0 14522 0 9336 0 168365 0 0 0 Marian Martha Hahn 138573 0 790 0 163 0 14051 0 9136 0 162713 0 0 0 Form 990, Schedule J, Part I, Line 1a: Housing allowance or residence for personal use: George Michael Sutton receives a housing allowance pursuant to his employment as approved by the Executive Compensation Committee. All payments were treated as taxable income in employees Form W-2 and included in income reported on Schedule J, Part II, Column B (iii). Health club dues: As part of the Aquarium's wellness program, all employees (including the listed employees in Part VII, Section A) are eligible to receive a monthly reimbursement of $25 for health club dues if the employee meets the program goals. All payments were treated as taxable income in employees Form W-2 and included in income reported on Schedule J, Part II, Column B (iii). MICHAEL SUTTON HOUSING ASSISTANCE X 230000 230000 false true true 230000 X 36 222622 COST/SELLING PRICE X 15 15610 OPINION OF EXPERTS X ADVERTISING 13 45917 COST/SELLING PRICE X MISCELLANEOUS 3 9329 COST/SELLING PRICE false true true Form 990, Schedule M, Line 32: THE AQUARIUM USES INVESTMENT BROKERS TO ACCEPT AND LIQUIDATE GIFTS IN THE FORM OF SECURITIES. Form 990, Schedule M, Line 33: THE AQUARIUM COLLECTED AN ADDITIONAL 166 CONTRIBUTIONS OF FOOD, WINE, KITCHEN EQUIPMENT, AND ADVERTISING REPORTED AS PART OF PROGRAM SERVICE REVENUE ON FORM 990, PART VIII, LINE 2C. Form 990, Part I, Line 1 and Form 990, Part III, line 1 The mission of the Monterey Bay Aquarium is to inspire conservation of the oceans. While we are encouraged by meaningful actions taken in 2011 on behalf of ocean conservation, including those we supported, much work remains in order to assure a world with healthy oceans. That's why we continued to reach out to new audiences and to deepen our relationship with members and repeat visitors through compelling live exhibits, integrated education programs and productive conservation research projects. Form 990 Part III Line 4a Marine Life Exhibition and Care Marine life exhibition and care costs of $26,142,561 include the cost of operating and maintaining the Aquarium's living exhibit galleries. We inspire visitors to connect with the oceans through our living exhibits and interactive displays. Both elements are evident in the renovated Open Sea galleries that debuted in July 2011. The galleries include an updated million-gallon Open Sea exhibit that features most species found in the former Outer Bay exhibit: tunas, mahi mahi, ocean sunfish, pelagic sharks and rays, schooling fishes and sea turtles. The public area of the Aquarium encompasses over 200,000 square feet of public space including 25,500 square feet of ocean view decks. There are nearly 200 galleries and exhibits devoted to the diverse habitats of the Monterey Bay. More than 35,000 animals and plants are displayed representing over 550 species of fishes, invertebrates, mammals, reptiles, birds and plants found in Monterey Bay and other marine habitats world-wide. The task of keeping the marine life well fed and healthy starts with the Aquarium's sea water system, with fresh seawater pumped constantly from the bay. The seawater is filtered during the day to aid visibility. At night, the seawater is unfiltered and provides food for many animals in the exhibits. An average of 305 pounds of food is provided daily to animals that are not able to obtain sufficient food from the seawater. The Open Sea galleries share tales of epic animal migrations across the Pacific through multimedia experiences connecting visitors with sharks, fishes, sea turtles, marine mammals and seabirds. We charmed visitors with a new live exhibit that's home to tufted puffins and other diving seabirds, and fascinated them with interactive displays of the ocean's tiny drifters - the plankton at the base of the ocean food web. We enhanced the jellies exhibits by adding a domed theater that allows visitors to step into a bloom of moon jellies. In a first for our permanent galleries, The Open Sea features compelling artwork by three artists-Chris Jordan, Alison McDonald and Bryant Austin-who have devoted their careers to raising awareness about the threats facing ocean animals. A climate-change-related live auditorium presentation called Whales to Windmills: Inventions Inspired by the Sea won top honors as the Best Cultural Institution Media Installation at the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival in October. The 15-minute live program, coupled with amazing video clips, focuses on how nature has inspired energy-efficient inventions. The prestigious award is a first for the Aquarium. In January we were delighted to share the first-ever news that two African blackfooted penguin chicks hatched in an exhibit in the Splash Zone family galleries. Visitors to the Aquarium on September 1 saw a young great white shark in the Open Sea exhibit, the sixth to go on exhibit since the Aquarium's Project White Shark program began 10 years earlier. This young shark, a 4-foot, 7-inch male weighing 43.2 pounds, was collected August 18 by Aquarium staff with the help of a commercial fishing crew using a purse seine net. He was quickly transferred to a 4-million-gallon ocean holding pen off Malibu, where he remained for almost two weeks under close observation. Once Aquarium staff observed him swimming comfortably and feeding in the pen, he was brought to Monterey and placed in the million-gallon Open Sea exhibit after hours on August 31. He was released to the wild on October 2011. Form 990, Part III Line 4b Education and Outreach Education and Outreach costs of $9,246,715 include the cost of education programs for both teachers and students, Aquarium Adventure programs to deepen guest experiences, and the Cooking for Solutions event that promotes sustainable seafood practices. Since opening in 1984, the Aquarium has maintained a central focus on education for schoolchildren, providing free visits to 2 million students (through January 2012). Our education programs help students and the adults who influence them discover their connection to the ocean and take the next steps in becoming active and effective ocean conservationists. The programs complement and support school-related education efforts and state science standards. They also engage learners of all ages in relevant, hands-on experiences with nature, expand their understanding of fundamental science and ocean conservation issues, develop and exercise critical thinking skills, encourage them to make and act on environmentally conscious decisions and empower them to be role models. Our education programs place equal importance on establishing an initial connection with students by introducing them to the wonders of the ocean, and on nurturing that connection over time as students take on the role of conservation leaders. Programs are structured for multiple grade levels, starting with pre-K students in local Head Start programs, and continuing with elementary, middle and high school students. Through an all-encompassing combination of school programs, teacher professional development, summer, evening and weekend teen programs and community outreach and partnerships, our education programs empower and inspire students, their families and peers and local communities to learn about and conserve our oceans. In spring 2011 we sponsored a family science night as part of our partnership with the Watsonville and Pajaro communities. The event encouraged children and their families to participate in several hands-on marine science sessions to explore the topics of fluids, density, buoyancy and viscosity. Since 2009 we've held this series of family discovery programs in collaboration with local scientists and community leaders in an effort to create a fun and interactive environment for families to talk about and work on science activities together. In November, we hosted our first-ever Oceans Need Everyone (ONE) Teen Summit as part of our education department's teen education outreach programs. It was an opportunity for scores of teen leaders to network with peers from regional high schools who were already involved in conservation projects at their schools and in their communities, as well as with staff and volunteers from local non-profit organizations. Together, they explored ways to get more teens involved in local ocean conservation efforts. This is one element of our renewed emphasis on building long-term relationships with young people through our Teen Conservation Leadership initiative. We reached thousands of visitors through customized Aquarium Adventures programs, ranging from behind-the-scenes tours and overnight sleepovers, to sailing and scuba educational "adventures." These programs provide enriched experiences for visitors. We connected with guests after their visits as well. In March, we expanded the reach of our popular Seafood Watch and FishMap apps to include not only iPhone but also Android users. Tens of thousands of people "liked" us on Facebook, followed our Tweets and watched video clips on our YouTube channel. We seek to educate both children and adults about the benefit of sustainable seas. In May we celebrated the 10th anniversary of our Cooking for Solutions events, which bring together celebrity chefs to prepare gourmet dishes using sustainable seafood and organic ingredients, paired with organic and sustainable wines. Reaching 12,000+ attendees, including environmental and food writers, major seafood buyers and restaurateurs, the multi-day event strengthens the connection between what we eat and the health of the planet. In celebration of the 10th anniversary, we expanded activities by an additional day and created new events including the Coastal Living Pavilion for television celebrity chef cooking demos; four new Salon Series presentations; and the Savor the Gulf Coast Breakfast. Stories generated by media who have covered past Cooking for Solutions events include more than 100 articles and broadcast segments in national media outlets. The influential journalists who participate bring a greater awareness about issues relating to sustainable seafood and agriculture to their readers. We shared the story of Project White Shark in a book published in June in cooperation with Service Systems Associates, the Aquarium's retail partner. Project White Shark chronicles the lengthy planning process, detailed logistics, setbacks and successes of our attempts to better understand and exhibit this iconic species. The book includes dramatic images of great whites in the wild, young sharks on exhibit at the Aquarium and being released into Monterey Bay, and tagging and research efforts in the waters off southern California. Form 990, Part III Line 4c Conservation and Research Conservation and Research costs of $6,420,403 represent expenses for marine policy and advocacy efforts, the Seafood Watch program, and field research. These programs include activities of the Aquarium's Center for the Future of the Oceans. The Aquarium's biggest conservation victory in 2011 was the passage into law of AB 376, the Aquarium-sponsored bill that bans the trade of shark fins in California. This is a huge step for shark conservation, as it helps end the economic incentive that drives the killing of millions of sharks worldwide for their fins each year. Members, donors and guests had a big role in this success. Their letters, phone calls and email messages secured legislative victories so that the shark fin trade is now illegal in five Western states and territories-including California. It also provides encouragement to extend these successes to the United States and countries around the world, with a goal of ending the global shark fin trade. The Aquarium's marine policy work also achieved progress for the southern sea otter. In California, the southern sea otter population exists at only a fraction of its historic level. Alarmingly, over the past five years, the population growth rate has slowed and even declined. After years of urging by conservation and scientific communities, including the Aquarium, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declared its intent to end zonal management of southern sea otters in southern California. This will allow the otter population to extend its current range southward unimpeded by the threat of relocation or harassment. The Aquarium also sponsored AB 971, legislation that reestablished the sea otter check-off on California tax returns for another five years and creates a new sea otter research and conservation fund for the state. Since first established in 2006, the tax check-off has generated more than $1.4 million for sea otter research and recovery efforts. The Aquarium's Seafood Watch program works to broaden awareness of the connection between seafood choices and ocean health as it helps consumers and businesses choose seafood that supports environmentally responsible fishing and fish farming practices. Seafood Watch raises consumer awareness through pocket guides, website, mobile applications and outreach efforts. Seafood Watch recommendations are science-based, peer reviewed, and uses ecosystem-based criteria. Pocket guides are updated every six months to incorporate the latest available research. A full downloadable scientific report is available on the Aquarium's website. Since 1999, the Aquarium has distributed over 40 million pocket guides and the Seafood Watch smartphone application has been downloaded nearly a million times. Through the efforts of the Aquarium's Seafood Watch program and the broader sustainable seafood movement, major seafood buyers are embracing the move to sustainable sourcing. Consumer demand, together with a growing understanding of the urgent issues facing the oceans, is encouraging other seafood buyers to seek more ocean-friendly alternatives. The Aquarium continues to develop a network of Seafood Watch restaurant partners and to work closely with other businesses to create market incentives to encourage demand for sustainable seafood. The Aquarium's conservation and research programs continue to produce valuable data that furthers the understanding of the wild populations of sea otters, great white sharks and bluefin tuna. This knowledge enhances the Aquarium's effectiveness as an advocate for protection of these key species and their habitats in the wild. A record 65 otters were admitted to our Sea Otter Research and Conservation program in 2011. Over a third were pups, of which six were placed with surrogate mothers (our exhibit animals) and six others found homes at partner aquariums. As of the end of 2011, a total of 12 pups have been born to Aquarium surrogate-reared female sea otters in the wild - 7 more than 2010's total of 5. In June, a 9-week-old female sea otter joined the Aquarium's sea otter exhibit under the care of surrogate mother and permanent exhibit animal Joy. The pup, known only as 540, was the youngest ever to be placed on exhibit. Eventually 540 went to her new home at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in the state of Washington. 540 was the third pup the Aquarium has placed on public exhibit. Kit, the first pup to join the sea otter exhibit in February 2010, is now a member of the Aquarium's resident population and frequently acts as a companion to young sea otters kept behind the scenes while they await release back to the wild. Four-month-old pup 502 temporarily joined the exhibit in July 2010 with Joy, before transferring to a permanent home at Georgia Aquarium. From the Big Sur coast to southeastern Alaska, the sea otter research team is playing a key role in a comprehensive assessment of the health of coastal waters in the Northeast Pacific, and of one of the region's signature species. Stranded sea otters in our care teach us a lot about disease, parasites and other issues affecting the wild population. These lessons help to refine the Aquarium's treatment protocols and build expertise in the handling of these animals in the event of a catastrophic event, such as an oil spill. The Aquarium is part of the Pacific Nearshore Project, a team of researchers studying marine life and coastal watersheds to learn how marine ecosystems are responding to new challenges: from pollution and climate change, to seasonal storms and changing oceanographic cycles. To get answers, scientists in the multi-year project are using techniques such as DNA analysis, forensic evidence, isotope chemistry and satellite imagery, with sea otters at the center of much of the work. They completed field studies in 2011 and will begin analyzing and interpreting data in 2012. Our collaborative research on great white sharks continues to reveal much about the lives of these iconic animals. In collaboration with Stanford University, we've placed 240 electronic tracking tags on 100 individual adult sharks at the Farallon Islands, Point Reyes, and at Ao Nuevo Island since 2000. Many sharks have been tagged more than once, generating multiple years of information about their travels in the eastern Pacific. Data from the tags revealed that adult great white sharks migrate thousands of miles to the Hawaiian Islands, and to a mid-ocean area halfway between Baja California and Hawaii dubbed "The White Shark Caf." Why they visit these waters remains a mystery, but they consistently return to the same local California neighborhoods at the same time of year. As of 2011, we're expanding the use of acoustic tags that pinpoint precisely when the sharks swim past specific points along the coast. Our research team has also learned that California's great white sharks comprise a genetically distinct population, long isolated from other great whites around the world. The team also completed a first-ever population estimate by identifying individuals from the unique shape of their dorsal fins. The team estimates the minimum population off central California is around 250 adolescent and adult sharks. Electronic tags also allow the research team to map critical habitat used by young-of-the-year sharks. In collaboration with scientists in California and Mexico, we placed tracking tags on 43 young sharks and documented a great white shark nursery that extends from southern California through Baja California. Our collaborative research on juvenile white sharks was the focus of the lead program for Discovery Channel's Shark Week 2011. The program featured our efforts to tag and track young great white sharks off southern California, as well as the research by Aquarium partner Dr. Chris Lowe of California State University-Long Beach. Dr. Lowe and his team are investigating high levels of pollutants found in young great white sharks to learn the sources and what impact - if any - this is having on the survival of the young animals. Our Tuna Research and Conservation Center team has dramatically expanded what's known about Atlantic bluefin tuna - and what's needed to protect them in the wild. Now we're increasing our research efforts in the Northern Pacific, where pressures on bluefin tuna are growing. There are currently no management measures in place at international fisheries for this species in the Pacific. The data collected through our electronic tagging study can contribute critical information for development of a sustainable fishery management program. We're using the same tagging technologies to gather and analyze data about fishery mortality and population size of Pacific bluefin tuna. Already, we've placed more than 400 electronic tags on fish in this area. Remarkably, more than half of these tagged fish have been caught by commercial fishermen and their electronic tags returned to the Aquarium. Most were caught off California and Mexico; 15 were recovered near Japan from fish on their way to spawning grounds. We've already built the largest data-set in the world for these fish - more than 52,000 days of data. We're learning about the distribution, migratory patterns and habitat use of Pacific bluefin tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. We want to learn how much time Pacific bluefin spend off our coast, what species they're feeding on and where they're feeding. Our goal is for the science conducted to contribute directly to policy changes that will assure the long-term sustainability of these commercially and ecologically important fishes. Form 990 Part III Line 4d Other program services Other program services of $12,953,977 represents the costs of activities to provide a high quality experience for the 1.8 million people visiting the Aquarium in 2011. Included in this category are costs for marketing, guest services, membership services, as well as costs associated with foodservices and retail. Marketing includes costs associated with the creation, production, and placement of advertising in various media for the purpose of building awareness about the opportunity to connect with marine life and ocean conservation through an Aquarium visit. An allocation of marketing costs is included in management and general expenses to represent the costs associated with soliciting admission revenue. More visitors than ever are connecting with us via mobile phone and social media. Our creative web and guest experience teams continue to come up with programs to use technology to connect visitors with our animals and exhibits. We connected visitors with animals through our popular "UFO" feature - text message alerts about Unidentified Feeding Opportunities. The service informs guests about feedings of jellyfish, sharks, flamingos and bat rays, enrichment sessions for the giant Pacific octopus, and even unusual wildlife sightings off the Aquarium's ocean-view decks. We continued to strengthen our ties to California's growing Hispanic community. The Aquarium attracted more than 121,000 California Hispanic visitors in 2011 thanks in part to two specially crafted cultural weekend promotional events that granted free admission for all children 12 and under. Our free admission programs through local libraries and nonprofit social service organizations brought over 41,000 low-income and special-needs visitors to the Aquarium. Membership households totaled 62,800 as of December 31, 2011 and membership visits were over 390,000 in 2011. In addition to the essential processing and customer service functions, membership services hosts ten member events each year including the popular Halloween dance party and holiday wine tasting event. Members also receive Shorelines, the Aquarium's member magazine, which is produced three times annually. Membership services also include other efforts to serve, retain and communicate with members. Our overall outreach wouldn't have the impact it does without the dedication of our many volunteers who help clean exhibits, feed sea otter pups, explain sea stars to toddlers, show off jellies to visitors from overseas, discuss why eating sustainable seafood can help the ocean, and make countless other connections that further our mission in compelling and very personal ways. More than 1,290 individuals are currently active volunteers at the Aquarium. Collectively, they donated more than 13,300 hours every month in 2011, for a total of 160,069 hours. Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 2: Trustees Julie Packard and Susan Orr are sisters. Christopher Scholin, a Trustee, is the CEO of Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute ("MBARI") of which Julie Packard and Susan Orr are Board members. Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 11A: The Form 990 is prepared by Grant Thornton LLP based on audited financial statements and with the assistance of the Aquarium's finance and accounting staff. The final draft of the Form 990 is reviewed by the CFO and the Executive Director. Upon acceptance of the draft by the CFO and Executive Director, the draft Form 990 is delivered to the Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees in advance of their next meeting. The Finance Committee reviews the draft during the meeting, with the CFO and Executive Director present for questions and discussion. Finally, the Board receives a copy of the final version of the Form 990 prior to filing. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c: The Aquarium regularly and consistently monitors and enforces compliance with its conflict of interest policies. Trustees and officers Conflict of Interest Policy -- The Executive Director's office assures that all disclosures forms (and mitigation plans, if applicable) have been received by January 31 of each year from all trustees and officers, prepares a summary of disclosures, and forwards the completed forms and the summary to the Aquarium's Conflicts Review Panel, consisting of the Executive Director, Legal Counsel, V. P - Human Resources, and Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Trustees and officers also acknowledge receipt and understanding of the Aquarium's COI Policy in conjunction with providing the annual disclosures. Following review by the Panel, the Panel's findings and the disclosures are provided to the Board's Audit Committee, which reviews the disclosures and makes a report to the Board at its May Board meeting. Both the Panel and the Audit Committee annually evaluate the effectiveness of the process. The CFO assures appropriate reporting to the external auditors and tax filings preparer. Trustees and officers have a continuing duty to make additional disclosures throughout the year if warranted. Employees Code of Ethical Conduct Policy -- The V. P. -- Human Resources forwards the Code, which includes a section on conflicts of interest, to all managers in early January each year, and assures that each manager responds that they have read it and are in compliance by January 31. Managers are also required to disclose any interests which could give rise to conflict, and to assure that any staff in their areas with interests which could give rise to conflict has done the same. Disclosures (and mitigation plans, if applicable) are reviewed by the Executive Director, V. P. -- Human Resources and CFO by March. This team also evaluates the effectiveness of the process. The CFO assures appropriate reporting to the external auditors and tax filings preparer. Employees have a continuing duty to make additional disclosures throughout the year if warranted. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15: The Board of Trustees maintains a performance evaluation process for the Chief Executive Officer, referred to as the Executive Director, who is a member of the Board. The Board's Executive Compensation Committee, comprised of independent directors, reviews the CEO's performance with input from the other Board members, and recommends the compensation of the CEO to the Board. The Committee obtains and reviews market survey data from several independent organizations (in 2011 this was five national and regional firms, including one custom survey) containing data for comparable positions at comparable organizations. The Committee provides the performance review and comparable salary information to the Board and recommends the CEO's compensation. Based upon the performance review and comparable salary information, the independent members of the Board determine that the compensation is fair, just and reasonable and then approves total compensation for the CEO. The Board delegates to the Executive Compensation Committee the performance review and compensation approval of the Chief Financial Officer, who is not a member of the Board, and any other Officers or senior staff who are highly compensated. Based upon the performance review and comparable salary information, the Committee determines that the compensation is fair, just and reasonable and approves total compensation for the CFO and all other key employees. In each case, the review and approval is contemporaneously documented in the minutes of the Committee and the Board, respectively. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19: The Aquarium makes its audited financial statements and Form 990 for the most recent three years available to the public by posting on its website. The conflicts of interest policy and governing documents are provided upon request within two business days. Form 990, Part XI, line 5: Other changes in Net Assets represent unrealized gains and losses reported for financial statement purposes, excluded from revenues reported on the Form 990. Monterey Bay Aquarium Support Services 99 Pacific Street Monterey CA 93940 770569564 Property Mgmt CA 501(c)(3) 11a NA false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true Monterey Bay Aquarium Support Services c 1000000 Monterey Bay Aquarium Support Services r 17643