Grunion Running with a Beat

This year’s grunion run on April 21 was accompanied by a silent disco and extended late-night hours at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium.

Attendees were given headphones and encouraged to walk through the aquarium at night, listening to different DJ booths showcasing different genres of music.

The event is meant to educate people on the grunion spawning cycle and showcase a tradition in the Long Beach area of spectating the silvery fishes.

According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, grunions are small, slender fish with bullish greenbacks, silvery sides and bellies. The grunion have been known to come ashore onto the beaches of Southern California and lay their eggs in the wet sand. It is the only species of grunion that spawns at night.

Executive Director of Friends of Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Caroline Brady explains that the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium aids in the spawning of the grunion through their peak spawning season.

“The aquarium helps the grunion through its reproductive stage by monitoring and protecting the grunion and its eggs. The aquarium then harvests the offspring for 10 days before letting them back into the ocean,” said Brady.

Although catching grunion was traditionally known as a type of sport, the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium encourages releasing them back into the wild in order not to disrupt their reproductive cycle.

One of the attendees, Micheal Costaenti, unexpectedly came to Cabrillo Marine Aquarium for the grunion run along with his wife and came away with a pleasant first-time experience.

“It’s really fun. I mean, I’d recommend it. Growing up out here, if I had known about it, I probably would have done it more,” said Costaenti. “One of the things that I’m just really enjoying is just seeing all the people just having a nice time socializing – like dancing. It’s a nice thing after the last couple of years that we’ve had and it’s really cool. And the money goes to the aquarium and the aquarium is really cool.”

Long Beach City College student Diane Lopez agreed with the experience that the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium offered but admitted it may get tiresome.

“I loved coming here today. There was so many people from different ages and they actually teach you the process that grunion go through but I didn’t know it was going to be so late into the night. Next time I’ll bring blankets,” said Lopez.

The next grunion run event will be held on May 21 at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, beginning at 8 p.m.