The National Marine Life Center of Buzzards Bay had a goal Friday night: to raise $10,000 in order to build an isolation pool for sea turtles.

Thanks to the donations of those who attended the center's 9th Annual Mermaid Ball, held in Rosebrook Event Center this year, center staff will get that pool.

The center takes in injured seals and sea turtles, rehabilitating and releasing ones that become stranded on the East Coast. The center includes a hospital and several pools in which the turtles and seals are held.

"Right now, there are several turtles in critical condition," said Kathy Zagzebski, president and executive director of the center. "[By building the new isolation pool], it will free up the larger pool for sea turtles and seals."

The fundraiser for the pool was just one part of the annual celebration, which encouraged people to dress up. People wearing mermaid, octopus, pirate, Neptune/Poseidon, and whale outfits walked around the event center, enjoying dinner and placing bids on the silent auction.

"We said that when we were going to have a special event, it'd have to be something not boring." said Zagzebski. "So it's a little formal, but fun as well."

According to Abby Williams, a summer intern at the center, the standard work outfit is much different. Staff must wear thick gloves, rubber boots, and protective gear while handling the seals, which can weigh up to 60 pounds. Gray seals can weigh up to 600 pounds as adults.

The trick to not getting bit (in case a seal gets aggressive), she said is to: "put a towel over its head."

"For some reason, it calms them down."

For the event, Williams wore a mermaid outfit, and her fellow intern, Brendan Timmerman, dressed as Neptune, complete with a trident.

Guest speaker and entertainer Loretta LaRoche had people laughing for part of the night. She actually ordered people to laugh, as loud and as hard as they can from the stomach.

The motivational speaker prides herself on turning stress into strength, commenting on how "insane we are."

The answer to stress is simple, according to LaRoche.

"Fun is the antidote to stress, but a lot of us are always waiting."

The night ended with fun on the dance floor and a costume competition.