Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Mark your calendar for Latin Night, an unforgettable night of fun and excitement at the aquarium! 💃 Join us for an exclusive adults-only evening filled with vibrant music, dancing, and delightful marine wonders. Enjoy the Latin beats, exotic cocktails, and captivating marine life as you dance the night away under the stars. Get tickets: https://brnw.ch/21wMBiG.

Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by 9/11. CMA pays tribute to the families who lost loved ones and will hold them in our hearts today.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium's Caribbean Research Director, Dr. Anmari Alvarez-Aleman, was recently interviewed by Centro Tampa recounting her life's work protecting and researching manatees in Cuba and Florida.   If you are interested in hearing more from Dr. Alvarez, join us for Latin Night at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, where she will give a special presentation on her work in the Caribbean and the Wider Caribbean Manatee Alliance. Get tickets: https://lnkd.in/e4CSTZVz

We’re teaming up with Zamboni Company and Tampa Bay Lightning for an epic giveaway! Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s new Manatee Rehabilitation Center is currently caring for manatee patient Zamboni. We thought, there’s no better way to spread awareness for Zamboni than to collaborate with the company that inspired his name and our favorite hockey team, the Tampa Bay Lightning! Zamboni was rescued due to cold stress this past February in the Tampa Bay area. Cold stress can cause lethargy, weight loss, and other harmful ailments in manatees. Zamboni was transferred to CMA’s new Manatee Rehabilitation Center in July to gain weight and prepare for release back into the wild. Our goal is to release Zamboni in the winter near a warm-water site, where he can learn to return for refuge in the colder months, and we will monitor him to ensure he is able to find food and socialize with other manatees. Head over to our Instagram page to enter to win! All activities conducted under USFWS Permit #MA66524C.

In celebration of International Manatee Day, Clearwater Marine Aquarium and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium announced a new partnership called the Wider Caribbean Manatee Alliance (WCMA). This international network will link strategic partners across the Caribbean region to collaborate on conservation, community engagement, and research benefiting manatees. The Caribbean region provides essential habitats for these manatees, including shallow coast waters, rivers, freshwater springs, estuaries and seagrass beds, which are vital for their support and reproduction. However, there are many issues that negatively impact manatees, including habitat loss, poaching, entanglement in fishing gear, watercraft collisions, and climate change. With the combined expertise of both the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and Columbus Zoo, this partnership will facilitate the expansion of manatee conservation efforts throughout the Caribbean, yielding significant benefits for both the species and coastal communities.

It’s International Manatee Day! Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s Research Institute works in the Caribbean Region, in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Belize, to study and protect threatened manatee populations. Dr. Anmari Alvarez Aleman, CMARI’s Caribbean Program Director, oversees research and conservation projects of marine megafauna and their habitats in the Caribbean region. Her projects involve understanding the regional connectivity and distribution of American manatees and the importance of biological corridors across countries. This research also examines the status of manatee populations and ecosystems, generating critical knowledge to support significant conservation actions throughout the species range. "It is incredibly rewarding to collaborate with partners and colleagues across the Caribbean region to deepen our understanding of manatees and contribute to their survival,” said Alvarez-Aleman. "My work is my passion, and through it, I engage in fieldwork, lab research, and a continuous exchange of information, experiences, and ideas with colleagues and students. This allows me to grow in my profession and helps others advance in theirs." ¡Es el Día Internacional del Manatí! El Instituto de Investigación del Acuario Marino de Clearwater (siglas en ingles CMARI) trabaja en la región del Caribe, en Cuba, República Dominicana y Belice, para estudiar y proteger las poblaciones amenazadas de manatíes. La Dra. Anmari Álvarez Alemán, Directora del Programa del Caribe de CMARI, supervisa proyectos de investigación y conservación de megafauna marina y sus hábitats en la región del Caribe. Sus proyectos están dirigidos a comprender la conectividad regional y la distribución del Manatí de las Américas, así como entender mejor la importancia de los corredores biológicos entre países. Su investigación también evalúa el estado de las poblaciones de manatíes y los ecosistemas, generando conocimientos cruciales para apoyar acciones de conservación significativas a lo largo del rango de la especie. "Es muy gratificante colaborar con instituciones y colegas de toda la región del Caribe, con la meta de aumentar nuestro conocimiento sobre el Manatí de las Américas y contribuir a la supervivencia de esta especie,” dijo Álvarez-Alemán. “Mi trabajo es mi pasión, y como parte de este, desarrollo expediciones científicas, investigación de laboratorio y mantengo un intercambio continuo de experiencias, conocimiento e ideas con colegas y estudiantes. Esto no solo me permite crecer en mi profesión, sino también ayudar a otros a avanzar en las suyas."

Get to know Zamboni! This manatee was rescued for cold stress by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and ZooTampa in Placida Bayou, Pinellas County, Florida on Jan. 25, 2024. He was 200 centimeters long and weighed 306 pounds at the time of his rescue. Zamboni was transported to ZooTampa at Lowry Park for critical care and transferred to Clearwater Marine Aquarium for continued rehabilitation. Upon arrival to CMA, he was 216 centimeters long and weighed 485 pounds. Get tickets: cmaquarium.org Donate to support Zamboni’s Rehabilitation: http://manateehelp.org/ All activities conducted under USFWS Permit #MA66524C.

Dive into a sea of lights and wonder with Aqua Lanterns: a Chinese Festival of Lights at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. This luminous new after-hours experience, featuring dazzling lantern displays, debuts on October 16 and will be open Wednesday through Sunday evenings and select dates during the holidays! As the sun sets, the aquarium will transform into a glowing seascape, filled with stunning illuminated sculptures of dolphins, sharks, jellyfish and other sparkling sea creatures. Stroll through this mesmerizing marine world and discover over 30 beautifully crafted lantern displays next to the amazing real animals that will inspire you throughout the aquarium. Learn more: aqualanterns.com

Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute team members recently participated in manatee health assessments in Savannah, Georgia. This project collects crucial habitat use and health data to help manage threats to manatees that migrate northward into coastal Georgia and the Carolinas during the warmer months of the year. Working in cooperation with state and federal agencies, data collected from this project will be utilized to gain a better understanding of how manatees adjusted to the drastic loss of food sources along the east coast of Florida. Participating partners: Georgia Aquarium, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Savannah Coastal Refuge, SeaWorld of Florida, USFWS Florida Ecological Services Office, Brevard Zoo, University of Florida Marine Animal Rescue, NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, Savannah State University, City of Savannah, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Activities conducted under USFWS Research Permit # MA37808A-2

Clearwater Marine Aquarium's animal care team is happy to report the interactions between Rosie and Hope have been positive! The team has observed the pair swimming together, interacting, and sharing enrichment! Because of this, the decision was made to integrate Rudy into this new dolphin social grouping. The introduction was a success and we are excited for the opportunity to continuously expand upon CMA's dolphin fission-fusion social structure.