Mote  broke ground for the new Mote Science Education Aquarium at Nathan Benderson Park!

This spectacular moment was made possible by the tireless efforts of Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium staff and volunteers; Mote’s Board of Trustees; the generous supporters of our Oceans for All campaign; and visionary leaders in our communities, state and nation.

A bold vision is one shovel closer to reality today, as Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium officially broke ground for the new Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA) at Nathan Benderson Park. Federal, state, and local government officials, Mote Trustees and supporters, and other community partners came together to celebrate the occasion.

Mote SEA will be an iconic facility at a nexus location for Sarasota and Manatee counties and the entire southwest Florida region. Reaching nearly 700,000 visitors per year, Mote SEA will surely inspire the next generation of marine scientists, while serving as a major tourism and economic driver for the greater Sarasota-Manatee region. Three state-of-the-art STEM teaching labs will bring marine science to life for thousands of school children, offered at no cost to Sarasota and Manatee county school districts.