Noyo Center Marine Field Station Open House
Field Station Open House
Sunday, October 5, 2025
11 AM - 3 PM
Noyo Center for Marine Science Field Station
32430 N. Harbor Drive in Fort Bragg
Tour the Urchin Ranch, a 40-foot shipping container where overabundant yet starving purple urchins are being fed in a recirculating aquaculture system to create delicious uni.
These resilient creatures are able to persist through years of starvation, but there is hope in Blue Economy circles that they can be harvested, raised to delectable plumpness, and sold commercially. Guests are also welcome to walk around the Field Station, home to our marine mammal skeleton specimen lab, and other developing research and education projects. From 11:30AM - 12:45PM, the Kelp RISES Research Group Presentation will share their findings. The open house is followed by the Ocean Aquaculture Panel Discussion and Seaweed Happy Hour Reception.
KelpFest! Special Presentation: Kelp RISES Research Group
Photo: Kelp RISES
Kelp RISES Research Group
Sunday, October 5, 2025
11:30 AM - 12:45 PM
Noyo Center for Marine Science Field Station
32430 N. Harbor Drive in Fort Bragg
Learn about the Kelp RISES research into the question: how might different kelp restoration approaches account for ongoing climate change?
This presentation focuses on the latest activities of the Kelp RISES Research Group , which explores the question: how might different kelp restoration approaches account for ongoing climate change? To this end, the group is integrating (1) social science research methods to understand human connections to and priorities for kelp systems, (2) oceanographic data and ecological field studies to understand the natural drivers of kelp resilience, and (3) a combination of bio-economic models and network analysis to identify optimal approaches and barriers to achieving the optimal outcomes. The presentation provides an overview of the project as well as recent findings from four pieces: (1) interviews to elucidate the human dimensions of the kelp ecosystem on the Mendocino Coast, (2) experiments and field observations on how freshwater input from rivers affects urchin grazing on kelp, (3) a model to explore different approaches to kelp restoration under future climate change (research that also motivates the …all dripping in tangles green… performance on Saturday), and (4) network analysis of the interactions between people and kelp forests in Mendocino and beyond. A Q&A discussion time will conclude the event.
There is no fee for this presentation, but please let us know you are coming:
KelpFest!: Regenerative Aquaculture Panel Discussion and Seaweed Happy Hour
KelpFest!
Regenerative Aquaculture Panel Discussion
and Seaweed Happy Hour
Sunday, October 5, 2025
3:00-5:30 PM
Noyo Center for Marine Science Field Station
32430 N. Harbor Drive in Fort Bragg
Dive deeply into the topic of regenerative aquaculture with a panel discussion hosted by the Noyo Center. The program includes scientists involved with current research programs focused on purple urchins, and the latest in recovery efforts for abalone, bull kelp, and sunflower sea stars. Noyo Center Executive Director Sheila Semans will moderate the program.
Stick around after the program for Seaweed Happy Hour and meet the scientists while you enjoy a little food and drink, including some local wines from Anderson Valley’s Minus Tide Wines, North Coast Brewing Company beer, and non-alcoholic offerings.
There is no ticket price for this event, but a suggested donation of $10 or more helps support our ability to bring you these programs.
Guest Speakers
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Luke’s research interests broadly involve the development of sustainable aquaculture. Specifically, he is working with industry to apply advanced and emerging technologies to help solve issues limiting aquaculture growth. He has primarily used biotechnology to study physiological systems in marine organisms including reproduction, biomineralization, toxicology and nutrition.
Economically incentivizing the harvest of wild purple urchins in aquaculture can help reduce the urchin population and restore kelp forests. However, the urchins in barrens have limited economic value due to their starved state. Aquaculture can help fatten the roe in the urchins and increase their value. To do this a team of researchers, urchin divers, aquaculture farmers, and community members have been working on developing diets optimized for urchin roe growth as well as determining the ideal culture conditions to increase the quality of the roe year-round. Together this research is hoped to provide needed technology and information to jumpstart urchin ranching aquaculture and support kelp recovery.
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Elora López-Nandam is an evolutionary biologist with research interests in the ecology, evolution, and conservation of marine ecosystems. She has used genetics to address a wide range of topics in the ocean, from sea cucumber fisheries in Fiji to coral bleaching in American Samoa. Currently, she combines genomics with aquarium husbandry for important marine animals like corals and sea stars.
Since 2022, the California Academy of Sciences has been optimizing methods to spawn and raise echinoderms, and since 2024, we have led efforts to spawn and raise the first two cohorts of sunflower sea stars in California aquariums. The interdisciplinary team includes the husbandry experts of Steinhart Aquarium and the research expertise of the Academy's biodiversity science division. By combining husbandry experiments with genetics and statistical analysis, we aim to build best practices for conservation breeding programs worldwide. The success of the first two sunflower sea star cohorts has opened new doors for the future of this species in California.
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Dan serves as the Director for Oceans and Aquaculture with the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians, Indigenous peoples of the Sonoma Coast in Northern California. On behalf of Kashia, Dan leads several projects working to advance kelp forest restoration and Tribal aquaculture with academic, government, and non-profit partners on the West Coast of the USA. In addition to his Tribal affiliation, Dan also holds an appointment as a research scientist at the UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory, and he previously worked as Lead Scientist for The Cultured Abalone Farm LLC., one of California's longest running aquaculture businesses. Dan’s work is diverse and collaborative, encompassing themes of ocean food, the conservation of biological diversity, and the sovereignty of indigenous peoples. Dan will speak about the highly collaborative red abalone captive breeding program now underway.
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Torre has been an ecologist since he could crawl. Exploring the dirt, worms, trees, snakes, and birds in his own backyard translated very well when he decided to pursue Marine Biology at Humboldt State University. His fascination with intertidal ecology led him to pursue scientific SCUBA diving, so he could gain a deeper understanding of how coastal ecosystems work.
60th Anniversary Reception & Screening of “The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming”
60th Anniversary Reception & Screening of
“The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming”
Brace yourself for a comedic “invasion” on the coast as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming, a Cold War classic shot almost entirely on the Mendocino Coast.
2pm-3:30pm: Reception and Pop-Up Exhibit: Free Admission
Noyo Center for Marine Science’s Field Station (used as a filming location) at 32430 N. Harbor Drive in Fort Bragg. Enjoy snacks and drinks as you meet local residents who were extras during the film’s production. Don’t miss the Kelley House Museum’s pop-up exhibit full of memorabilia, which will be on display at the reception and includes historic photos of the premiere at Coast Cinemas. Free admission.
4pm-6pm: 60th Anniversary Screening of
The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming: Tickets $15
Coast Cinemas, 135 S. Franklin St. Fort Bragg. During production, the Fort Bragg Advocate News described the comedic plot as, “the accidental grounding of a Russian submarine because its skipper wanted to get a closer look at the United States. The sub gets hung up on a sandbar and the plot unfolds as the crew determines ways of getting away at the same time Americans are mistaking the accident as an invasion.” The cast included Carl Reiner, Alan Arkin, Eva Marie Saint, Jonathan Winters, Brian Keith, and Ben Blue, plus plenty of locals.
The event is jointly hosted by the Mendocino Film Festival, the Kelley House Museum, and the Noyo Center for Marine Science.
Hubb’s Beaked Whale Articulation Workshop
All marine mammal stranding activities are conducted under authorization by the National Marine Fisheries Service through a Stranding Agreement issued to the California Academy of Sciences/Noyo Center for Marine Science and MMPA/ESA Permit No.24359, and the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program.
Hubb’s Beaked Whale Articulation Workshop
September 15-20, 2025
Noyo Center Marine Field Station
Open to the Public Monday-Friday, 1-4 PM
Thursday, September 18:
Science Social and Happy Hour, 4-6 PM
Saturday, September 20:
Open House and Skeleton Unveiling 2-4 PM
With the help of the funding from a grant from The Spirit of Max Foundation, and a lot of hard work on the part of our collections team and science advisors, we will be articulating a very rare Hubb’s beaked whale from September 15-20. We will be joined by a team of marine mammal specialists from our partners at California Academy of Sciences (CAS). We hope you will have an opportunity to visit the Field Station during this exciting week.
Hubbs beaked whales are among the most mysterious mammals on Earth—deep-diving, elusive, and rarely seen at the surface. Beaked whales are very difficult to observe due to their elusive nature and deep-ocean habitat. Consequently, most of what is known about Hubb's beaked whales comes from the study of stranded individuals. Hubb's beaked whales have only been identified alive in the wild twice, although there have been over 60 known strandings on both sides of the North Pacific. Watch our science talk on The Mysteries of Beaked Whales recorded on September 9, 2025.
In May of 2022, a female beaked whale washed ashore on the Mendocino Coast just south of Fort Bragg. The Noyo Center Marine Mammal Response Team collected the skeleton of the animal, along with organ and tissue samples, and began the process of identifying the exact species (there are approximately 24 recognized living species of beaked whales in the family Ziphiidae), not knowing at the time what a rare encounter this would turn out to be. Once it was identified, with the help of scientists and whale experts from as far away as Poland, the team knew that articulating the species for our collection would be something very special.
This articulation will be different from most others the Noyo Center has undertaken. The skeleton collected on the beach was not complete, likely due to decomposition at sea before she washed to shore. With the help of a CAS specimen, our team is utilizing 3D scanning and printing to replace missing bones. This marriage of technology with specimen articulation is relatively new, and we are excited to put it to the test.
Thank you for your continued support.
French Toast Breakfast in Noyo Harbor
French Toast Breakfast
Sunday, September 7, 2025
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Noyo Center Marine Field Station
32430 N. Harbor Drive in Fort Bragg
$25
Includes French Toast and Choice of Sausage or Fruit Side
*Vegan option available
Coffee or tea is included in price
Mochas, Lattes, Juice and extra side dishes
available for purchase
Special Thanks to our Sponsors at Thanksgiving Coffee and Roundman’s Smokehouse
A Special Seafood Dinner in Noyo Harbor
Seafood Dinner
Saturday, August 9, 2025
6PM-8PM
$85
Noyo Center Marine Field Station
32430 N. Harbor Drive
Fort Bragg
Featuring a five-course menu with a seafood entree
Vegan and gluten free options available
One glass of wine or craft beer included
Additional wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages
available for purchase.
Proceeds to benefit the Noyo Center for Marine Science programs.
Photo: Thomas Delgado
French Toast Breakfast in Noyo Harbor
French Toast Breakfast
Sunday, August 3, 2025
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Noyo Center Marine Field Station
32430 N. Harbor Drive in Fort Bragg
$25
Includes French Toast and Choice of Meat or Fruit Side
*Vegan option available
Coffee or tea is included in price
Juice and extra side dishes available for purchase
French Toast Breakfast
French Toast Breakfast
Sunday, July 6, 2025
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Noyo Center Marine Field Station
32430 N. Harbor Drive in Fort Bragg
$20
Includes French Toast and Choice of Meat or Fruit Side
*Vegan option available
Coffee, tea, juice and extra side dishes available for purchase
Gloriana Musical Theatre presents Finding Nemo
Finding Nemo, Jr.
presented by
Gloriana Musical Theatre
March 21-23 and March 28-30, 2025
Noyo Center is pleased to join Art Explorers and Animal Communicator as a sponsor for these events.
Gloriana Musical Theatre presents Finding Nemo
Finding Nemo, Jr.
presented by
Gloriana Musical Theatre
March 21-23 and March 28-30, 2025
Noyo Center is pleased to join Art Explorers and Animal Communicator as a sponsor for these events.
Gloriana Musical Theatre presents Finding Nemo
Finding Nemo, Jr.
presented by
Gloriana Musical Theatre
March 21-23 and March 28-30, 2025
Noyo Center is pleased to join Art Explorers and Animal Communicator as a sponsor for these events.
Whale Watching on the Telstar with Noyo Center Naturalists
Whale Watching on the Telstar
with Noyo Center Naturalists
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Telstar Charters
32390 N. Harbor Drive in Fort Bragg
MAP
1:00-3:00 PM
$54.48/person
Join the Telstar crew and a guest Noyo Center naturalist for an education focused excursion. Embarking from Noyo Harbor, we will spend two hours at sea conducting community science together. From bird watching, to whale and seal spotting to plankton tows each trip will be tailored to current and local wildlife with expert naturalist interpretation along the way. A portion of proceeds from these trips will be donated to Noyo Center.
All ages welcome.
What's included:
-2 hour trip out the sea board the Telstar
-cabin and restroom on vessel
-welcome to bring anything you'd like to eat or drink
-dress weather appropriate; layers for warmth
Gloriana Musical Theatre presents Finding Nemo
Finding Nemo, Jr.
presented by
Gloriana Musical Theatre
March 21-23 and March 28-30, 2025
Noyo Center is pleased to join Art Explorers and Animal Communicator as a sponsor for these events.
Gloriana Musical Theatre presents Finding Nemo
Finding Nemo, Jr.
presented by
Gloriana Musical Theatre
March 21-23 and March 28-30, 2025
Noyo Center is pleased to join Art Explorers and Animal Communicator as a sponsor for these events.
Gloriana Musical Theatre presents Finding Nemo
Finding Nemo, Jr.
presented by
Gloriana Musical Theatre
March 21-23 and March 28-30, 2025
Noyo Center is pleased to join Art Explorers and Animal Communicator as a sponsor for these events.
North Coast Brewing Brewmaster's Sustainable Seafood Dinner
North Coast Brewing Brewmaster's Sustainable Seafood Dinner
The Pub at North Coast Brewing Co.
Thursday, March 13
6:30 - 9 PM
$125/ticket includes 5 beers paired with 5 sustainable seafood courses
A special brewmaster’s dinner to support Noyo Center for Marine Science. Each beer will be presented by the brewmaster and paired with a sustainable seafood course. Drink and eat merrily knowing your brew is local, your seafood is sustainable, and proceeds help keep whales safe and the ocean healthy.
Whale Watching on the Telstar with Noyo Center Naturalists
Whale Watching on the Telstar
with Noyo Center Naturalists
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Telstar Charters
32390 N. Harbor Drive in Fort Bragg
MAP
1:00-3:00 PM
$54.48/person
Join the Telstar crew and a guest Noyo Center naturalist for an education focused excursion. Embarking from Noyo Harbor, we will spend two hours at sea conducting community science together. From bird watching, to whale and seal spotting to plankton tows each trip will be tailored to current and local wildlife with expert naturalist interpretation along the way. A portion of proceeds from these trips will be donated to Noyo Center.
All ages welcome.
What's included:
-2 hour trip out the sea board the Telstar
-cabin and restroom on vessel
-welcome to bring anything you'd like to eat or drink
-dress weather appropriate; layers for warmth
Whale Watching on the Telstar with Noyo Center Naturalists
Whale Watching on the Telstar
with Noyo Center Naturalists
Friday, March 5, 2025
Telstar Charters
32390 N. Harbor Drive in Fort Bragg
MAP
1:00-3:00 PM
$54.48/person
Join the Telstar crew and a guest Noyo Center naturalist for an education focused excursion. Embarking from Noyo Harbor, we will spend two hours at sea conducting community science together. From bird watching, to whale and seal spotting to plankton tows each trip will be tailored to current and local wildlife with expert naturalist interpretation along the way. A portion of proceeds from these trips will be donated to Noyo Center.
All ages welcome.
What's included:
-2 hour trip out the sea board the Telstar
-cabin and restroom on vessel
-welcome to bring anything you'd like to eat or drink
-dress weather appropriate; layers for warmth
Music in the Redwoods
Visit the Music in the Redwoods WEBPAGE for tickets and more information.