Huge Mote Aquarium proposed for Nathan Benderson Park (Sarasota, Jay: 2014, schools)

[tennis-fan]

Wow, you sound like the commenter at:

Saturday's letters: Mote Marine, Rick Scott's record and more - Opinion - Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Sarasota, FL

At its present location, which is not centrally located, Mote has approximately 350,000 visitors annually. I cannot imagine how the increase in visitors, projected to be 700,000 annually, will affect the University Parkway area.

I am all for the amazing work Mote Marine has done and will continue to do. But at what point do you need to seriously take into consideration the impact of what you are doing?

As a wise man once said, “Just because we can, does not mean we should.”

I think the move is a good idea. Less traffic out to Longboat key which cuts through downtown. More visitors, hopefully learning to appreciate the water that surrounds us.

Originally Posted by beach43ofus

I love Mote Marine for its scientific contributions, but let's not prostitute it into being a roadside tourist attraction. If all the multi million dollar condo's/homes' property taxes are not generating enough revenues, maybe we need new leaders.

Local politicians listen up...fix the; traffic, homelessness, lack of affordable housing, pension funding, schools, beach erosion, over-spending, youth flight, nursing shortage, and crappy zoning issues before you go turning this cultural mecca into a cheap roadside attraction. I realize that's hard work, no fun, and not very glamorous, but that's the job folks.

We didn't vote for you to turn our cherished marine life science center into a Sea World do-over.

[blueherons]

Originally Posted by bbronston

My first thought was it made no sense but I suppose they don't need to be right by the bay. Anyway, I'm excited to have them here and I just might eventually be a volunteer. :-)

You should! My husband and BIL were volunteers there and loved it. The classes you take are taught by the foremost Marine Biologists in the world.

Originally Posted by Sunshine Rules

Sarasota’s world-class marine research institution and aquarium, Mote Marine Laboratory, plans to open a new aquarium at Nathan Benderson Park by late 2021, Mote’s president announced at a press conference Thursday.

Huge Mote aquarium proposed for Nathan Benderson Park - News - Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Sarasota, FL

This is AWESOME news! Mote is one of the best research facilities in the world. It is a Sarasota treasure for sure.

[newtovenice]

I wonder if there will be additional paying jobs or just more volunteer workers.

Marine biology as a major is not a good career choice. All the centers use volunteers and grad students as workers. They outnumber staff. Kinda sad, really.

[blueherons]

Originally Posted by newtovenice

I wonder if there will be additional paying jobs or just more volunteer workers.

Marine biology as a major is not a good career choice. All the centers use volunteers and grad students as workers. They outnumber staff. Kinda sad, really.

Mote has such a massive network of volunteers, it is literally completely staffed by volunteers, that they have very few paid positions that not actual biologists. They rotate something like 1500 volunteers.

They are able to spend their money on research and the animals.

[d4g4m]

I wonder how many seats the stadium will have for the dolphin and whale shows. Hope they will have a long water slide.
Is that little building out back on the property, the research lab?

[newtovenice]

Originally Posted by blueherons

Mote has such a massive network of volunteers, it is literally completely staffed by volunteers, that they have very few paid positions that not actual biologists. They rotate something like 1500 volunteers.

They are able to spend their money on research and the animals.

I understand that and am VERY familiar with how these places operate. It's why a career in the marine sciences doesn't really exist. All the rehab/research places use volunteers, interns, and grad students. Paying jobs for marine scientists are very few and far between. It's why I find it odd that these types of places always promote careers to elementary school kids through education outreach. While they programs are decent and educational, these kids are really being misled into thinking that they can have a paying career in the future. Because the facilities themselves don't hire marine biologists.

Mote is also turning more into a money-making operation where rehab/release is becoming less important than having animals onsite all the time. Imagine a tourist coming in and half the tanks are empty because the animals have been released. They had a turtle there they were keeping because it was blind. That is NOT a reason to keep a turtle. A blind turtle can survive and had been surviving, no problems, in the wild until it got sick. There is no reason to keep a blind, healthy turtle. None. Except ... tourists. It turns rehab places into zoos. Not a fan of zoos. At all. Prefer rehab > release.

Anyway, I'm sure the new place will be a huge money-maker.

[jean_ji]

My grandkids have learned so much from visits to the current aquarium, the mobile lab that comes out to the schools and week long summer camps at the aquarium. A love of the environment and respect for the animals that live in it is what the grandkids have come away with.

This statement is found in their mission and vision statement: We are continuously helping to create a more ocean literate society. That takes money and resources and they aren’t sitting on their hands. The site on Longboat key is only a part of what they are anymore.

The new Mote location will have a broader base reaching into south Sarasota county and beyond. On a personal level, I won’t need to travel through the City of Sarasota and Armand’s Circle to the current location and that will be a big plus for me.

[FLHfan]

Who's getting scammed? Nobody is forced to volunteer.
Google it.

[blueherons]

Scams?

Mote is using the money they save paying salaries to save more animals and do more research.

If you don't like what Mote is doing, don't spend any money with them.

It's really just that simple.

[newtovenice]

Scam? Nobody said it was a scam. Just an observation. There's a difference. And think of how much money they save by *employing* 1500 volunteers, as blueherons estimated.

And we did stop going after being told the blind turtle would remain in captivity simply because it was blind. Because that is wrong.