Weekly News Digest from Mote

Florida Oceans Day: April 4 in Tallahassee • STEMsmart Summit Reaches Hundreds of Students, with Help from Mote • Tomorrow in the Keys: Marine Artist Wyland Painting for Mote • Mote Events for Your Calendar

Public Workshop and Exhibits to Highlight Economic Importance of Oceans

Florida legislators will join scientists, researchers and maritime industry representatives on April 4 in Tallahassee to celebrate the 2013 Florida Oceans Day, highlighting the economic importance of the state's ocean resources. The event is sponsored by the Florida Ocean Alliance, Mote Marine Laboratory and the Florida Institute of Oceanography.

Healthy coasts and oceans are critical to the state’s economy and provide sustainable resources for all Floridians. This year’s Oceans Day theme, Oceans of Opportunity for Economic Growth, focuses on the value of the state’s oceans and coasts to the state’s economy. 

The day’s public activities will include an Oceans Day workshop in the Historic Capitol, Old Senate Chambers, and exhibits in the Capitol (scroll down for schedule).  Workshop speakers will highlight the importance of ocean resources to Florida’s economy.  Will Seccombe of VISIT FLORIDA will speak on Tourism, Steven Cernak of Port Everglades on Ports/Shipping, Rob Kramer of the International Game Fish Association on Recreational Fishing and Kevin Claridge of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on Restoration of the Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.  Speakers will showcase the importance of ocean industries for jobs in Florida.

The ocean and coastal exhibits are provided by industry, research institutions and nonprofit organizations. Exhibits will be open to the public from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Courtyard, Rotunda and on the second and third floors of the Capitol.

“This year’s Oceans Day highlights our ocean and coastal economies that contribute $584 billion to Florida’s economy,” said Steven M. Cernak, chair of the Florida Ocean Alliance. “While the state is recovering from a difficult economic time, it is important to recognize that oceans and coasts support hundreds of thousands of jobs in Florida, related to tourism, seaports and recreation.  Oceans Day allows us to educate the public and Florida’s legislators about the importance and impact of Florida’s oceans and coasts on the state’s economy and jobs, and the challenges we face.”

Dr. Kumar Mahadevan, president and CEO of Mote Marine Laboratory, added:

“Florida is an ocean state.  Our oceans and coasts are key drivers of our state economy. It is critical to understand and protect our marine resources so that they continue to provide economic benefits to the state and nation. Oceans Day is an excellent opportunity for Florida’s leaders and residents to remember why oceans matter.”   

About the Florida Ocean Alliance
The Florida Ocean Alliance (www.floridaoceanalliance.org) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, public-private partnership of government, academic and private sector organizations promoting awareness and understanding of the ocean’s importance to the ecology and economy of Florida. 

Media contact for the Florida Ocean Alliance: Lenore Alpert, 954-647-4097

Oceans Day Schedule of Events

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

5:30 – 7:30 p.m.  Legislative Reception hosted by Mote Marine Laboratory,

The Capitol, 22^nd floor

Thursday, April 4, 2013

9:30 – 11:30 a.m.  Oceans Day Workshop, Historic Capitol, Old Senate Chambers, second floor

9 a.m. – 4 p.m.  Oceans Day Exhibits, The Capitol Rotunda, Courtyard and second and third floors

Instead of sleeping late on Saturday, March 23, 500 middle and high school students simulated an epidemic, made fireworks in a lab, researched sharks and manatees and learned a new computer-programming language at Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s 2013 STEMsmart Student Summits — including middle school sessions led by marine science educators from Mote Marine Laboratory.

• Read a press release from Gulf Coast Community Foundation. 

Tomorrow, March 30
Marine Artist Wyland Painting for Mote at Keys Ocean Festival
Renowned marine-life artist Wyland will paint to support the seas — including the science and conservation of Mote Marine Laboratory — during the afternoon of the 4^th annual Florida Keys Ocean Festival, which runs from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, March 30 at The Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center, Truman Waterfront Annex, Key West.

Wyland, an artist, diver, educator and explorer who has painted stunning ocean murals around the world and hosted TV programs on national public television and the Discovery Channel network Animal Planet, will invite children at the Ocean Festival to help paint a 10-foot-long canvas mural, which will be donated to Mote and later auctioned to support the seas. Then he will paint smaller artworks that will be auctioned at 5 p.m. that day to support Mote and the Wyland Foundation.

Wyland’s work might look familiar to Mote fans: His art adorns a wall at Mote’s main Lab and public Aquarium in Sarasota, Fla.

"Mote Marine Laboratory has been sharing the message of conservation through science, and I am delighted to join them once again by sharing my art with the many children who will visit the Florida Keys Ocean Festival,” Wyland said. “Our goal is to inspire our youth to become ambassadors for the planet. We are united in that effort today.”

Mote is an independent, nonprofit marine laboratory dedicated to today’s research for tomorrow’s oceans. Mote shares marine science with all ages through informal science education programs, through its Sarasota-based outreach facility, The Aquarium at Mote, and by hosting the “Living Reef” exhibit within the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center. Mote has been working to understand, protect and restore coral reefs in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary for more than a decade through efforts based at its Tropical Research Laboratory on Summerland Key.

The Wyland Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children and families around the nation rediscover the importance of healthy oceans and waterways through public art programs, classroom science education and live events. The foundation has worked directly with more than one million children since its inception in 1993.

The Florida Keys Ocean Festival raises funds for Mote’s research and restoration of coral reefs. Admission and parking are free. For complete information, visit www.keysoceanfest.org

• April 5:  Snook, Dr. Jim Locascio, post-doctoral scientist at Mote
• April 11:  Dolphins, Kim Bassos-Hull, senior biologist, Dolphin Research Program at Mote
• April 17:  Sea Turtles, "Ridley Riddles Unravel in Florida,” Dr. Tony Tucker, manager of Mote’s Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program
• April 24:  Sharks, Dr. Robert Hueter, associate vice president for research in Mote’s Directorate of Marine Biology and Conservation
• April 29: Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Strandings: Gretchen Lovewell, manager of Mote's Stranding Investigations Program
  
• May 9: Florida Red Tide, Dr. Barbara Kirkpatrick, manager of Mote’s Environmental Health Program

The Run, which includes a 5K sanctioned by the Manasota Track Club and a 1-mile fun-run/walk, has provided major support for Mote Marine Laboratory’s Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program — an internationally recognized program that will soon begin its 32nd year coordinating sea turtle conservation along 35 miles of Sarasota County beaches.

Registration is open for Run for the Turtles: download and print a registration form at www.mote.org/turtlerun or register online at www.active.com. Participants can also register on-site starting at 6:30 a.m. Saturday, April 6 at the Siesta Key gazebo south of the pavilion.

• Read the full press release about Mote's Run for the Turtles.

Businesses can help get this party started through special sponsorship opportunities that are now available. 


This annual fundraiser starts at 6:30 p.m. on April 27 in the The Aquarium at Mote, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway in Sarasota. Admission is $75 per person and includes beer, wine, food from the Sarasota-Manatee Originals and opportunities to participate in live and silent auctions.

All event proceeds benefit Mote’s ongoing care and rehabilitation of sick and injured sea life.

Reservations are required before April 11. Reservations and sponsorship: Contact Stacy Alexander at 941-388-4441, ext. 509, or stacyalexander@mote.org.