PH Consulate General in Chicago Visits the Wild Reef Exhibit at the Shedd Aquarium

Consulate team led by Consul General J. Susana Paez (fifth from right) pose with Shedd Officials led by Mr. Brian Gill (last from left) and Ms. Kristen Neria (sixth from right) at the main aquarium of the Wild Reef (Chicago PCG photo).

CHICAGO 03 October 2023 - As part of the celebration of the Maritime Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANAMo) 2023, the Philippine Consulate General in Chicago visited the Wild Reef Exhibit at the Shedd Aquarium on 28 September 2023.

Led by Consul General J. Susana Paez, the group was met by Mr. Brian Gill, Senior Director, Government Affairs and Policy and Ms. Kristen Neria, Director of Exhibit Services at the Shedd Aquarium.

The Shedd Aquarium welcomes nearly two million visitors annually. The Wild Reef Exhibit, which features the marine ecosystem of Apo Island in Negros Oriental, is the most visited exhibit at the Shedd Aquarium since it opened in 2003. It spans 27,500 square feet and features over 450 species of coral, 2,500 different species of fish, and over 40 sharks.

The highlight of the visit featured the Apo Island marine ecosystem and the collaborative efforts of the government and the local community in maintaining the surrounding reef as a marine sanctuary. To date, 80% of the fishing grounds is being used for sustainable fishing practices and the remaining 20% has been set aside for local wildlife to recover and reproduce. The exhibit also featured fishing gears made from indigenous materials such as bamboo and plywood used by the Apo Island fisherfolk as opposed to cyanide and other harmful chemicals that can both harm coral reefs and human beings.

Director Gill, who professed that the Wild Reef is his favorite exhibit at Shedd, also informed the group that a phase-by-phase renovation project which started on 01 Aug 2023 will feature new escalators that will easily connect the different exhibit areas to be more accessible for visitors and especially for persons with disabilities. Shedd Aquarium will also endeavor to build larger habitats for marine animals and is looking to double the amount of gallons of water by the year 2027.

The Shedd officers also discussed the aquarium's latest conservation initiatives, including joining an international collaborative effort to reestablish the population of the endangered zebra shark in Raja Ampat, Indonesia, and as part of an international research team to restore reefs in warming oceans with climate-resilient corals. They expressed openness to explore possible partnerships with the Philippines on conservation efforts in the marine waters surrounding the archipelago. END

Consulate team posing before a replica of a boat used by Apo Island fisherfolks and other fishing gears made up of indigenous materials (Chicago PCG photo).

Consulate team led by Consul General This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (third from right) pose with Director Brian Gill (third from left) at Wild Reef exhibit featuring the Apo Island Reef (Chicago PCG photo).

For more information, visit https://www.chicagopcg.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.chicagopcg.com, https://www.facebook.com/PHinChicago/, https://twitter.com/PHinChicago or https://www.instagram.com/phinchicago/.