Discover Florida's Oceans
The best way to conserve natural systems is to understand them and the human interactions that affect them. Since 1963, Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute (HSWRI) has pioneered scientific discoveries about oceanic animals and their ecosystems. In the 1970s, our scientists and colleagues began the first study of the biology of Florida, Indian River Lagoon dolphins and maintain our status as the only federally authorized first responders to injured or dead dolphins and whales along 200 km of the IRL. This important research focuses on predicting and preventing impacts from human disturbance, habitat loss and pollution, and climate change. These discoveries help identify solutions to the challenges of both conservation and sustainable human development, which is HSWRI’s mission: To return to the sea some measure of the benefits derived from it.
Discover Floridas Oceans, A Speciality Licence Plate
The $25 cost of the Discover Florida’s Oceans license plate goes to Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute to benefit Florida’s oceans and estuaries through scientific research, conservation education, and hands-on environmental work.
You can #HelpSeaChange today by supporting our Marine Mammal Stranding team.
Blog Posts
Dolphin Calving Season 2018
In the past few weeks, three well-known dolphins in our study area have given birth! The newborn dolphins are in good hands, as these mothers are ...
Living Shoreline Update
In October 2016, HSWRI’s Coconut Point lab in Melbourne Beach was heavily damaged by Hurricane Matthew. Only 50 feet from the edge of the Indian Riv...
Otter Sampling
Today at our labs, our research scientist Megan Stolen with the help of volunteers, retrieved ...
Good News! Update on Previously Sighted Dolphin
Good news! During one of our routine photo-ID surveys in Mosquito Lagoon on the east coast of FL, we re-sighted the boat strike dolphin, whose story w...
Community Foundation for Brevard – Tour
We would like to thank Community Foundation for Brevard for touring our lab and bringing friends of their organization to learn more about our resea...
Loggerhead Sea Turtle Sighting
This week, while conducting a dolphin survey in the Mosquito Lagoon, our biologists spotted a loggerhead sea turtle drifting at the surface and strugg...
Research Programs & Activities
What We Do: Marine Mammal Stranding Response Dolphin Photo Identification & Ecology Otter Spotter, Citizen Science Project How We Do It: Thriving ...
Marine Mammal Response & Ecology
Hubbs is the federally authorized first responder for providing leadership and assistance to live and dead dolphin and whale strandings in Florida’s Brevard and Volusia Counties, a “hotspot” region for dolphin and whale strandings in the southeastern U.S.
Research
Hubbs research staff conduct long term studies in-house on samples and tissues taken from animals and perform scientific research, conservation and education on lands donated to the Institute by the Richard King Mellon Foundation in Melbourne Beach.
Conservation
We share our discoveries with teachers, students and our community to promote scientific literacy and conservation through innovative programs.
Product Demo
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