Today means Friday, March 28.
PORT TOWNSEND — A wide variety of marine animals found off the shores of the North Olympic Peninsula will take center stage today when the Port Townsend Marine Science Center opens for the season.
The center’s marine display — 14 tanks with thousands of different animals — is located at the end of the pier extending from Fort Worden State Park.
The new season begins at 2 p.m. with a public feed where visitors are invited to help give food to the animals.
The event will then take place every Saturday at 2 p.m.
New additions to the aquatic menagerie this year are two octopuses and an egg case full of skates that are ready to hatch.
Each tanks is organized to contain only animals that can live together, keeping predators away from their natural prey.
“We have a giant Puget Sound king crab that we want to put somewhere, but it has to be with animals that won’t get eaten,” said Chrissy McLean, the center’s marine program coordinator.
The center, established in 1982, offers educational programs for groups with an emphasis on youth, as well as workshops for teachers meant to help them teach a marine science curriculum in schools.
The center employees seven full-time workers, four AmeriCorps volunteers and two summer interns.
In addition to this staff, volunteers for conservation projects also are needed, as are donors to support the operation of the center, McLean said.
The center’s spring hours are noon to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
Summer hours begin June 13 and will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Tuesday.
Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for youth and free for children five and under.
For more information, visit http://www.ptmsc.org/ or phone 360-385-5582 or 800-566-3932 toll free.
