Blog & News - Page 7 of 66 - Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Learn About Sea Turtle Conservation with Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s New VIP Ride-Along Program

Updated July 30, 2024 Posted July 25, 2024

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 to Present Aquatic Luau, Aug. 17

Updated August 13, 2024 Posted July 22, 2024

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 Documents Rare Leatherback Turtle Hatchlings

Updated July 24, 2024 Posted July 19, 2024

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!

Sea Turtle,Opal, Released by CMA After Rehabilitation 

Posted July 11, 2024

Rainy day release! Today, Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s sea turtle rehab team released Opal, a juvenle green sea turtle, into the waters of Fred Howard Park. Opal was found floating with issues staying submerged in New Port Richey on May 7th. After a few months of rehabilitation, Opal’s buoyancy issues resolved on their own and this turtle was healthy enough to be released back into the wild.

Manatee Tracking – Eris

Updated December 20, 2024 Posted July 5, 2024

A ten-foot adult male manatee named Eris was located and tagged on May 1, 2024 at Cumberland Island, Georgia through the collaborative effort between Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute (CMARI), Georgia Aquarium (GAQ), Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR) and other organizations. Eris received a full health assessment checkup from GAQ and CMARI veterinarian staff and was outfitted with a GPS satellite tag to closely monitor his travels as part of our manatee Northern Atlantic Coast Manatee Movement study.

Manatee Tracking – Shawty

Updated August 2, 2024 Posted July 5, 2024

An eight-and-a-half-foot small adult male manatee named Shawty was located and tagged on May 2, 2024 at Cumberland Island, Georgia through the collaborative effort between Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute (CMARI), Georgia Aquarium (GAQ), Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR) and other organizations. Shawty received a full health assessment checkup from GAQ and CMARI veterinarian staff and was outfitted with a GPS satellite tag to closely monitor his travels as part of our manatee Northern Atlantic Coast Manatee Movement study.

It’s Shark Week at Clearwater Marine Aquarium!

Updated July 22, 2024 Posted July 3, 2024

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.

Sea Turtle Hospital Patient – Baldwin

Updated July 31, 2024 Posted June 28, 2024

Baldwin is a subadult, kemp’s ridley who was found entangled in fishing line affecting both front flippers and additionally ingested the fishing line. Due to the severity of the entanglement, Baldwin’s left front flipper was barely attached to the body still. Our veterinarian quickly amputated the left front flipper and applied wound care at intake. Sea turtles are still releasable with missing one front flipper. It is extremely important to dispose of your fishing line appropriately as it can affect wildlife in a variety of ways! Over the next few days, we will be conducting wound care and performing more diagnostics regarding the ingested fishing line.

Sea Turtle Hospital Patient – Austin

Updated August 14, 2024 Posted June 28, 2024

Austin is a large, juvenile green sea turtle who was found floating near the Gandy bridge in Hillsborough county. Austin is missing their right rear flipper and has a partial amputation to the left rear flipper. They also have deformities to their caudal carapace, all are healed and from a previous traumatic event. Our team will be performing diagnostics over the next few days to help determine the cause of their buoyancy issues.

Sea Turtle Hospital Patient – Chicago

Posted June 28, 2024

Chicago is a juvenile, green sea turtle who was found offshore near Taylor county entangled in fishing line and additionally ingested the line offshore. There was a small hook that was attached to the fishing line that was embedded in tissue of the left front flipper. They have a minor case of fibropapilloma tumors and are otherwise in great body condition. An endoscopy was performed to help visualize the fishing line, and our vet team was able to remove the line during the endoscopy! We are hopeful for a quick turnaround!