SEA Lab unveils new submarine exhibit December 15th, 2005 From "The Beach Reporter" By Drew Holland

The Redondo Beach SEA Lab now boasts a new submarine. Well, it’s really only part of a submarine and it doesn’t actually go under water. Yet the staff at SEA Lab is excited about the new exhibit, called the U.S.S. EGBAR, which opens Dec. 15. Visitors can play an educational game on a large monitor or view sea life in one of the exhibit’s many tanks. The exhibit itself has the look of a submarine, complete with little consoles and a Navy gray color. The exhibit was conceived of and designed by the EGBAR (everything’s gonna be all right) Foundation. The purpose of the foundation is to educate young people about the importance of a clean environment. The foundation is funded by Simple Green and is one of the major supporters of the SEA Lab. Giancarlo Cetrulo, director of the SEA Lab, said the exhibit makes use of an area that had been nonfunctioning for more than two years. “This gives us not only the opportunity to educate people about our local marine life, but a chance to house some of our smaller fish,” said Cetrulo. Cetrulo said the smaller fish would have been either lost or eaten in the lab’s bigger tanks. On display are kelp bass, surfperch and flag rockfish, among others. One tank held a small octopus that was hiding behind the shell of a recently eaten crab. One of the main fixtures of the exhibit is the interactive monitor. An enormous alligator named Capt. EGBAR tests visitors on topics ranging from marine biology to environmental conservation. Not all of the questions are easy. “I got one wrong and I’m the director of this place,” said Cetrulo. Another wall of the exhibit has information on the SEA Lab. It also has information on environmental safety, such as picking up trash and using environmentally safe cleaning products. “People coming off the street will become better educated about what we do here and maybe walk a little lighter,” said Cetrulo. The exhibit also has a donation box, which Cetrulo said the lab did not have before. “It’s been a big improvement,” said Cetrulo. “It’s amazing how if people are reminded they will say, ‘Hey, I can give a couple of dollars.’ You can already tell by the amount of dollars it has generated.” Cetrulo said he is ecstatic and that SEA Lab could never have had such a high quality exhibit without the help of Simple Green. Bruce FaBrizio, the founder and CEO of Simple Green, said in a statement that: “Building this new learning experience is another example of the philosophic synchronicity we share with the SEA Lab ... Simple Green and the SEA Lab are kindred spirits when it comes to conservation. We hope others will share our vision and take responsibility to care for our planet.” The SEA Lab rescues marine animals from the AES Power Plant and displays them for free public viewing. It is a nonprofit program of the Los Angeles Conservation Corps and doubles as a research facility. It also coordinates community service activities and offers programs for children. The SEA Lab is located at 1021 N. Harbor Drive. Guided tours are available Tuesdays through Fridays every hour from 1 to 4 p.m. Tours are available Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 318-7458.