Press Releases

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.

In celebration of International Manatee Day, Sept. 7, Clearwater Marine Aquarium and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium announce a new partnership they are cofounding called the Wider Caribbean Manatee Alliance (WCMA), an international network, which will link strategic partners across the Caribbean region to collaborate on conservation, community engagement, and research benefiting manatees.

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.