New shark species named in honor of Mote founder

Story contributed by Florida Institute of Technology with additions from Mote Marine Laboratory Dr. Eugenie Clark was a pioneer in shark biology, known around the world for her illuminating research on shark behavior. She was also a pioneer in another critical way, as one of the first women of prominence...

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...

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...