Mote Marine relocates animals to $130M Sarasota center

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium completed a multi‑month relocation of hundreds of animals — including manatees, sea turtles, river otters, penguins and sharks — from its 45‑year City Island site to a newly built $130 million Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA) east of Sarasota. The moves began in August after the institution closed to the public in July; Mote says the new facility contains more authentic habitats, will house over 400 species (several thousand individual animals), and is set to open to the public the week of Oct. 7–8, 2025, with expected annual attendance roughly double its prior 350,000 visitors.