Monterey Bay Chapter, American Cetacean Society

04/10/2026

Whalefest Monterey is happening this weekend with two full days of celebration, conservation, and connection at Custom House Plaza on Old Fisherman’s Wharf.

Join the American Cetacean Society Monterey Bay Chapter at our booth Saturday & Sunday from 10am–5pm. Rain or shine!

This FREE, family-friendly event features:

🐋 Interactive exhibits from marine organizations
🎶 Live music and performances
🧪 A marine science symposium with leading researchers
🎨 Hands-on activities like whale origami & art
🚢 Research vessels and ocean education experiences

Stop by to learn about whales, marine conservation, and how you can help protect our ocean.

We can’t wait to see you there!

For more info visit:

Whalefest Monterey is an annual two-day event celebrating marine conservation, science, and community engagement at Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey.

03/26/2026

Join Us Tonight!

Don’t miss Dr. Burney Le Boeuf at the ACS Monterey Bay Chapter meeting, presenting: “Sex, Sleep, and Blubber in Seals and Whales.”

📍 Hopkins Marine Station, Pacific Grove
🕖 7 PM, Thursday, March 26 (Doors open 6:30pm)

Dr. Le Boeuf will also bring copies of his newest book: “The Quest for Darwinian Fitness: A Case Study of Elephant Seals”.

Learn more about Dr. Le Boeuf’s research: https://www.bleboeuf.com/

For more event info visit:
https://acsmb.org/

See you there!

Join us Thursday, March 26 and delve into the wonderful world of marine mammals, from the social lives of elephant seals to the mysteries of whales.

03/24/2026

The next ACS Monterey Bay Chapter meeting is almost here!

📅 Thursday, March 26 | 7pm
📍 Hopkins Marine Station, Pacific Grove

Dr. Burney Le Boeuf will present “Sex, Sleep, and Blubber in Seals and Whales,” sharing decades of research on elephant seals, sea lions, fur seals, and gray whales.

This is a chance to hear from a scientist who has shaped both marine mammal research and conservation practices.

Learn more about Dr. Le Boeuf’s research: https://www.bleboeuf.com/

For more event info:
https://acsmb.org/

03/18/2026

Did you know?

Dr. Burney Le Boeuf earned his PhD at UC Berkeley in 1966 and shifted from lab research on rodents and quail to decades of groundbreaking studies on elephant seals and other marine mammals in the wild.

He has studied social and reproductive behavior, colony development, diving, foraging, and population dynamics, and continues to publish and update his classic work, The Natural History of Año Nuevo.

Join ACS Monterey Bay on Thursday, March 26 at 7pm at Hopkins Marine Station to hear his talk: “Sex, Sleep, and Blubber in Seals and Whales.”

Learn more about Dr. Le Boeuf’s research: https://www.bleboeuf.com/

For more event info visit: https://acsmb.org/

Reproduction is fundamental for all life.  Lives are designed by natural selection to create more life.  Therefore, it is important to determine how this is accomplished.  It is vital to understand how individuals maximize their lifetime reproductive success, their Darwinian fitness.  Individual...

03/12/2026

Mark your calendars!

The next ACS Monterey Bay Chapter meeting is Thursday, March 26 at 7pm at Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove.

We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Burney Le Boeuf, a pioneering marine mammal biologist whose research on elephant seals, sea lions, and gray whales has shaped our understanding of marine mammal behavior and population dynamics. His talk is titled: “Sex, Sleep, and Blubber in Seals and Whales”.

This is an opportunity to hear insights from a lifetime of field research spanning decades.

Dr. Le Boeuf will also bring copies of his newest book: ”The Quest for Darwinian Fitness: A Case Study of Elephant Seals” for purchase.

Learn more about Dr. Le Boeuf’s research: https://www.bleboeuf.com/

For more event info visit:
https://acsmb.org/

01/29/2026

Tonight is the night!

Join us this evening, Thursday, January 29, at Hopkins Marine Station for a special presentation by Dr. Stephen Palumbi.

Learn how Environmental DNA (eDNA) is helping map marine biodiversity in the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, supporting Indigenous-led stewardship and protecting Central California’s unique marine ecosystems.

🕡 Doors open at 6:30 PM
🕖 Presentation begins at 7:00 PM
📍 Hopkins Marine Station, Pacific Grove
🎟️ Free and open to the public

Questions? Text (831) 214-1016

See you tonight!

01/26/2026

Coming Up This Week!

Join the ACS Monterey Bay Chapter on Thursday, January 29 for a presentation with Dr. Stephen Palumbi at Hopkins Marine Station.

Dr. Palumbi will share groundbreaking work using Environmental DNA (eDNA) in the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, revealing the extraordinary diversity of marine life—from microalgae to whales—while working in partnership with Chumash communities.

📍 Hopkins Marine Station, Pacific Grove
🕡 6:30 PM – Doors Open
🕖 7:00 PM – Presentation
🎟️ Free and open to the public

More info: www.acsmb.org

We hope to see you there!

Join us on Thursday, January 29 for an evening exploring the incredible biodiversity of Central California’s marine environment from microscopic life to whales.

01/20/2026

You’re Invited! Upcoming ACS Monterey Bay Meeting

Join us on Thursday, January 29 for an evening exploring the incredible biodiversity of Central California’s marine environment from microscopic life to whales.

📍 Location: Hopkins Marine Station, Oceanview Blvd., Pacific Grove
🕡 6:30 PM – Doors Open
🕖 7:00 PM – Presentation
🎟️ Free and open to the public

🎤 Featured Speaker: Dr. Stephen Palumbi
📚 Talk Title:
“Over and under the kelp forest: Working with Chumash communities on the stunning diversity and abundance of central California marine life from microalgae to whales”

Dr. Palumbi, faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences at Hopkins Marine Station, will share how Environmental DNA (eDNA) is being used in the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary to map marine biodiversity through water samples—without capturing animals. This innovative research supports Indigenous-led stewardship, complements traditional ecological knowledge, and helps protect habitats ranging from kelp forests to historic shipwrecks along California’s Central Coast.

Learn more: www.acsmb.org

We hope to see you there!

10/23/2025

🐋 ACS Monterey Bay x American Cetacean Society of Orange County x American Cetacean Society - Los Angeles Chapter (ACS/LA) Speaker Series Tonight! 🐋

Don’t miss Jared Towers as he dives into his groundbreaking research on Bigg’s killer whales, and how AI is helping us track and understand these orcas like never before.

🗓️ Tonight, Thursday, October 23 @ 7 PM
🌊 RSVP here: https://www.acsorangecounty.org/events

ACS-OC hosts monthly featured speaker events, where experts share their insights, passion, and work on all things cetaceans. Register for online and in-person events!

10/20/2025

🐋 ACS Monterey Bay x American Cetacean Society of Orange County Speaker Series 🐋

Join us this Thursday, October 23 at 7pm for a presentation by Jared Towers: “Tracking and Understanding Bigg’s Killer Whales from California to Alaska.”

Learn how new AI-powered photo ID technology is transforming our understanding of the West Coast Transient (Bigg’s) killer whales, revealing fresh insights into their abundance, health, and behaviors.

🗓️ Thursday, October 23 @ 7 PM
🌊 RSVP Today: https://www.acsorangecounty.org/events

09/24/2025

🐋 Tonight’s the night 🐋

Join us for our Live Speaker Series: "The Miracle of the Gray Whale" with naturalist James Michael Dorsey.

📍 Hopkins Marine Station, Pacific Grove, CA
🕡 Doors open at 6:30pm
🐋 Program begins at 7pm

Signed copies of "The Lagoon" available for purchase. See you soon!