Mike Baird/FlickrThe Monterey Bay Aquarium, famous for its sea
otters, discharges millions of gallons of treated fish, bird and
mammal waste into the bay. Although famous for conservation and
its sustainable and environmentally friendly practices, the
Monterey Bay Aquarium is also one of the largest wastewater
dischargers in the protected Pacific Grove area of the bay. Last
week, the State Water Resources Control Board exempted the
aquarium [PDF] from a state ban on dumping wastewater in a
marine protected zone. The board decided the aquarium’s
conservation and public education benefits far outweigh any
dangers posed by the millions of gallons of treated fish, bird
and mammal waste it dumps back into the bay. “The Monterey Bay
Aquarium’s beneficial uses include extensive public outreach and
education on the marine environment, basic water quality
research, and research to determine the needs and improve the
quality of existence for marine life,” said David Clegern, a
spokesman for the water board. Help us do