REEF: UCSB's Aquarium and Touch Tanks

Kathy checking out the touch tanks.

After two years at UCSB I finally made it to the Research Experience & Education Facility - better known as The REEF - UCSB's interactive aquarium facility at Campus Point (map). There are a few small aquariums and seven large aquariums, four of which are touch tanks full of a variety of star fish, urchins, sea cucumbers, and baby swell sharks. There is also one tank with a grown female swell shark, who was about to lay eggs (mermaid's purse) when I visited. 


The REEF is staffed by informative UCSB marine science students. I easily spent 45 minutes getting my hands wet, asking questions, and learning some new fun facts.

Isla Vista Beaches Shut Down Due to Floatopia Fears

This weekend the beaches of Isla Vista will be closed to students and the general public due to a Facebook organized "Floatopia." A Floatopia is a big informal gathering of, generally, UCSB students on the beaches in front of campus who then jump into the water on anything that can float for a drunken, floating, beach/ocean party. Although I may be a bit of a buzz kill, I think that the reasons behind the closure are totally legitimate. Already the beaches inevitably wind up with trash just from beachfront house parties -- can you imagine the trash (and likely urine and vomit) that ends up on the beach once everyone is dehydrated and passed out at home (or on the beach)?! So much trash!! So I have to give a thumbs up to the UC Santa Barbara campus police for nipping this in the bud. KEEP OUR OCEANS CLEAN!!!

Via UCSB PD:

Due to the potential for a "Floatopia" type event to occur, the campus beaches will be closed Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3, 2011 and not accessible to the public or campus community. This beach closure is in response to unsafe and unsanitary conditions that have been associated with this unplanned event in the past.

The "Floatopia" event in 2009 failed to provide for the appropriate health, safety, or well being provisions necessary for a large scale public event, to include sanitation or refuse collections.  Because of safety concerns, the University of California, Santa Barbara Police Department will enforce the campus beach closure.