Mote, County Take Next Step Toward New Aquarium

SARASOTA, FL -- The Sarasota County Commission unanimously approved a significant step forward in establishing a new Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA) on approximately 12 acres in the Nathan Benderson Park.

Last week commissioners approved the terms of an agreement to allow Mote Marine to build a multilevel $130 million aquarium with the option to either lease the county-owned park land to Mote for $100 a year or sell it to Mote.

The term sheet developed by Mote and Sarasota County staff provides a path to formalize a full lease and conveyance agreement no later than the Jan. 30 Sarasota County Commission meeting.

Terms include due-diligence steps that Mote will take, such as providing a legal description of the property, ensuring cooperation with the other organizations using the park, and surveying the land and undertaking environmental testing, before Mote may begin a two-year lease for pre-construction efforts such as land-use approvals and permits.

Once all land-use approvals are complete and Mote has raised necessary funding, construction of Mote SEA will begin. The term sheet also outlines steps for eventual conveyance of the property to Mote by a deed.

The proposed four-story aquarium will feature an ultra-modern design with classrooms, offices, a cafe, terrace seating and aquariums for coral, manatees, crocodiles, otters and sharks.

“It’s an absolutely great beginning of a legacy project for Sarasota County and I just wish the Mote leadership and staff much success on the ability to raise funds to bring this iconic vision across the finish line,” said Commissioner Mike Moran.

The commission’s decision’s reinforces the county’s commitment to help Mote deliver a world-class facility to the area, Dan Bebak, vice president of education and outreach for Mote, said.

“We thank the Sarasota County Commission for their formal approval of this significant step forward,” said Mote President & CEO Dr. Michael P. Crosby. “Mote and county staff and legal teams have worked diligently together to achieve a mutually agreeable term sheet and are committed to continue working together to realize a transformative vision for the benefit of southwest Florida’s communities and our oceans.”

Mote leaders announced their vision for Mote SEA in February. Crosby said Mote SEA will be an iconic facility with 110,000 square feet containing more than 1 million gallons of exhibits featuring marine life and scientific displays from around the world, onsite diving programs, a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) resource center for students, teachers and the general public, conference and special event space, educational galleries with interactive, advanced, digital and augmented reality technology to enhance learning, three K-12 STEM teaching labs and two STEM workforce training labs.

Outdoor nature trails with potential additional features such as science-education demonstrations of snook stock enhancement and wetlands restoration will enhance public use of the area.

“Mote SEA will be an awe-inspiring visual focal point for the more than 45 million vehicles traveling on the nearby interstate each year, provide informal science education to a larger and more diverse audience of 700,000 visitors in the first year alone, and achieve our vision of Oceans for All through hands-on teaching labs — with no-cost opportunities for every school in the region,” Crosby said. “The facility will also provide sorely needed conference and major events spaces, and produce a nearly $28-million annual economic impact, beyond nearly $280 million of economic impact during the construction phase.”

A separate meeting of the Sarasota County Commission, at a date to be determined, will address Mote’s request for a $20-million county investment of Tourist Development Tax funds for the creation of Mote SEA. The request is part of a capital fundraising campaign to raise the $130 million to build Mote SEA, "Oceans for All: Improving Access to Marine Science and Technology,: which includes private, public and corporate donations.

Now located on City Island in Sarasota, Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium has achieved international attention for its marine research that includes more than 20 programs including red tide research conservation of manatees, sea turtles, dolphins and sharks, restoring deteriorating coral reefs, fisheries ecology and research into other threats to the ocean and its marine life.

The laboratory was founded in Placida in 1955 and was known as Cape Haze Marine Laboratory until its 1967 renaming in honor of major benefactors William R. Mote, his wife Lenore and his sister, Betty Mote Rose. Since 1960, Mote has been based in Sarasota, and has been located on its 10.5-acre City Island campus since 1978.

The lab also runs the Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research & Restoration on Summerland Key in Key West; a public exhibit in Key West; a Boca Grande Outreach Office; and the Mote Aquaculture Research Park in eastern Sarasota County. In addition to staff members, Mote has about 1,400 volunteers who contribute more than 200,000 volunteer hours to the organization.

In addition to more than 200 staff members, Mote has 1,400 volunteers who contribute more than 200,000 volunteer hours to the organization.

Images via Mote Marine

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