Lynne Byrd
Lynne Byrd has thirty years of experience in protected species rehabilitative care, with special emphasis on cetacean medical assessment and treatment, emergency care techniques, new animal assessment and acclimation, and training...
Gretchen Lovewell
Ms. Gretchen Lovewell is the Program Manager for Mote Marine Laboratory's Stranding Investigations Program (SIP). She has been active in the stranding network since 1999 where she was a student at University of North Carolina Wilmington....
Jessica Blackburn
Jess was an intern with the Stranding Investigations Program from November 2016 to May 2017, during which she created a new datasheet for use by Mote Marine Lab to record fibropapilloma tumors in sea...
Mote Aquarium Sciences Apprenticeship Program (ASAP)
Applications are now open! Application deadline is June 30th, 2026. The Mote Aquarium Sciences Apprenticeship Program (Mote ASAP) provides a one-year extensive,...
Aquarium Sciences & Animal Care URE
Aquarium Sciences & Animal Care URE Internship Mentor: Amanda Felix Fish & Invertebrate Department URE students should have an interest in all...
Outreach Center Operations Internship
Outreach Center Operations Internship Operations interns at Mote’s Marine Science Education & Outreach Center on Anna Maria City Pier will have the unique opportunity to become immersed in a multitude...
Marine Immunology REU
Marine Immunology REU Internship Mentor: Dr. Cathy Walsh As manager of Mote's Marine...
Animal Rehabilitation Internship
Animal Rehabilitation Internship Mote's Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital provide state of the art critical care and chronic care for several...
Animal Care and Training Internship (Aquatic Mammal and Reptile Department)
Animal Care and Training Internship Please note: as we prepare for and settle into our new facility, Mote SEA, we will not be taking on any interns for the foreseeable future. Please check back In the spring for updates. Aquatic...
Red Tide FAQ
How can I find out what current red tide conditions are? Mote’s Beach Conditions Reporting System provides shoreline observations as often as twice daily: visitbeaches.org/map ...
Red Tide
There are thousands of species of algae in fresh and marine waters; these organisms form the basis of the food web and provide an important source of the oxygen we need to breathe. While most species are harmless to humans and animals,...
Deep Thoughts Blog: Exploring blue holes
Introduction In September 2020, scientists undertook one of their deepest and most challenging missions yet into the Gulf of Mexico’s blue holes—underwater caves, springs and sinkholes being explored for their unique...
Weddings & Proposals
At Mote, your wedding celebration will truly sparkle amid our beautiful waterfront vistas and our vibrant displays of marine life. Dive into the wedding of...
Dr. Jake Lasala
Dr. Lasala has worked with sea turtles for over 16 years. His graduate research focused on identifying robust demographic metrics to complement survey data. Male marine turtles are elusive and much of...
Alexis Krummick
Alexis was an intern in the Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program (STCRP) in 2013, and remained with the program as a staff member until 2016. She then continued sea turtle work at Loggerhead Marinelife Center and Collier...
Anthropogenic Effects on Loggerhead Turtle Nest Success and Predation in the Gulf of Mexico
Predators can easily consume many sea turtle eggs during nesting season. They can reduce the recruitment of hatchlings, ultimately resulting in long-term decreases in breeding populations. Researchers have collected data for decades...
Monitoring population-level foraging distribution of a marine migratory species from land: strengths and weaknesses of the isotopic approach...
Assessing the linkage between breeding and non-breeding areas has important implications for understanding the fundamental biology of and conserving animal species. This is a challenging task for marine species, and in sea turtles...
Mote and partners respond to stranded sperm whale off Venice, await necropsy results to learn more
On March 10, 2024, Mote's Stranding Investigations Research Program responded to a 44-foot, 70,000-pound emaciated live sperm whale discovered...
Sailor Sam Claims Victory at Mote’s Mascot Race!
Mascots of all shapes, sizes, and species raced down Siesta Beach on March 7 to promote Mote Marine Laboratory's upcoming Run for the Turtles. Sarasota High School's Sailor Sam outran eight other mascots: Morris from Great...
Lifelong Learning (Sarasota)
SEA & Do at Mote SEA These workshops invite adult learners to explore marine science through focused in-person lessons and hands-on experiences led by Mote education professionals. Sessions combine clear, engaging...
Classroom Outreach Programs (Sarasota)
Mote Educators bring fun, inquiry-based and hands-on learning experiences to your school. Using relevant, real time data and information, we dive into marine science with your students, helping them better understand science concepts...
Mote Science Talks
Guest Speakers from Mote For Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, Lee, Hardee, DeSoto, Pinellas, and Hillsborough counties Bring the wonders of the ocean to your audience with engaging Mote Science Talks....
Melissa Macksey
Melissa was an intern with the Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program (STCRP) for the 2011 sea turtle season. She returned the following year as a night-time tagging intern. She then left to attend graduate school to study...
Animal Patients
We save sea turtles and mammals! Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is dedicated to rescuing sick and injured sea turtles and marine mammals. We provide top-notch diagnostics and care to help these animals recover in Mote’s...
Dr. Catherine Walsh
Dr. Walsh has studied the immune systems of marine vertebrate species, including the cartilaginous fishes (sharks, skates, and rays), marine mammals, and sea turtles, for more than 30 years. Current projects...
Marine Immunology
Research in the Marine Immunology Program focuses on basic and applied research on the health and immune systems of marine vertebrates, including cartilaginous fishes (sharks, skates, and rays), Florida manatees, and sea turtles. Basic...
Alison Goldy
Alison grew up in New Jersey, but her love of the ocean has carried her around the globe—from completing her undergraduate degree in California to conducting field and laboratory-based research on sea turtles in Costa Rica, humpback...
Mote Science Education Aquarium’s largest exhibit comes to life
On Tuesday, July 25, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium announced a milestone advancement in the construction of its new Science Education Aquarium as Mote staff and a wave of Mote SEA corporate sponsors witnessed a large piece...
Mote Marine Laboratory and The Florida Aquarium collaborate in successful rehabilitation efforts
Mote Marine Laboratory and The Florida Aquarium are thrilled to announce the release of two rescued loggerhead sea turtles nicknamed, "Valerie" and "Mahomes," at Anna Maria Bayfront Park Tuesday morning, May 30. This momentous...