Page 361 - Hawaii: Diving, Surfing, Pearl Harbor, Volcanoes and More

ABOUT MOTE MARINE LABORATORY
From its humble beginnings in tiny shed in a small Flor- 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 365 days a year. Mote Marine Labora-
ida town, Mote Marine Laboratory has expanded to in- tory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236.
clude a 10.5-acre campus in Sarasota, Fla., with field sta-
tions and public exhibits in Key West and field stations The Mote Living Reef Exhibit educates visitors about the
in eastern Sarasota County, Summerland Key and Char- public/private collaborations necessary to address the
lotte Harbor. Florida’s extensive coastline and marine and complex issues of preserving and enhancing the complex
estuarine environments have enabled Mote scientists to marine environment and introduces visitors to critical
build a platform of marine research conducted in the oce- areas of study and research undertaken by Mote scien-
anic and nearshore environment. tists. The exhibit is made up of interactive and hands on
displays as well as live animals that highlight the reef en-
Mote is dedicated to today’s research for tomorrow’s vironment and the work of Mote scientists.
oceans with an emphasis on world-class research relevant
to conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiver- The Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center helps NOAA,
sity, healthy habitats and natural resources. From the their federal partners and Mote Marine Laboratory reach
original focus on sharks, Mote research has expanded to the public with important information about how peo-
include studies of human cancer using marine models, ple can be involved in the protection and conservation of
the effects of man-made and natural toxins on humans the coral reef ecosystem and its many inter-related com-
and on the environment, the health of wild fisheries, de- ponents stretching from the ocean depths well into the
veloping sustainable and successful fish restocking tech- mainland of the Florida peninsula.
niques and food production technologies and the devel-
opment of ocean technology to help us better understand Conservation starts with education and the new Center
the health of the environment. Mote research programs is a world-class educational facility opening its doors to
also focus on understanding the population dynamics of visitors from around the world.
manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, sharks and coral reefs and
on conservation and restoration efforts related to these DISCOVER MOTE AT THE ECO-DISCOVERY CENT-
species and ecosystems. ER
Mote Marine Laboratory is one of the world’s few remain- Hours of Operation
ing private marine research laboratories and, as a non- Tuesday - Saturday 9am-4pm
profit organization, is funded through federal, state and
local grants and through the generosity of individual do- Located at the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center
nors and foundations. Over decades since Mote was cre-
ated, the world has learned many things about its oceans. Dr. Nancy Foster Florida Keys Environmental Complex
One lesson has remained constant: There is still much to 33 East Quay Road, Key West, FL 33040.
discover. Mote’s vision includes positively impacting pub-
lic policy through science-based outreach and education. Visit the NOAA Eco-Discovery Center website for more
Showcasing this research is Mote Aquarium, open from information and directions.