Cabrillo Marine Museum, by Larry Fukuhara

Larry Fukuhara is the Program Director for the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium and self-described “beach bum”.  He was born and raised in Long Beach and has been living in San Pedro for over 30 years.  He received a BS from San Diego State.

Larry began volunteering as a docent at the Aquarium.  Now he supervises programs there such as Volunteers and Docents, Whale Watching and free school tours.

He reviewed the architectural changes at the Aquarium, including a tank that children can walk underneath, and the Aquaculture Kitchen.  100,000 children visit the Aquarium every year.  The grunion hunt, on the beach during the full moon when they emerge from the water for egg laying, is a popular event.

He showed many interesting marine life photos from the local area and places he has traveled to around the world.  Among them were a lobster molting, a Garibaldi (California’s State Marine Fish, protected by law), gray whales in their birthing lagoon on the Pacific coast of the Baja Peninsula in Mexico, dolphins, elephant seals (bigger than walruses!), fur seals, Lions’ Mane jellyfish, the giant “Barn Door” Halibut, the endangered leatherback turtle, and the venomous scorpionfish (a Southern California fish that can inflict painful puncture wounds).  He showed photos of swimming in the Amazon River near piranha fish (which are not as dangerous as their reputation, provided you “follow the rules”).

Aquarium hours are Tuesday-Friday 12-5 and Saturday-Sunday 10-5.  It is located at 3720 Stephen M White Drive in San Pedro, (310) 548-7562.  See the website for more information, http://www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org/.