Source: AP News
Over the past several months, crews successfully relocated hundreds of marine animals—including river otters, sea turtles, manatees, penguins, sharks, and more—from Mote Marine Laboratory’s longtime City Island facility to its new Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA) near Sarasota, Florida. The $130 million center, opening Wednesday, features larger, more authentic habitats, including a vast manatee exhibit and new homes for penguins and a giant Pacific octopus.
The move, prompted by visitor access challenges, doubles expected attendance to 700,000 annually. Each species required specialized relocation methods: oxygenated tanks for sharks, air-conditioned trucks for manatees, and monitored transitions for all. Mote SEA houses over 400 species and introduces three STEM labs for biomedical, ecology, and ocean engineering education. The facility will also provide free, hands-on programs for 70,000 local students. Founded in 1955, Mote continues its mission to advance marine science, conservation, and public understanding of ocean ecosystems through education and immersive research experiences.