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...

Unique Partnership Restores Florida’s Reef

On Tuesday, June 26, 2018, Mote Marine Laboratory joined forces with members of the Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge (CWVC) and SCUBAnauts International to plant corals and rebuild the reef near the Looe Key Sanctuary Preservation Area. This event, being conducted under Florida Keys National Marine...

Protect marine life on July 4 and year-round

As July 4 approaches and community members plan their celebrations on local waters and beaches, Mote Marine Laboratory reminds boaters and beachgoers to respect and protect marine animals. Please practice safe boating, in accordance with guidelines from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation...

Mote scientists tag two whale sharks off southwest Florida

Written by Stephanie Hagan Thanks to whale shark sightings reported by the public off the southwest Florida coast in early June, scientists from Mote Marine Laboratory located five of the polka-dotted, filter-feeding giants and tagged two of them with tracking devices on the afternoon of June 14. All...