New England Aquarium Corporation

THE NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM SEEKS TO BE A CATALYST FOR GLOBAL CHANGE IN PROTECTING THE OCEANS THROUGH PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, COMMITMENT TO MARINE ANIMAL CONSERVATION, LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION, INNOVATIVE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY FOR VITAL AND VIBRANT OCEANS.

EXHIBITION: THE AQUARIUM IS A MASSACHUSETTS CHAPTER 180 NON-PROFIT CORPORATION FORMED FOR THE PURPOSE OF OPERATING A PUBLIC AQUARIUM IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. THE MISSION OF THE AQUARIUM IS TO BE A CATALYST FOR GLOBAL CHANGE THROUGH PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, COMMITMENT TO MARINE ANIMAL CONSERVATION, LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION, INNOVATIVE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY FOR VITAL AND VIBRANT OCEANS. IN ADDITION TO ITS EXHIBITS, THE AQUARIUM OPERATES THE SIMONS THEATER, GIFT SHOP, CAFE, CATERED EVENTS, EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND SPONSORED PROGRAMMING IN MARINE RESEARCH, CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION. THE AQUARIUM RELIES ON ADMISSIONS REVENUE, RETAIL SALES TO ITS VISITORS AND PRIVATE GIFTS AND GRANTS FOR THE MAJORITY OF ITS OPERATIONS. THESE REVENUES AND SUPPORT ARE PRIMARILY DERIVED FROM VISITORS AND DONORS FROM THE GREATER BOSTON AREA, THE NEW ENGLAND REGION AND TOURISTS TO THE CITY.IN 2021, THE AQUARIUM REOPENED ITS DOORS TO VISITORS IN FEBRUARY AFTER CLOSING FOR SEVEN WEEKS TO COMPLY WITH CITY OF BOSTON GUIDANCE TO CONTAIN THE SPREAD OF COVID-19. AS WE CONTINUED TO WELCOME GUESTS DURING PEAKS AND VALLEYS OF THE PANDEMIC, WE FOCUSED ON CONTINUING TO IMPROVE THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE WITH NOT ONLY PROGRAMMING IN THE AQUARIUM (ADMISSION REQUIRED) BUT ALSO WITH FREE PROGRAMMING IN OUR SIMONS THEATRE AND ON CENTRAL WHARF PLAZA. ADDITIONALLY, AS AN ORGANIZATION LOCATED ON A WHARF ALONG BOSTON HARBOR, THE AQUARIUM RECOGNIZES ITS DUTY, AND THAT OF ALL DOWNTOWN WATERFRONT ORGANIZATIONS, TO PREPARE FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE, WHILE ALSO ENSURING THE AQUARIUM AND THE ENTIRE DOWNTOWN WATERFRONT REMAIN WELCOMING, INCLUSIVE, AND ACCESSIBLE SPACES FOR ALL VISITORS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THIS PROGRAMMING ENGAGED AND INSPIRED GUESTS AS WELL AS THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO PROTECT THE BLUE PLANET; STRENGTHENED SCIENCE LEARNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH; AND ADVANCED STRATEGIC PLAN PRIORITIES.THE FOLLOWING OCCURRED ON THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE FRONT:-IN HONOR OF WORLD OCEAN DAY AND IN KEEPING WITH OUR COMMITMENT OF A WATERFRONT ACCESSIBLE TO ALL, WE PRESENTED A SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY ON THE HARBORWALK ABOUT INVASIVE SPECIES FOUND IN BOSTON HARBOR. LED BY THE AQUARIUM'S CLIMATEENS, LIVE BLUETM AMBASSADORS, AND EDUCATION STAFF, THIS TWO-HOUR EVENT WAS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. -THE AQUARIUM'S LECTURE SERIES, HOSTED IN THE SPRING AND FALL WITH MAJOR SUPPORT FROM THE LOWELL INSTITUTE, PRESENTED A RANGE OF SPEAKERS, INCLUDING NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTOGRAPHER AND NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM EXPLORER-IN-RESIDENCE BRIAN SKERRY; ASTRONAUT AND EXPLORER KATHY SULLIVAN; AND ACADEMY-AWARD WINNING FILMMAKER AND NATURALIST CRAIG FOSTER. THESE FREE VIRTUAL EVENTS, ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 3,200 PARTICIPANTS, FOCUSED ON MARINE LIFE, OCEAN EXPLORATION, CONSERVATION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. WE ALSO HELD ONE EVENT IN PERSON IN THE NEWLY RENOVATED SIMONS THEATRE BETWEEN COVID SURGES. IN ADDITION TO HOLDING ONE AQUARIUM LECTURE IN THE THEATER, WE ALSO INTRODUCED NEW FILM OFFERINGS IN 2021.-IN JULY, THE AQUARIUM SERVED AS THE HONORARY CONSERVATION PARTNER FOR PANGEASEED FOUNDATION'S GLOBAL EVENT, SEA WALLS: ARTISTS FOR OCEANS PROGRAM. KNOWN LOCALLY AS SEA WALLS BOSTON, THIS WEEK-LONG MURAL FESTIVAL RAISES AWARENESS OF MARINE CONSERVATION AND COASTAL RESILIENCY THROUGH OCEAN-THEMED PUBLIC ART AND EVENTS. SEA WALLS BOSTON COMMISSIONED 14 NEW OCEAN-ADVOCACY MURALS, INCLUDING A MURAL OF A NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE PAINTED ON THE SIDE OF THE AQUARIUM'S SIMONS THEATRE BY ACCLAIMED ARTIST SHEPARD FAIREY. -IN JUNE, WE OPENED A NEW DINING OPTION, CENTRAL SNACK BAR, ON THE PLAZA.

IN 2021, THE ANDERSON CABOT CENTER FOR OCEAN LIFE AT THE NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM (ANDERSON CABOT CENTER; "AQUARIUM") CONTINUED ON OUR LEGACY OF CONDUCTING APPLIED OCEAN SCIENCE RESEARCH, AND ALSO EXPANDED OUR WORK ON BOTH OCEAN POLICY AND TECHNICAL ADVISING FOR BOTH START-UPS AND LARGER CORPORATIONS, ALL IN THE INTEREST OF DELIVERING ON OUR MISSION AND PROMOTING OUR VISION OF A VITAL AND VIBRANT OCEAN.SELECT 2021 NOTABLE HIGHLIGHTS:-THE AQUARIUM'S BLUESWELL PROGRAM, AN OCEAN INNOVATION START-UP INCUBATOR, COMPLETED ITS FIRST COHORT (SIX START-UPS), AND INITIATED ITS SECOND (EIGHT START-UPS) DURING 2021. THESE START-UPS RANGED IN SECTOR FOCUS FROM SUSTAINABLE AQUACULTURE AND SEAFOOD, TO OFFSHORE RENEWABLES. THE AQUARIUM'S ROLE IN THIS PROGRAM IS TO GUIDE START-UPS IN ADOPTING OCEAN-FRIENDLY PRACTICES AND METRICS, AID IN THE DILIGENCE PROCESS, AND TO SERVE AS THE FISCAL ADMINISTRATOR. -PANGEASEED FOUNDATION EXECUTED ITS BOSTON SEAWALLS "ARTIVISM" EXHIBITION, WHICH INCLUDED THE INSTALLATION OF AN ARRAY OF OCEAN-RELATED MURALS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON (PRIMARILY EAST BOSTON), AND SEVERAL OUTREACH EVENTS. AS PART OF THIS ACTIVATION, THE AQUARIUM WAS NAMED HONORARY CONSERVATION PARTNER, WHICH INCLUDED THE ADVISING OF ARTISTS AROUND OCEAN CONSERVATION-RELATED THEMES, AND SERVING AS HOST TO THE LARGEST MURAL INSTALLATION BY RENOWNED MURALIST SHEPARD FAIREY ON THE SIDE OF THE SIMON'S THEATRE.-THE UN DECADE OF OCEAN SCIENCE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ENDORSED THE AQUARIUM'S MARINE CONSERVATION ACTION FUND'S (MCAF) GLOBAL PROJECT FOCUSED ON OCEAN CONSERVATION CAPACITY BUILDING IN LOW AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES. THE PROJECT, RUN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NINE MCAF FELLOWS AND GRANTEES ACROSS 13 COUNTRIES, AIMS TO SCALE UP SUPPORT OF LOCAL LEADERS TO HELP THEM DEVELOP CONSERVATION CAPACITY IN FISHERS, YOUTH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND EMERGING LEADERS IN OCEAN CONSERVATION. THE UN OCEAN DECADE ENDORSEMENT AMPLIFIES THE CRITICAL WORK OF MCAF AND ITS GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF CONSERVATION LEADERS IN TRAINING AND MENTORING THE NEXT GENERATION OF OCEAN STEWARDS. -MCAF LAUNCHED AN EARLY CAREER OCEAN PROFESSIONALS (ECOP) MICRO-GRANTS PROGRAM. ECOP GRANTS ARE FOR RECENT UNIVERSITY GRADUATES, UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS, AND RISING COMMUNITY LEADERS WITH LIMITED OCEAN CONSERVATION EXPERIENCE. THE GOAL OF THE ECOP GRANTS IS TO PROMOTE CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT BY PROVIDING MUCH NEEDED ENTRY POINTS AND SUPPORTIVE PATHWAYS TO CAREERS IN OCEAN CONSERVATION IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES AROUND THE GLOBE.-ANDERSON CABOT CENTER AND ADDITIONAL AQUARIUM STAFF PUBLISHED 40 TOTAL PEER-REVIEWED PAPERS/BOOK CHAPTERS IN SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS/BOOKS IN 2021.

EDUCATION AND RESCUE:THE NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM HAS TWO DISTINCTIVE PROGRAMS WITH SEA TURTLES: WE RUN ONE OF THE LARGEST SEA TURTLE RESCUE OPERATIONS IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES AND WE ARE PART OF A FIRST-RESPONDER NETWORK FOR LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLES THAT GET ENTANGLED IN FISHING LINES. BOTH OF THESE PROGRAMS HELP MAINTAIN SEA TURTLE POPULATIONS AND PRODUCE RESEARCH. -THE AQUARIUM'S SEA TURTLE HOSPITAL IN QUINCY, MASS., TREATED 569 RESCUED SEA TURTLES RECOVERED FROM BEACHES ALONG CAPE COD BAY DURING THE 20-2021 STRANDING SEASON. IN ADDITION TO ADMINISTERING TO CRITICALLY ENDANGERED KEMP'S RIDLEY TURTLES, OUR SEA TURTLE HOSPITAL TREATED LOGGERHEAD AND GREEN TURTLES SUFFERING FROM LIFE-THREATENING MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING PNEUMONIA AND DEHYDRATION. THE HOSPITAL OPERATED AMID STRICT SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES, INSTITUTING NEW POPULATION MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED CONDITIONS TO MORE EFFICIENTLY STABILIZE TURTLES BEFORE TRANSPORTING THEM TO SECONDARY FACILITIES WHERE THEY COULD BE RELEASED BACK INTO WARMER WATERS. THE AQUARIUM ALSO DIRECTLY COORDINATED FIVE SEPARATE TURTLE RELEASES ALONG CAPE COD BEACHES THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.-SEVERAL MEMBERS FROM OUR ANIMAL HEALTH, RESCUE AND REHABILITATION, AND ACCOL TEAMS MADE HISTORY BY SURGICALLY IMPLANTING ACOUSTIC TAGS IN THREE REHABILITATED LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLES. THE TAGS CAN BE TRACKED BY UNDERWATER RECEIVERS UP AND DOWN THE EAST COAST OF THE U.S. THIS NOVEL PROCEDURE WILL ENABLE OUR SCIENTISTS TO MONITOR REHABILITATED SEA TURTLES AND RECORD THEIR MIGRATORY PATTERNS AND PREFERRED FEEDING GROUNDS FOR UP TO A DECADE.-IN THE FALL, WE RESPONDED TO A NUMBER OF LEATHERBACK TURTLES ENTANGLED IN FISHING GEAR. WE TYPICALLY EVALUATED, DISENTANGLED, AND OUTFITTED THE TURTLES WITH ELECTRONIC TAGS THAT ALLOWED RESEARCHERS TO ASSESS SURVIVORSHIP OVER THE NEXT 30 DAYS AND TRACK MIGRATION PATTERNS. ADDITIONALLY, WE WERE CALLED IN WHEN A 600-LB. LIVE LEATHERBACK STRANDED ON A MUDFLAT IN WELLFLEET. RESCUE AND ANIMAL HEALTH STAFF FROM THE AQUARIUM CONDUCTED A HEALTH ASSESSMENT, ANALYZING A BLOOD SAMPLE TO ASSESS THE TURTLE'S HEALTH, AND GAVE THE TURTLE INJECTIONS OF VITAMINS AND A NONSTEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUG. WE PLACED SMALL IDENTIFICATION TAGSMICROCHIP AND METAL BAND ON THE TURTLE ALONG WITH ACOUSTIC AND SATELLITE TAGS. THE TURTLE WAS THEN RELEASED BACK INTO THE OCEAN.

WE CONTINUED TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS AT BOSTON HARBOR CITY CRUISES ("BHCC") TO OFFER THE NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM WHALE WATCH, OPERATED BY BHCC. THIS COMBINED EFFORT GENERATED INCREASED WHALE WATCH ATTENDANCE AND SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED THE REACH OF OUR WHALE CONSERVATION PROGRAMMING AND OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, OVERALL.TOTAL OTHER COSTS REPRESENT THE REMAINING PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES PER PART IX THAT WERE NOT ATTRIBUTABLE TO EXHIBITION, RESEARCH, OR EDUCATION. TOTAL OTHER REVENUE REPRESENTS PROGRAMMATIC CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS INCOME PER PART VIII THAT WERE NOT ATTRIBUTABLE TO EXHIBITION, RESEARCH, OR EDUCATION.