Press & News

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium team has launched an exciting new exhibit, “Florida: Wild and Exotic,” which opened in the Atlantis Theater across from the Mangrove Key Kids Zone. This exhibit will showcase a variety of fascinating species, including amphibians, arthropods, reptiles and small mammals, all to help educate visitors about both native and invasive species in Florida.

Dive into a sea of lights and wonder at Aqua Lanterns: A Chinese Festival of Lights at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. This luminous new after-hours kicks off the holiday season on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 5:30 – 9:30 p.m. and will feature the Ruth Eckerd Hall Chorus, which will perform throughout the evening with a selection of songs.

The good news about this year’s sea turtle nesting season? Clearwater Marine Aquarium saw an increase in turtle nests during the 2024 season. CMA documented 271 nests this year, compared to 227 nests in 2023, along the 21-mile stretch of beach they patrol annually in Pinellas County from mid-April to the end of October.  

The annual Right Whale Festival returns to Amelia Island, Florida, with more than 100 exhibitors and many fun and educational events. The festival takes place Nov. 2-3 at Main Beach Park in Fernandina Beach, beginning at 10 a.m. each day.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium will present its third in a series of “Echoes of the Ocean: A Marine Life Speaker Series,” with “Giants to Ghosts: The Plight of the North Atlantic Right Whale,” Oct. 3 from 5 – 8 p.m. at CMA.

Dive into a sea of lights and wonder at Aqua Lanterns: A Chinese Festival of Lights at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. This luminous new after-hours experience debuts on Oct. 16 and will open Wednesday through Sunday evenings and select dates during the holiday season.

Join Clearwater Marine Aquarium for a magical and inspiring afternoon as seven amazing young people receive awards for overcoming challenges and sharing their stories of hope on Saturday, Sept. 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage month, Clearwater Marine Aquarium is pleased to present Latin Night on Saturday, Sept. 21 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Experience the sizzling rhythm of the night at this exclusive adults-only event filled with vibrant live music, dance and Latin American-inspired food and drink. Enjoy the Latin beats, exotic cocktails, and captivating marine life as you dance the night away under the stars.

Manatee Coffee, the Florida-founded coffee company and original “Coffee with a Cause,” has proudly partnered with Clearwater Marine Aquarium to support the highly anticipated opening of its new Manatee Rehabilitation Center, which debuted to the public last week on Monday, August 12. Due to Manatee Coffee’s reputation in The Sunshine State, for its devoted philanthropic efforts toward manatee preservation, Clearwater Marine Aquarium sought out its support to spread awareness for the new Manatee Rehabilitation Center and this unique partnership was formed.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium opened its Manatee Rehabilitation Center today, heralding a significant milestone for the Aquarium. This state-of-the-art facility will help accommodate the surge in manatees requiring care. CMA will provide assistance to sick, injured or orphaned manatees which includes individuals affected by habitat loss, boat strike wounds, ingestion of foreign objects, entanglements and cold stress syndrome. Equipped with the latest technology, including ozone treatment and medical habitats with false bottoms, the center is designed to ensure the comfort and well-being of these gentle sea creatures.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium will offer two new movies next week – “Turtle Odyssey” and “T-Rex,” beginning Saturday, Aug. 17. The 25-minute-long movies will run between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., as an added guest experience in the Visitor Center’s Dolphin Tale Theater.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Conservation Team is now hosting VIP Ride-Alongs Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings through Sept. 20. Join two of CMA’s sea turtle nesting biologists on their daily patrol and become fully immersed in the field and see the work that CMA does with sea turtles firsthand.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s sea turtle nesting team documented a rare Leatherback sea turtle nest in Pinellas County back in May. Last week the CMA team found that the Leatherback turtle nest had hatched!

Experience a tropical luau at Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s end-of-summer Aquatic Luau celebration. Enjoy live entertainment, Hawaiian cuisine and marine life in an enchanting atmosphere Saturday, Aug. 17 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., as part of the Aquarium’s after-hours series, offering guests a unique waterfront experience.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium will present its Shark Week lineup for the week of July 7-14 and it’s got quite a bite to it. CMA will introduce guests to one of its new veterinarians, Dr. Chelsea Anderson, who has a decade of experience in elasmobranch (shark and rays) health care, and will help educate guests about the medical management of sharks during a routine ultrasound and why conservation of sharks is important.

Join Clearwater Marine Aquarium on Saturday, July 13, as we transform the Aquarium into a neon paradise that recreates the ‘80s. Lace up your skates and hit the rink for some freestyle fun in front of the Window of Wonder (make sure you wave to our resident dolphins on the other side of the Window). From 7 to 10 p.m., guests will create unforgettable memories at this totally tubular event!

Clearwater Marine Aquarium is excited to announce that five of its rescued green sea turtles have been released after receiving care from CMA rehabilitation and veterinary teams. Each of their stories reveal the persistence and resilience of marine animals, inspiring CMA to never give up on those that need our help.  

A new publication in the journal, Caribbean Naturalist, has standardized the vernacular names for manatees throughout North, Central, and South America. The research, titled “What’s in a name? Standardization of vernacular names for Trichechus manatus,” was conducted by 24 researchers, three of whom are from Clearwater Marine Aquarium, including doctors Anmari Alvarez-Aleman, James “Buddy” Powell and master’s of science Jamal Galves.

Starting June 8, Clearwater Marine Aquarium will host three,  8-week-old capybaras in a new Capybara Chillout event, in partnership with Amazing Animals, Inc. Join us in welcoming these adorable newbies to their habitat between June 8 and July 7, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, while experiencing their friendly personalities and learning about their natural behaviors.  

With Memorial Day Weekend here, and more boaters on the waterways, Clearwater Marine Aquarium offers advice for boaters to have a safe experience for themselves, as well as marine life in the ocean and intracoastal.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium will host the ultimate celebration under the setting sun with its third drone light show, Lights by the Bay: Diving Into Celebration on Saturday, June 15, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. This dazzling drone presentation will display scenes of marine life in motion against the backdrop of Clearwater Bay. Join CMA for this family-friendly, celebration-themed event which is guaranteed to create memories as guests take in the beauty of the water around us. 

Clearwater Marine Aquarium will present its second in a series of “Echoes of the Ocean: A Marine Life Speaker Series, with its second presentation, “Superheroes of Manatee Conservation” on June 6 from 5 – 8 p.m. at CMA. The second in a series will reflect a 50-year span of research, rescue and release of manatees and CMA’s both a local and global reach.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium will present a toast to mom with a special “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” inspired Mother’s Day Brunch on Sunday, May 12 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium unveils its newest resident this week, a new species for CMA – an Octopus vulgaris, also known as the common octopus.

CLEARWATER, FL (April 19, 2024)– Two endangered green sea turtles, Challah and Gypsum, were successfully released back into the Gulf of Mexico yesterday (April 18) after undergoing extensive rehabilitation at Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium is pleased to announce the arrival of Opie, a young male North American river otter, to its Otter Oasis. Opie joins the CMA family, where he will reside alongside Walle, 13, and Boomer, 6 – two otters who have been captivating visitors since their arrival in 2012 and 2018, respectively. After several weeks of acclimation behind the scenes, Opie has now been introduced to Walle and Boomer where guests will be able to see him adjust to his new habitat.

It’s almost May and that means it’s sea turtle nesting season, announces sea turtle biologists at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. The season officially begins April 15 and runs through Oct. 31 according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission(FWC), which is a critical time for sea turtles who continue their legacy and return to the original beach where they were born, to lay their eggs.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium will present SunSips by the Bay: An After-Hours Experience at Clearwater Marine Aquarium on April 26 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. where the 21 and over crowd can unwind by the bay. Sip refreshing cocktails, groove to live music, and explore the wonders of the aquarium under the stars. Join us for a night of happy hour vibes and aquatic enchantment at SunSips by the Bay.

Get ready for a day of family fun with hot dogs, popcorn and all of your favorite stadium snacks, as Clearwater Marine Aquarium brings baseball season under the sea with a Rays Day at CMA on Saturday, April 20 at 12:30 p.m.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Florida’s marine life rescue center, announces it will now offer guests Weather Guarantees in partnership with Sensible Weather, the leading weather protection provider for travel and outdoor experiences. Through this partnership, CMA is the first aquarium to offer this first-of-its-kind protection.

CLEARWATER, FL (March 28, 2024)– Pearl, an adult, female diamondback terrapin, was found floating June 16 near a seawall in Palm Harbor. Her carapace – or shell – had injuries, and Pearl was lethargic, underweight, and had minimal use of her rear legs at intake examination.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium invites families to indulge in a Seaside Easter Breakfast on Saturday, March 30, from 9 to 11 a.m. This delightful event will feature a visit from the Easter Bunny, as well as the opportunity to meet live bunny rabbits and capture memorable photos. Guests will be treated to a gourmet breakfast buffet while enjoying an interactive dolphin presentation. Surrounded by marine life, families and friends can partake in fun activities and create lasting memories in a picturesque setting, while supporting CMA’s mission of rescue, rehabilitate and release.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) is thrilled to announce its dynamic and award-winning Marine Science Summer Camp programs for 2024, offering an unforgettable coastal learning experience for campers of all ages.

Proof of the Pudding, a leader in food service management and catering for state-of-the-art convention centers, sports and entertainment arenas and college stadiums, announces its agreement to serve as the exclusive caterer for Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, Florida.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) is delighted to unveil its inaugural event, AquaGala – a lavish black-tie affair set for March 9. This eagerly awaited fundraiser will bolster the Aquarium’s steadfast commitment to rescue, rehabilitation and release efforts. Themed “On the Island,” the gala will feature ocean-inspired flavors and decor unique to CMA, immersing guests in an unforgettable experience.

As families gear up for spring break, Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) announces an array of thrilling experiences and extended hours to make this break one to remember. From March 10 to April 7, CMA will extend its hours from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., allowing guests more time to explore and enjoy fun activities.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium will launch an all new series, “Echoes of the Ocean: A Marine Life Speaker Series,” with its first presentation, “The Journey of the Rice’s Whale,” on March 7 from 5 – 8 p.m. at CMA. The series will reflect national research as well as research specific to CMA on marine life, while including its ongoing mission of rescue, rehabilitation and release.

This week, Clearwater Marine Aquarium released 11 cold-stunned Kemp’s ridley sea turtles back into the Atlantic Ocean near the Cape Canaveral area, after they were rehabilitated for two months at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium is thrilled to announce its upcoming event, AquaGala on the Island, a sumptuous affair set to take place on March 9 at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. This highly anticipated inaugural fundraiser will support the Aquarium’s ongoing mission of rescue, rehabilitation and release, with each ticket going to support this important mission.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium will present a jazz-filled celebration at Jazz by the Bay, Saturday, Feb. 17 from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Honoring New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz, and embracing Mardi Gras vibes, this 21-and-over event promises live music, themed decor, and an oceanic backdrop for a night of dancing, indulging in New Orleans-inspired bites, and crafted cocktails for a soulful blend of jazz and marine magic.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium will present a family-friendly, pirate-themed event, Lights by the Bay Drone Show, on Saturday, Jan. 13, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. This evening will feature a mesmerizing drone show, showcasing over 150 drones performing aerial maneuvers and light displays.