Here you get an insight into the world of the Gulf of Mexico. But Mote Marine is not an amusement park; scientists and marine biologists work here. Mote Marine is world famous for its cancer research with sharks. You will be introduced to nature in a very interesting and entertaining way. There is a petting pool with rays, mussels, starfish, sand dollars, hermit crabs and “horseshoecrabs”. In an aquarium you can admire the “big fish”, such as sharks, barracudas, pikes and tarpon. Volunteers do their best to explain this strange world to the visitors. Dolphins are not kept there. There is a separate area where sick, stranded dolphins or whales are nursed back to health. Visitors are not allowed to enter this area, however, because the animals would react too sensitively to disturbances. They can watch the care of these marine mammals on a screen.
One area of research is monitoring turtle nests on the beaches around Sarasota. This is where the giant “loggerhead turtles” lay their eggs (in the period from May to July). The nests are then immediately staked by “Mote” and watched until they hatch. On one of the posts on the nest they can read the date it was laid. Sometimes you may also see a mesh cage put over a nest; this is to protect the turtle eggs from hungry raccoons, birds, and from stray dogs.
Because the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium is an independent, “nonprofit” organization, they rely on donations. For a $100 donation, you can have your name immortalized in a paving stone (much like the movie stars in Hollywood). Smaller and larger donations are also appreciated. For example, you can “buy” a gallon of water for the dolphin tank for $1 or symbolically “adopt” a baby turtle.
If you want to learn and see more about the nature in Sarasota Bay, we can recommend you a trip with the “Explorer”. During the trip with this “mote-ship” a lot will be explained and shown to you. Among other things, a net that is pulled along the seabed for a while and then lifted up will show you which smaller and somewhat larger animals live in Sarasota Bay. Of course, after the explanation and after you have had a chance to look at them closely, all the animals will be released back into the wild.
Mote Marine has been very successful in breeding endangered sturgeon (sturgeon) for several years. The fish farm is located on Fruitville Road east of I 75, but is not open to the public. “Mote Marine Sturgeon” (Madfish Grill) and “Mote Marine Caviar” (Libbys) are now served at some Sarasota establishments. Both caviar and the sturgeon meat are absolutely delicious. The caviar is only available at Mote from time to time. Terri Deppe terrid@mote.org organizes “Caviar & Sturgeon (Sturgeon) Sale” about every 2 months (more in the winter months) via e-mail. You can then order from her and pick up at Mote Marine Aquarium on a specific day in the afternoon. So really only suitable if you live in the Sarasota area or are here for a long time. You can also order Mote Marine caviar on the internet at.
https://caviarstar.com, but a lot more expensive than directly from Mote.