The Sarasota County Commission has unanimously approved an agreement for Mote Marine Laboratory’s use of county-owned land in Nathan Benderson Park for the site of its planned new Science Education Aquarium. The “omnibus” agreement includes a two-year lease, during which Mote will pursue normal, due-diligence steps and seek zoning approval for ultimate sale of the land. If this does not happen within the short-term lease, the agreement calls for a long-term lease of 90 years.
Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA) will be an educational and outreach hub that aims to vastly improves access to marine science and technology for residents and visitors, an iconic facility with 110,000 square feet containing more than 1 million gallons of exhibits, onsite diving programs, a STEM resource center for students, teachers and the general public, two STEM workforce training labs and three K-12 STEM teaching labs, which will offer no-cost opportunities for every school in the region.

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium