Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is a science and education center in Sarasota that combines research and public display. The facility features tanks with fish, sharks, stingrays, sea turtles, and jellyfish, along with touch pools where visitors can gently feel sea stars and sea urchins.
The center started as a small research facility and grew over time into a popular destination for visitors. Its focus has always remained on understanding and protecting marine creatures and their habitats.
The facility is named after the tiny organism found in seawater. It reflects the community's commitment to understanding and caring for the ocean life that surrounds Sarasota.
A visit typically takes a couple of hours and the location is easy to reach from downtown Sarasota with parking nearby. Large windows provide good views of the tanks, so you can see the animals comfortably regardless of the time of day.
The facility cares for one of the largest collections of sea turtles in the region and runs rescue programs for injured animals. It also holds a federal designation as a secondary care center for rescued manatees, helping these gentle creatures recover and return to the wild.
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