Manhattan Beach's dolphins are about to become Internet famous: The Roundhouse Aquarium's website dedicated to the local dolphins formally launched today.

The Dolphin Project website was created by Oceanographic Teaching Stations, Inc. (OTS), the Roundhouse's parent organization. 

Since 2018, OTS has been studying three pods of coastal bottlenose dolphins near the Manhattan Beach Pier, consolidating their findings into a website to raise public awareness for dolphin conservation and continued education on marine life.

The website launch coincides with the date in 1972 when the Marine Mammal Protection Act was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming a significant milestone in marine conservation in the United States. The Dolphin Project is designed to align with the Marine Mammal Protection Act's legacy, focusing on dolphin biology and behavior while advocating for a clean ocean environment.

Local Dolphin Sightings Inspired Project

(Photo credit: Roundhouse Aquarium)

The launch of the webpage is also the beginning of more classroom curriculum and public education endeavors. The website's educational resources include expert presentations, dolphin observation, classroom lessons, and social media materials. Students from around the Los Angeles area are invited to go to the aquarium for formalized lessons in marine science. 

“OTS is proud of its long-standing educational equity policy with the majority of our students coming from Title 1 schools," said John Roberts, chair emeritus of OTS.

Additionally, OTS plans to sponsor at least two public lectures per year on the dolphin project and other topics in marine science, focused on the Santa Monica Bay.

As the project continues to evolve, said Roberts, “We hope to collect and categorize more photos and videos, and perhaps document previously unreported behaviors. We will continue to develop a curriculum based on these pictures and videos. Finally, we hope to continue our dolphin awareness outreach through public lectures, events, social media, citizen science, and the web page.”

For individuals or organizations interested in contributing to the growth of the project, donations can be made to the project here.