
Marine & Freshwater Aquaculture
Developing technologies to produce fish & invertebrates to meet growing demand for seafood & fishing stocks.
1600 Ken Thompson Parkway
Sarasota, FL 34236
Ph: (941) 388-4441
Hours: 10AM - 5PM
A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
The Sharks & Rays Conservation Research Program is dedicated to studying the biology, ecology and conservation of sharks and their relatives, the skates and rays. These fishes comprise about 1,000 species worldwide, many of which are threatened by overfishing and environmental impacts.
Reef sharks are in trouble worldwide. Here at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, we're applying science—and people power—to save them through a new initiative called Expanding the Global FinPrint.
The world’s largest shark survey, Global FinPrint, found that reef sharks were functionally extinct on many reefs in the 58 survey nations. This resulted in most species of reef sharks being listed as being threatened with extinction by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Check out this highlight reel from study sites in Belize:
Global FinPrint showed that reef sharks were doing well in places where people invested in management efforts that were culturally and socio-economically suited to the local community. This illustrates the importance of people power for shark conservation.
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is working with the FinPrint data and a network of collaborators to turn these lessons learned into conservation successes—by investing in people power to better protect reef sharks. How? We are partnering with local grassroots organizations, governments and fisherfolk in countries where there is high conservation potential for reef sharks. Funding and scientific support are being directed to these people so that they can implement management approaches that are likely to work both for reef sharks and people.
This approach is already succeeding through a partnership in Belize, Central America. Belize manages the Belize Barrier Reef, the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, which provides some of the best habitat for reef sharks in the Caribbean. The partnership between shark fisherfolk, local organizations, the FinPrint team and the Ministry of Blue Economy’s Fisheries Department and guided by FinPrint and other scientific data has resulted in:
Donations to Mote's project, Expanding the Global FinPrint, will help with hiring shark fisherfolk to tag sharks instead of landing them or towards alternative vocational training (school fees, course fees, SCUBA certification) so that they can reduce or eliminate their reliance on shark fishing.
You can also join us in Belize for an expedition.
The work of Global FinPrint is featured in the new Discovery+ documentary, Endangered. Created by the BBC Natural History unit for Discovery, this show is narrated and executively produced by Ellen DeGeneres, and features boots-on-the-ground conservation efforts arounds the world with endangered species such as gorillas, giraffes, lemurs, sharks, and more. Endangered premiered on the streaming service Discovery+ on Earth Day, April 22, 2021. In junction with the premiere, The Ellen DeGeneres Wildlife Fund launched its new Endangered campaign to raise funds for the animals featured in the film, including sharks, and the people that are supporting them.
In 2022, Mote will expand this shark and ray conservation model to other locations in the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean regions, where Global FinPrint collaborators are based. Stay tuned for updates!
Developing technologies to produce fish & invertebrates to meet growing demand for seafood & fishing stocks.
The Stranding Investigations Program (SIP) provides 24-hour response to sick, injured and deceased marine mammals & sea turtles.
Contaminant detection of toxic substances.
Investigating the source, fact & effects of toxins in the environment
Long term study of dolphin populations in Sarasota Bay.
Studying sharks, skates and stingrays as laboratory animal models for basic & applied research
Understanding processes and environmental factors that influence coral reef health.
Studying habitats and trends in turtle nesting to conserve Sea Turtles.
Internship: Mote's Aquarium Sciences and Animal Care team, Fish & Invertebrate Department
Investigating how marine & freshwater chemicals impact public health
Studying manatee behavioral ecology, distribution, habitat use, genetics, and population status in Florida.
PERC is dedicated to improving stock assessment, management and sustainability of highly migratory fishes in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico
Providing state-of-the-art critical care & chronic care for stranded sea turtles
Using innovative ocean technology to accomplish interdisciplinary scientific goals
The Sharks & Rays Conservation Research Program is dedicated to studying the biology, ecology and conservation of sharks and their relatives
Coral diseases are one of the greatest threats to reefs worldwide.
Seeking to develop systems and techniques to grow coral and other reef species.
Global network of coral biobanks, nursery practitioners, and experts preserving all coral species for ecosystem restoration and research
Advancing science to support abundant, productive fish populations
The only program dedicated to developing & assessing electronic monitoring (EM) for the Gulf of Mexico commercial reef fish fishery
Study of the Ocean's Phytoplankton Community
Studying the physical, biological, geological & chemical processes that distribute nutrients and other chemical species in the ocean
Study responses of ecologically important species to projected levels of ocean acidification.
DEVELOPING AND INTEGRATING ENHANCEMENT STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE AND RESTORE FISHERIES
Study of how fish interact with their habitats & how disturbances influence these interactions.
Bottom-dwelling organism response to environmental disturbance.
A Mote-FWC partnership to develop prevention, control and mitigation technologies and approaches that will decrease red tide impacts
Basic and applied research on the health and immune systems of marine vertebrates
The Red Tide Institute at Mote Marine Laboratory leads Florida red tide mitigation and control research.
Studying the impacts of nutrients and physical parameters in riverine, estuarine and coastal environments.