Red Tide: What Mote Is Doing Now

Communities affected by the current Florida red tide are asking great questions — in particular, what more can be done to address this challenging harmful algal bloom (HAB) and better protect public health and quality of life? Mote Marine Laboratory — an independent research institution that has...

Satellite tagged sea turtle released from Lido Beach

Mote Marine Laboratory scientists tagged an adult male loggerhead sea turtle nicknamed “Intrepid” with a satellite transmitter and released him this morning, July 27 from Lido Beach, Sarasota County, as part of a conservation-focused research effort. The turtle was rescued June 7 when citizens...

Sea turtle nest damaged by suspected poachers on Nokomis Beach

By Miguel Montalvo A sea turtle nest was damaged July 5 on Nokomis Beach by suspected poachers; three individuals dug into a nest marked with stakes and left one broken egg on its surface. It is not clear whether they took any eggs. Two members of Mote Marine Laboratory’s nighttime sea turtle...

Lionfish Derby turns invasive fish into tasty dish

By Stephanie Hagan On July 7 and 8, divers boarded their boats, plunged into the Gulf of Mexico and removed 545 invasive lionfish during the fifth annual Sarasota Lionfish Derby, which concluded today, July 8, at Mote Marine Laboratory. The Sarasota derby, part of REEF’s 2018 Lionfish Derby Series...

Mote Welcomes Michael Puto to Keys Advisory Council

Written by Allison Delashmit Mote Marine Laboratory is pleased to welcome Michael Puto to its Florida Keys Advisory Council supporting Mote’s Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research & Restoration (IC2R3) on Summerland Key and the growing number of Mote programs throughout...

Whale shark update: transmitter reveals Minnie’s location

Written by Stephanie Hagan A few weeks ago, Mote scientists placed tracking devices on two whale sharks nicknamed “Minnie” and “Colt” offshore of Longboat Key and New Pass in Sarasota. On Saturday, June 30, Minnie’s tag “pinged” and revealed her location about 50 miles north of the Florida...