The Aquarium of the Pacific: Family Fun Including Whales

Endangered blue whales are being spotted in the waters off Long Beach. The Aquarium of the Pacific and Harbor Breeze Cruises invite the public to a three-hour whale watch excursion with Aquarium experts to view and learn about these rare and endangered whales. Guests will be able to listen to the whales they see and learn more about whale communication through the Aquarium's interactive Whales: Voices in the Sea kiosk exhibit featuring the blue whale.

The Bryde's (pronounced "broodus") whale is dark grey in color and white underneath. It is a large animal, measuring between 40 and 55 feet and weighing up to 90,000 pounds. The head of the Bryde's whale makes up about one-fourth of its entire body. They commonly swim at 1-4 miles per hour, but can swim as fast as 12-15 mph. Bryde's whales prefer tropical and warm temperate oceans around the world. There are three stocks of Bryde's whales inhabiting U.S. waters: the Eastern Tropical Pacific stock, Hawaiian stock, and Northern Gulf of Mexico stock. According to the Office of Protected Resources – NOAA Fisheries, there are an estimated 12 Bryde's whales in the coastal waters of California, Oregon, and Washington and up to 90,000-100,000 animals worldwide.

Blue whales are the largest animal on the planet, measuring between 82 and 105 feet and weighing up to 200 tons. According to National Geographic, their tongues can weigh as much as an elephant. Blue whales are carnivores, mainly subsisting on tiny shrimplike animals called krill, which they can consume in the tons each day. Known as graceful swimmers, blue whales travel at more than 5 miles an hour, but can accelerate to more than 20 miles an hour when agitated. They are among the loudest animals in the world and can hear each other up to 1,000 miles away. The average lifespan of blue whales is estimated at around 80 to 90 years. A baby blue whale spends about a year inside its mother's womb and weighs up to 3 tons when born.

According to National Geographic, between 10,000 and 25,000 blue whales are believed to be in existence. They are classified as endangered on the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List. Between 1900 and the mid-1960s, some 360,000 blue whales were slaughtered by whalers seeking whale oil. They finally came under protection with the 1966 International Whaling Commission.

Whale watch excursions are available daily at 12:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The Blue Whale & Sea Life Cruise combo ticket, which includes the whale watch and Aquarium admission, is available for purchase on-site at the Aquarium of the Pacific and may be purchased in advance by calling (562) 590-3100. Prices are $59.95 per adult (age 12 and over), $55.95 for seniors (age 62 and over), and $39.95 per child. Whale watch tickets can be purchased without Aquarium admission through Harbor Breeze Cruises by calling (562) 983-6880. Prices are $45 on weekdays and $50 on weekends per adult, $40 per senior, and $30 per child. For more information, visit Harbor Breeze Cruises.

The Aquarium of the Pacific is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. except on Christmas Day and during the Grand Prix of Long Beach. General admission for the Aquarium is $28.95 for adults (12+), $14.95 for children (ages 3-11) and $25.95 for seniors (ages 62+). Admission is FREE for children under age 3 and Aquarium members. For information about group and combo tickets, click HERE or call (562) 590-3100.

The nonprofit Aquarium of the Pacific is dedicated to environmental education. Its vision is to create a sustainable future for nature and its resources by building relationships between and among people. The Aquarium is home to over 11,000 animals in more than fifty exhibits. For more information, visit Aquarium of the Pacific .

​RARE & ENDANGERED WHALE SIGHTINGS

Aquarium of the Pacific

100 Aquarium Way

Long Beach, CA 90802

(562) 590-3100

WHALE WATCH EXCURSIONS

Harbor Breeze Cruises

100 Aquarium Way, Dock #2

Long Beach, CA 90802

(562) 983-6880