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Ralph The Whale Shark resigns abruptly as Georgia Aquarium star attraction, leaves with 210M clam severance package
ASSOCIATED PRESS
January 12, 2007

ATLANTA – Dogged by criticism of his hefty krill-intake and his exhibit's declining attendance, Ralph the Whale Shark abruptly resigned his position at the Georgia Aquarium after two years at the helm of the world's largest aquarium (by volume of water), the aquarium said Wednesday.

But he didn't leave empty-flippered: the Atlanta-based aquarium said Ralph would receive a severance package worth roughly 210 million clams, an amount decried by some lawmakers as a golden fishing net that sends the wrong message to sea life.

“It's a sign of being totally out of touch,” said Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., the incoming chairman of the House Financial Services and Seafood Committee. “They don't understand the extent to which they make the seafood public angry.”

Ralph's severance package home deliveries of popcorn shrimp and seared ahi tuna valued at roughly $77 million. An aquarium spokesman said that Ralph was responsible for his own lemon-butter, cocktail sauce and wasabi.