The city of Anna Maria is negotiating with Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium to bring a marine learning center to the Anna Maria City Pier.
If it comes to fruition, the center may offer live animal exhibits, interactive exhibits and education programs. Mote Marine is a Sarasota-based marine research nonprofit that operates an aquarium in Sarasota, as well as centers in Key West and Islamorada similar to the one proposed in Anna Maria.
“The community of Anna Maria has a great connection to the marine environment,” Mote Marine President & CEO Michael P. Crosby said. “The restored Anna Maria Island City Pier presents an additional location where Mote can connect folks with our marine research, how they can interact and conserve the waters around Anna Maria, and tell the long history of the community’s relationship with the marine environment.”
Mote is growing and not just our Aquarium
It’s been the talk of the town for some time in southwest Florida: Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is expanding. However, many have only seen part of the picture plans for our exciting Aquarium rebirth and have yet to discover the vast upwelling of
science driving Mote’s growth as a global powerhouse of marine research and innovation.
Mote’s Beyond 2020 Vision & Strategic Plan emphasizes expanding our research infrastructure and helping more collaborators from around the world access it. What does that mean and why does it matter?
Let’s start with the new Aquarium and then dive into the science beneath.