2015-11-16T13:00:23-06:00 2014-12-31 591753337 KERKERING BARBERIO & CO PO BOX 49348 SARASOTA FL 342306348 990 2014-01-01 590756643 MOTE MARINE LABORATORY INC MOTE 9413884441 1600 KEN THOMPSON PARKWAY SARASOTA FL 34236 MICHAEL P CROSBY PHD CEO 9413884441 2015-11-16 1 REBECCA U STONER P00585910 9413654617 2014 2016-02-25 16:41:14Z MICHAEL P CROSBY PHD 1600 KEN THOMPSON PARKWAY SARASOTA FL 34236 21989495 0 X WWW.MOTE.ORG X 1955 FL ADVANCING THE SCIENCE OF THE SEA THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH. 29 28 243 1713 0 0 4217004 4826927 14914237 15142973 36716 -2098892 2114937 485880 21282894 18356888 297383 285959 0 0 10578402 10962166 0 0 1241383 8989674 9345319 19865459 20593444 1417435 -2236556 48685100 50103916 14137039 17801000 34548061 32302916 X THE ADVANCEMENT OF MARINE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES THROUGH SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND PUBLIC OUTREACH, LEADING NEW DISCOVERIES, REVITALIZATION AND SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR OCEANS AND GREATER PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF OUR MARINE RESOURCES. 0 0 9425137 121310 8475045 SEE SCHEDULE O:RESEARCHMOTE IS AN INDEPENDENT, NONPROFIT 501(C)3 MARINE RESEARCH ORGANIZATION WITH SIX RESEARCH FACILITIES LOCATED IN FLORIDA. AS OF DECEMBER 2014, MOTE HAS 24 RESEARCH PROGRAMS CONDUCTING WORLD-CLASS SCIENCE NOT ONLY IN OUR HOME COMMUNITY OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, BUT ON ALL THE WORLD'S SEVEN CONTINENTS. MOTE HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO MARINE RESEARCH AND MARINE CONSERVATION SINCE DR. EUGENIE CLARK FOUNDED THE LAB IN 1955. MOTE REMAINS ONE OF THE FEW INDEPENDENT MARINE LABS IN THE WORLD, AND AS SUCH WE NURTURE THE INNOVATION AND FLEXIBILITY NEEDED TO ADDRESS THE MOST PRESSING OCEAN ISSUES OF OUR TIME.MOTE'S MISSION IS TO CONTINUALLY ADVANCE MARINE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND PUBLIC OUTREACH LEADING TO NEW DISCOVERIES, REVITALIZATION AND SUSTAINABILITY OF EARTH'S OCEAN RESOURCES AND TO A GREATER PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF OUR MARINE ECOSYSTEMS.MOTE IS FIRST AND FOREMOST A GLOBAL LEADER IN DIVERSE FIELDS OF MARINE RESEARCH RELEVANT TO CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF MARINE BIODIVERSITY, HEALTHY HABITATS AND NATURAL RESOURCES.MOTE IS ALSO UNIQUE AS ONE OF THE FEW INDEPENDENT SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZATIONS IN THE WORLD THAT COMBINES MARINE RESEARCH WITH PUBLIC OUTREACH FEATURING AN AQUARIUM, ALONG WITH FORMAL AND INFORMAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. OUR VISION INCLUDES POSITIVELY IMPACTING PUBLIC POLICY BY BUILDING A MORE OCEAN-LITERATE SOCIETY. (VIEW MOTE'S 2020 VISION & STRATEGIC PLAN AT WWW.MOTE.ORG/ABOUTUS)MOTE'S RESEARCH ORIGINALLY FOCUSED ON SHARKS AND UNDERSTANDING THEIR BASIC BIOLOGY, BUT TODAY MOTE'S RESEARCH HAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THOUSANDS OF STUDIES THAT PROVIDE VITAL INFORMATION FOR RESOURCE MANAGERS AND THE PUBLIC.IN OVER MORE THAN FIVE DECADES, MOTE HAS GROWN FROM A TINY SHED IN PLACIDA WHERE THE LEGENDARY SCIENTIST DR. EUGENIE CLARK - THE SHARK LADY - BEGAN THE OPERATION, TO A 10.5-ACRE CAMPUS ON SARASOTA BAY IN SARASOTA, FLA., WITH FIELD STATIONS IN SUMMERLAND KEY IN THE FLORIDA KEYS AND PINE ISLAND IN CHARLOTTE HARBOR, A 200-ACRE STATE-OF-THE-ART MOTE AQUACULTURE PARK IN EASTERN SARASOTA COUNTY, PUBLIC OUTREACH EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN PUNTA GORDA AND BOCA GRANDE AND A PUBLIC CORAL REEF EXHIBIT IN KEY WEST. TODAY, MOTE HAS A STAFF OF MORE THAN 200 INCLUDING 35 DOCTORAL-LEVEL SCIENTISTS. MOTE ALSO MAINTAINS A STRONG VOLUNTEER CORE OF 1,713 VOLUNTEERS.THROUGH OUR HISTORY, MOTE SCIENTISTS HAVE PUBLISHED THOUSANDS OF MOTE TECHNICAL REPORTS AND PAPERS IN SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS, INCLUDING WORK THAT HAS ADVANCED THE FIELDS OF SHARK BEHAVIOR AND BIOLOGY, OCEAN OBSERVING SYSTEMS, HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM DYNAMICS, CORAL REEF RESEARCH, MARINE MAMMAL AND SEA TURTLE BIOLOGY AND POPULATION DYNAMICS, AQUACULTURE SYSTEMS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND NUMEROUS OTHER AREAS OF FOCUS. MOTE IS CURRENTLY HOME TO THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR SHARK RESEARCH, THE ONLY SUCH CENTER IN THE U.S. TO RECEIVE A CONGRESSIONAL DESIGNATION. (OUR WORKS ARE GATHERED IN DSPACE, AN OPEN ACCESS REPOSITORY LOCATED AT HTTPS://DSPACE.MOTE.ORG/DSPACE. OUR SCIENTIFIC HOLDINGS ALSO INCLUDE SEVERAL SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, INCLUDING WORKS BY BREDER, GILBERT AND CLARK.)TODAY, MOTE STUDIES A WIDE RANGE OF SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINES. RESEARCH PROGRAMS INCLUDE STUDIES OF HUMAN CANCER USING MARINE MODELS AND THE EFFECTS OF MAN-MADE AND NATURAL TOXINS ON HUMANS AND ON THE ENVIRONMENT. MOTE STUDIES THE HEALTH OF WILD FISHERIES, DEVELOPS SUSTAINABLE AND SUCCESSFUL FISH RESTOCKING TECHNIQUES AND FOOD PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES AND ENGINEERS NEW TOOLS TO HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND THE HEALTH OF THE ENVIRONMENT. MOTE RESEARCH PROGRAMS ALSO FOCUS ON UNDERSTANDING THE POPULATION DYNAMICS OF MANATEES, DOLPHINS, SEA TURTLES, SHARKS AND CORAL REEFS AND ON CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION EFFORTS RELATED TO THESE SPECIES AND ECOSYSTEMS. (FOR A FULL AND CURRENT LISTING OF MOTE MARINE LABORATORY'S RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES, PLEASE VISIT WWW.MOTE.ORG.)HERE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2014:STUDY SHEDS NEW LIGHT ON BIOLOGY OF NESTING IN WORLD'S LARGEST SEA TURTLE SPECIESTHE LARGEST-EVER STUDY OF BLOOD PROTEINS IN LEATHERBACKS WAS RELEASED IN FEBRUARY BY MOTE, REVEALING SOME OF THE FASCINATING BIOLOGY BEHIND ONE OF NATURE'S MOST DEMANDING LIFE CYCLES. THIS NEW STUDY, LED BY A MOTE SCIENTIST AND PUBLISHED IN THE PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY, USED THE MOST DETAILED ANALYSIS OF BLOOD PROTEINS IN LEATHERBACKS TO DATE TO CONFIRM THAT ANOTHER POPULATION AT ST. CROIX IN THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS FASTS WHILE NESTING, STRENGTHENING THE EMERGING PICTURE OF THE LEATHERBACK LIFE CYCLE. MORE RESULTS ALSO SHOW HOW FASTING AND MIGRATION MAY AFFECT THE TURTLES' BODIES, WHICH PROVIDES VITAL INFORMATION FOR RESOURCE MANAGERS SEEKING TO PROTECT THIS ENDANGERED SPECIES.THE RESEARCHERS COLLECTED 217 BLOOD SAMPLES FROM 76 LEATHERBACKS THAT CRAWLED ASHORE TO NEST DURING 2009 IN ST. CROIX, AFTER THEIR MIGRATION FROM FEEDING GROUNDS IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC. THEIR RESULTS REVEALED THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF PROTEINS, THE PERCENTAGE OF EACH TYPE AND THE RATIO OF ALBUMINS TO GLOBULINS. THESE MEASURES HELP REVEAL WHETHER THE TURTLES ARE FEEDING, HOW HEALTHY THEY ARE AND WHETHER THEY HAVE PROBLEMS INCLUDING INJURIES OR INFLAMMATION.SHARKS SENSE PREY IN SURPRISING WAYS, ACCORDING TO MAJOR STUDYHOW SHARKS HUNT PREY WAS REVEALED AS NEVER BEFORE IN A NEW STUDY ABOUT SHARK SENSES THAT WAS SUPPORTED BY THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION AND PUBLISHED APRIL 2 IN THE PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL PLOS ONE.THE STUDY OF BLAKTIP, BONNETHEAD AND NURSE SHARKS, LED BY SCIENTISTS FROM MOTE, THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA (USF) IN TAMPA AND BOSTON UNIVERSITY, WAS THE FIRST TO SHOW HOW VISION, TOUCH, SMELL AND OTHER SENSES COMBINE TO GUIDE A DETAILED SERIES OF ANIMAL BEHAVIORS FROM START TO FINISH. RESULTS SHOW THAT SHARKS WITH DIFFERENT LIFESTYLES MAY FAVOR DIFFERENT SENSES, AND THEY CAN SOMETIMES SWITCH WHEN THEIR PREFERRED SENSES ARE BLOCKED. THAT'S HOPEFUL NEWS FOR SHARKS TRYING TO FIND FOOD IN CHANGING, SOMETIMES DEGRADED ENVIRONMENTS. IN GENERAL, THE RESULTS PROVIDE THE MOST DETAILED PLAY-BY-PLAY DESCRIPTION OF SHARK HUNTING BEHAVIOR TO DATE, FROM LONG-RANGE TRACKING OF SMELLS AND SWIMMING UPSTREAM USING THE LATERAL LINE TO ORIENTING AND STRIKING USING VISION, LATERAL LINE AND FINALLY ELECTRORECEPTION.MOTE'S 28TH RUN FOR THE TURTLES MAKES GREAT STRIDES FOR ENDANGERED SPECIESMORE THAN 800 RUNNERS AND WALKERS HIT THE BEACH TO HELP ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SEA TURTLES DURING MOTE'S 28TH RUN FOR THE TURTLES ON APRIL 5 AT SIESTA PUBLIC BEACH.THE RUN, WHICH INCLUDES A 5K SANCTIONED BY THE MANASOTA TRACK CLUB AND A 1-MILE FUN-RUN/WALK, HAS PROVIDED MAJOR SUPPORT FOR MOTE MARINE LABORATORY'S SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH PROGRAM, WHICH HAS COORDINATED SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION FOR 33 YEARS ALONG 35 MILES OF SARASOTA COUNTY BEACHES. MOTE SCIENTISTS AND VOLUNTEERS IN MOTE'S SEA TURTLE PATROL MONITOR SEA TURTLE NESTING EACH DAY DURING NESTING SEASON, MAY 1-OCT. 31. THE RUN, A JOINT EFFORT BETWEEN MOTE, THE MANASOTA TRACK CLUB AND SARASOTA COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION, RAISES FUNDS TO HELP MOTE SCIENTISTS STUDY AND PROTECT SEA TURTLES, WHICH ARE CONSIDERED THREATENED OR ENDANGERED UNDER FEDERAL LAW.TAGGED GREAT WHITE SHARKS VISIT GULFA GREAT WHITE SHARK NICKNAMED "BETSY" AND TAGGED FOR RESEARCH OFF CAPE COD WAS TRACKED ABOUT 63 MILES OFF BOCA GRANDE, FLA., ON APRIL 25. IN THE WEEKS THAT FOLLOWED, ANOTHER TAGGED GREAT WHITE SHARK NICKNAMED "KATHARINE" WAS ALSO TRACKED IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.BETSY AND KATHARINE WERE EACH FITTED WITH MULTIPLE SCIENTIFIC TAGS DURING A TEAM EXPEDITION LED BY THE ORGANIZATION OCEARCH IN AUGUST 2013 OFF CAPE COD. THE SCIENTIFIC TEAM INCLUDED DRS. BOB HUETER AND NICK WHITNEY FROM MOTE'S CONGRESSIONALLY DESIGNATED CENTER FOR SHARK RESEARCH AND MANY OTHER RESEARCHERS AND INSTITUTIONS.BETSY WAS THE FIRST WHITE SHARK FROM THE OCEARCH-LED EXPEDITIONS IN THE ATLANTIC TO BE TRACKED INTO THE GULF.U.S. AND ISRAELI SCIENTISTS PARTNER ON INTERNATIONAL OCEAN INITIATIVESMOTE AND THE INTERUNIVERSITY INSTITUTE FOR MARINE SCIENCES (IUI) IN EILAT, ISRAEL, SIGNED A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) ON MAY 2 THAT WILL LEAD TO NEW RESEARCH ENDEAVORS DESIGNED TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS THAT CLIMATE CHANGE WILL HAVE ON CORAL REEFS AND FIND WAYS TO RESTORE AND PROTECT REEFS WORLDWIDE.THIS NEW RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP WILL ALSO SUPPORT RESEARCH ON OCEAN ACIDIFICATION, THE ECOLOGY OF SHARKS AND BUTTERFLYFISH, MARINE BIOMEDICINE AND MANY OTHER KEY SUBJECTS SHARED BY THESE TWO WORLD-CLASS MARINE SCIENCE ORGANIZATIONS. ON MAY 2, DR. CROSBY AND DR. AMATZIA GENIN, DIRECTOR OF THE IUI, SIGNED THE AGREEMENT AT THE IUI IN EILAT. THE SIGNING CEREMONY TOOK PLACE DURING A HISTORIC TRIP BACK TO THE RED SEA WITH MOTE FOUNDER DR. CLARK, AS SHE CELEBRATED HER 92ND BIRTHDAY. 3382516 3671640 SEE SCHEDULE O:AQUARIUMMOTE AQUARIUM IS THE MAIN VENUE THROUGH WHICH MOTE MARINE LABORATORY COMMUNICATES ITS CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH FINDINGS. LOCATED ON MOTE MARINE LABORATORY'S MAIN CAMPUS IN SARASOTA, FLA, THE AQUARIUM HAS PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN MOTE'S OUTREACH EFFORTS SINCE 1980 BY PRESENTING EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS THAT REFLECT ONGOING RESEARCH IN THE LABORATORY AND THAT STIMULATE CURIOSITY, DISCOVERY, EXPLORATION AND STEWARDSHIP OF AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTS.IN 2014, 304,180 GUESTS VISITED THE AQUARIUM, WITH OUR TRAVELING EXHIBIT (MOTE MOBILE) REACHING MORE THAN 300,000 PEOPLE THROUGHOUT FLORIDA.MOTE AQUARIUM DISPLAYS MORE THAN 100 MARINE SPECIES, INCLUDING SHARKS, FISH OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES, MOLLUSKS, CRUSTACEANS AND MORE. AQUARIUM EXHIBITS RANGE FROM SMALL DISPLAYS TO LARGE EXHIBITS SUCH AS OUR 135,000-GALLON SHARK HABITAT. TOUCH POOLS ALLOW VISITORS TO SAFELY TOUCH SEA URCHINS, HORSESHOE CRABS, HERMIT CRABS, STINGRAYS AND OTHER SPECIES. GUESTS CAN ENJOY EDUCATIONAL AND INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS ENRICHED BY TRAINED VOLUNTEER DOCENTS THROUGHOUT THE AQUARIUM WHO ASSIST VISITORS AND ANSWER QUESTIONS. SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS INCLUDE NARRATED TRAINING SESSIONS WITH MOTE'S LARGE SHARKS, SEA TURTLES AND MANATEES AND A SEAHORSE CONSERVATION LABORATORY THAT BREEDS AND RAISES SEAHORSES THAT ARE DISPLAYED AT MOTE AND TOP ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS NATIONWIDE. MOTE'S ANN AND ALFRED GOLDSTEIN MARINE MAMMAL RESEARCH AND REHABILITATION CENTER ALLOWS VISITORS TO SEE RESIDENT MANATEES, SEA TURTLES AND DOLPHINS THAT CANNOT BE RETURNED TO THE WILD. THESE NON-RELEASABLE ANIMALS ACT AS AMBASSADORS FOR THEIR SPECIES AND HELP US TEACH THE PUBLIC ABOUT OUR ONGOING RESEARCH PROGRAMS WITH THESE SPECIES IN THE WILD. THESE RESIDENT ANIMALS ALSO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH PROGRAMS HERE AT THE AQUARIUM THAT ALLOW US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE ANIMALS IN WAYS THAT ARE NOT POSSIBLE IN WILD SETTINGS. IN THIS FASHION, THE AQUARIUM STAFF ARE CREATING A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE LEARNING ABILITIES AND BIOLOGY OF THESE SPECIES, INCLUDING HOW WELL THEY HEAR AND SEE, AND HOW THEY USE VARIOUS SENSES - INCLUDING TOUCH - TO NAVIGATE THEIR ENVIRONMENT. BEHIND THE SCENES, MOTE ALSO CARES FOR STRANDED, SICK OR INJURED DOLPHINS, WHALES AND SEA TURTLES WITH THE GOAL OF RETURNING THEM TO THE WILD. MOTE'S ANIMAL CARE STAFF SEEKS TO EXPAND KNOWLEDGE OF THE BASIC BIOLOGY, VETERINARY CARE AND DISEASE PROCESSES OF THESE ANIMALS. WHEN ANIMALS ARE SUCCESSFULLY RELEASED, EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO DO FOLLOW-UP MONITORING OF THE SHORT- AND LONG-TERM MOVEMENTS OF THESE ANIMALS. MOTE'S DOLPHIN AND WHALE HOSPITAL HAS BEEN REHABILITATING DOLPHINS AND WHALES AT OUR SARASOTA, FLA.-BASED FACILITIES SINCE 1984. WE HAVE TREATED 70 DOLPHINS AND SMALL WHALES AND SUCCESSFULLY RELEASED 21 TO THE WILD. OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE THE MOST HUMANE TREATMENT POSSIBLE FOR LIVE-STRANDED DOLPHINS AND WHALES, WHILE ALSO CREATING A BETTER SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING OF THESE ANIMALS AND THEIR NEEDS IN ORDER TO SUPPORT CONSERVATION OF THESE SPECIES IN THE WILD. MOTE HAS BEEN REHABILITATING SICK AND INJURED SEA TURTLES SINCE 1995. WE HAVE TREATED MORE THAN 475 SEA TURTLES OVER THAT PERIOD - INCLUDING SEA TURTLES SUFFERING FROM FIBROPAPILLOMA TUMORS. THESE TUMORS ARE BELIEVED TO BE CAUSED BY A VIRUS AND, BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION MECHANISM FOR THIS DISEASE REMAIN UNKNOWN, THE FACILITIES WHERE THESE TURTLES ARE TREATED ARE SEPARATE FROM OUR OTHER TURTLE TREATMENT FACILITIES. MOTE IS ONE OF ONLY THREE FACILITIES IN FLORIDA THAT IS ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS SPECIALIZED CARE.TRIPADVISOR NAMES MOTE 10TH BEST U.S. AQUARIUM!TRAVELERS HAVE SPOKEN AND MOTE AQUARIUM MADE THE TOP 10 LIST OF BEST U.S. AQUARIUMS, AS PART OF THEIR 2014 TRAVELER'S CHOICE AWARDS.THE AWARDS HONOR TOP TRAVEL SPOTS WORLDWIDE BASED ON THE MILLIONS OF REVIEWS AND OPINIONS FROM TRIPADVISOR TRAVELERS. AWARD WINNERS WERE DETERMINED USING AN ALGORITHM THAT TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF REVIEWS FOR ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS WORLDWIDE, GATHERED OVER A 12-MONTH PERIOD. 1145779 54475 658344 SEE SCHEDULE O:EDUCATIONMOTE MARINE LABORATORY'S COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING A MORE OCEAN-LITERATE SOCIETY BEGINS WITH CHILDREN - BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE. IN ADDITION TO THE MANY PROGRAMS WE OFFER THAT ARE GEARED TOWARD TODAY'S YOUTH, WE ALSO OFFER PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE ADULTS WITH LIFE-LONG OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN MARINE SCIENCE, LIKE AN ANNUAL SPECIAL LECTURE SERIES AND SCIENCE CAFES.MOTE'S ANNUAL SPECIAL LECTURE SERIES, GRACIOUSLY SPONSORED BY LOCAL PHILANTHROPISTS, SHOWCASES AN EXCITING SPEAKER LIST OF TOP SCIENTISTS AND EXPLORERS EACH YEAR THAT DRAWS THOUSANDS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OCEAN-RELATED TOPICS.MOTE ALSO PRESENTS ON-SITE EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS THROUGH SCHOOL AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS, SUMMER CAMPS AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS - INCLUDING THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION-FUNDED RESEARCH EXPERIENCES FOR UNDERGRADUATES (REU), WHICH ALLOWS UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERTAKE SCIENTIFIC STUDIES UNDER THE DIRECT MENTORSHIP OF A PH.D.-LEVEL RESEARCHER. IN 2014, MOTE CELEBRATED ITS ELEVENTH SUCCESSFUL YEAR OF HOSTING THIS NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION-FUNDED PROGRAM, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS INTERESTED IN STEM FIELDS.IN 2014, MOTE TEAMED UP WITH SARASOTA-MANATEE UNIVERSITIES DURING THE 2014-2015 SCHOOL YEAR TO OFFER 13 LOCAL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AN INTENSIVE MARINE SCIENCE INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE. THE NEW MOTE REU-USFSM PROGRAM GREW FROM THE ONGOING EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MOTE AND UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA SARASOTA-MANATEE (USFSM), AND IT DRAWS UPON MOTE'S 11 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE HOSTING THE PRESTIGIOUS, NATIONAL-LEVEL REU INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES PAID RESEARCH-TRAINING EXPERIENCES TO UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN USFSM COURSES. FUNDING SUPPORT FOR ALL REU-USFSM INTERNS IS PROVIDED BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA WITH THE GOAL OF ADVANCING STEM EDUCATION.INTERNS ARE EXPECTED TO COMPLETE A MINIMUM OF 160 HOURS OF RESEARCH EXPERIENCE BETWEEN AUGUST, 2014 AND JULY, 2015. START AND END DATES DURING THIS PERIOD ARE TAILORED TO SPECIFIC RESEARCH PROJECTS. THE REU-USFSM PROGRAM EARNED MOTE A SPOT ON THE 2015-2016 EMPLOYER RECOGNITION WALL IN THE CAREER SUCCESS CENTER AT USF SARASOTA-MANATEE.IN ALL, OUR SCHOOL AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS REACHED 25,218 CHILDREN AND ADULTS THROUGH OUR SPECIAL PROGRAMMING, AND OUR MOTE MOBILE AND OTHER TRAVELING EXHIBITS REACHED MORE THAN 300,000 NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY. MOTE-SPONSORED EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY REACHED MORE THAN 3,854 PARTICIPANTS AND MOTE HOSTED 266 HIGH SCHOOL INTERNS AND COLLEGE INTERNS. MOTE'S SUMMER PROGRAMS REACHED AN ALL-TIME RECORD OF 801 ENROLLED PARTICIPANTS.MOTE VOLUNTEERS ALSO PLAY A STRONG ROLE IN HELPING MOTE TO ACCOMPLISH ITS MISSION BY SHARING THEIR TIME AND EXPERTISE AS AQUARIUM DOCENTS, BEHIND-THE-SCENES CONTRIBUTORS AND EVEN LABORATORY RESEARCH ASSISTANTS. IN 2014, 1,685 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED 212,337 SERVICE HOURS TO MOTE. 3251565 110174 2337944 PROTECT OUR REEFSFLORIDA HAS THE ONLY BARRIER CORAL REEF SYSTEM IN THE CONTINENTAL U.S. IT'S LIKE HAVING THE GRAND CANYON UNDERWATER - A NATURAL TREASURE THAT TOOK MILLIONS OF YEARS TO CREATE AND DESERVES OUR PROTECTION. SADLY, CORALS ARE IN DECLINE WORLDWIDE. RESEARCH IS HELPING TO UNDERSTAND WHY AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT. EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION EFFORTS CAN HELP REDUCE HUMAN IMPACT ON THESE PRECIOUS RESOURCES. TO HELP SUPPORT MARINE RESEARCH, CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION EFFORTS DESIGNED AT SAVING FLORIDA'S REEF, MOTE MARINE LABORATORY SPONSORED THE CREATION OF THE PROTECT OUR REEFS SPECIALTY LICENSE PLATE IN FLORIDA. THE PLATE WAS APPROVED BY THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE IN JULY 2003. MOTE ADMINISTERS THESE FUNDS.FOR EACH REEF PLATE PURCHASED BY A FLORIDA-LICENSED DRIVER, $25 IS USED TO SUPPORT CORAL REEF RESEARCH, CONSERVATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS, INCLUDING A SPECIAL PROTECT OUR REEFS GRANTS PROGRAM. IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING MOTE RESEARCH PROGRAMS, THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS OTHER FLORIDA-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO APPLY FOR FUNDS FOR STUDIES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO HELP UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES OUR REEFS ARE FACING AND INVESTIGATE WAYS TO IMPROVE REEF HEALTH. 37.5% OF REVENUES SUPPORTS GRANTS AND AN ADDITIONAL 37.5% OF REVENUES SUPPORTS MOTE CORAL REEF RESEARCH. IN 2014, THE PROTECT OUR REEFS LICENSE PLATE SALES RAISED $322,780 FOR GRANTS FOCUSED ON CORAL REEF RESEARCH, RESTORATION, EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION. THESE EFFORTS ARE HELPING SOCIETY GAIN A MORE COMPREHENSIVE PICTURE OF WHY CORALS ARE IN DECLINE AND THE FACTORS THAT KEEP CORALS HEALTHY. THE OUTREACH PROGRAMS HELP FLORIDA RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS BETTER UNDERSTAND CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEMS AND HOW HUMAN ACTIVITY AFFECTS THEM AND HOW THEY CAN PROACTIVELY ASSIST IN PROTECTING AND RESTORING CORAL REEFS.FLORIDA DRIVERS WHO PURCHASE THE STATE'S PROTECT OUR REEFS SPECIALTY LICENSE PLATE ARE SUPPORTING PROGRAMS LIKE THIS THAT HELP US ATTACK CORAL REEF PROBLEMS ON A NUMBER OF FRONTS. AQUACULTURE PARKMOTE AQUACULTURE PARK FACILITY OPERATIONSMOTE HAS A 200-ACRE, STATE-OF-THE-ART AQUACULTURE FACILITY SUPPORTING THE CONSERVATION OF THE WORLD'S FISHERIES AND SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD PRODUCTION. THE PARK INCLUDES OVER 125,000 SQUARE FEET OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FACILITIES, WHICH HAVE BEEN DEDICATED TO MOTE'S COMMERCIAL STURGEON DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM AND ITS MARINE AND FRESHWATER AQUACULTURE RESEARCH PROGRAM.STUDIES AT THE FACILITY FOCUS ON GROWTH, SPAWNING, HEALTH AND OTHER CHARACTERISTICS OF SALTWATER SPECIES SUCH AS COMMON SNOOK, POMPANO AND RED DRUM FOR RESTOCKING PROGRAMS, RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD PRODUCTION.THROUGH ITS EFFORTS WITH FRESHWATER SIBERIAN STURGEON, IN 2006 MOTE BECAME THE FIRST ORGANIZATION IN FLORIDA TO PRODUCE CAVIAR - DEMONSTRATING THAT LARGE-SCALE AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION USING WATER RECIRCULATING TECHNOLOGIES WAS FEASIBLE IN THE STATE. MOTE FARM-RAISED CAVIAR HAS BEEN EXTREMELY WELL RECEIVED AND IN DEMAND NATIONWIDE. 2014 BROUGHT TWO MAJOR SUCCESSES: MOTE SOLD THE RIGHTS TO RUN THE STURGEON/CAVIAR OPERATION TO THE PRIVATE BUSINESS SOUTHEAST VENTURE HOLDINGS, LLC (SEVEN HOLDINGS), WHICH IS INCORPORATING THE CAVIAR INTO THEIR HEALTHY EARTH BRAND. THE SALE MARKS THE FIRST MAJOR PRIVATE BUSINESS SPIN-OFF FROM MOTE RESEARCH - ONE OF OUR KEY STRATEGIC GOALS. (NOTE: MOTE STILL OWNS THE ENTIRE 200-ACRE AQUACULTURE PARK AND CONTINUES RESEARCH THERE.) MOTE LAUNCHED A PROTOTYPE GREENHOUSE FOR MARINE AQUAPONICS: RAISING SALTWATER RED DRUM IN 100-PERCENT RECIRCULATING AQUACULTURE WHILE USING THE WASTEWATER TO FERTILIZE SALT-LOVING, EDIBLE PLANTS. MOTE HAS SINCE BEGUN PRELIMINARY MARKETING OF PLANTS TO LOCAL CHEFS AND A FARMERS' MARKET.MEMBERSHIPIN 2014 MOTE MARINE LABORATORY AND AQUARIUM WAS FORTUNATE TO CONTINUE AND STRENGTHEN OUR 7,000 (HOUSEHOLDS) MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM. MEMBERSHIP DUES PROVIDE UNRESTRICTED FUNDS THAT ARE PUT TO WHERE THE NEED IS GREATEST ANNUALLY. INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP LEVELS BEGIN AT $65 AND RISE TO $1,000. MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS INCLUDE UNRESTRICTED VISITS TO MOTE AQUARIUM WITH THE NUMBER OF GUESTS ALLOWED BASED ON INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP LEVELS; DISCOUNTS IN THE AQUARIUM SHOPS; DISCOUNTS ON EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND CAMPS; FREE AND DISCOUNTED ADMISSIONS TO MORE THAN 100 ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND MUCH MORE. FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF MEMBERSHIP LEVELS, BENEFITS AND OPPORTUNITIES PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.MOTE.ORG/MEMBERSHIP 3251565 110174 2337944 17204997 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 117 0 1 243 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 X 29 28 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 FL X X DENA SMITH MOTE MARINE LABORATORY 9413884441 1600 KEN THOMPSON PARKWAY SARASOTA FL 34236 ALAN ROSE TRUSTEE 5.00 X 0 0 0 ARTHUR ARMITAGE CHAIRMAN EMERITUS 5.00 X 0 0 0 DEAN EISNER TRUSTEE 5.00 X 0 0 0 EDWARD H JENNINGS TRUSTEE 5.00 X 0 0 0 FREDERICK M DERR PE CHAIRMAN EMERITUS 5.00 X 0 0 0 HOWARD SEIDER JR MD TRUSTEE 5.00 X 0 0 0 JAMES D ERICSON TRUSTEE 5.00 X 0 0 0 JEANIE STEVENSON TRUSTEE 5.00 X 0 0 0 JOHN DART TRUSTEE 5.00 X 0 0 0 JUDY GRAHAM CHAIRMAN EMERITUS 5.00 X 0 0 0 KIRK MALCOLM TRUSTEE 5.00 X 0 0 0 MARY LOU JOHNSON TRUSTEE 5.00 X 0 0 0 EUGENIE CLARK PHD TRUSTEE 5.00 X 0 0 0 NIGEL MOULD TRUSTEE 5.00 X 0 0 0 PAUL CARREIRO TRUSTEE 5.00 X 0 0 0 PENELOPE KINGMAN TRUSTEE 5.00 X 0 0 0 RANDE RIDENOUR TRUSTEE 5.00 X 0 0 0 RICHARD O DONEGAN TRUSTEE 5.00 X 0 0 0 ROBERT CARTER CHAIRMAN EMERITUS 5.00 X 0 0 0 ROBERT ESSNER TRUSTEE 5.00 X 0 0 0 RONALD CIARAVELLA TRUSTEE 5.00 X 0 0 0 SCOTT COLLINS TRUSTEE 5.00 X 0 0 0 SUSAN C GILMORE TRUSTEE 5.00 X 0 0 0 TRUDO LETSCHERT TRUSTEE 5.00 X 0 0 0 G LOWE MORRISON VICE CHAIRMAN 5.00 X X 0 0 0 GENE BECKSTEIN CHAIRMAN 5.00 X X 0 0 0 LT GEN HOWARD G CROWELL JR TREASURER 5.00 X X 0 0 0 MICKEY CALLANEN SECRETARY 5.00 X X 0 0 0 MICHAEL P CROSBY PHD PRESIDENT/CEO 40.00 X X 274285 0 23109 DENA J SMITH CFO & VP, ADMINISTRATION 40.00 X 94512 5000 21200 DAVID VAUGHAN PHD SR SCIENTIST 40.00 X 138041 0 23322 JOHN REYNOLDS III PHD SR SCIENTIST 40.00 X 129097 0 32274 KENNETH LEBER PHD SR SCIENTIST 40.00 X 131414 0 22644 KUMAR MAHADEVAN PH D OUTREACH 40.00 X 220839 0 36227 ROBERT HUETER PHD SR SCIENTIST 40.00 X 128904 0 38129 1117092 5000 196905 18 0 1 0 SARASOTA BAY EXPLORERS 1923 LINCOLN DRIVE SARASOTA FL 34236 ECO-TOURISM BOAT TOURS 559921 MANCINI DINERS 4411 BEAUCHAMP COURT SARASOTA FL 34243 DINER AT MOTE AQUARIUM 349188 PARADISE ADVERTISING AND MARKETING INC 150 2ND AVE N STE 800 SAINT PETERSBURG FL 33701 MARKETING SERVICES 304491 JANI-KING OF TAMPA BAY 2469 SUNSET POINT RD CLEARWATER FL 33765 JANITORIAL SERVICE 144041 BILIKI CRUISES PO BOX 387 ENGADINE NSW AS DIVE CHARTER SERVICE 130356 8 186399 1354318 3286210 718425 4826927 RESEARCH 541700 8475045 8475045 AQUARIUM 713990 3671640 3671640 PROTECT OUR REEFS - LICENSE PLATE 900099 1000258 1000258 MEMBERSHIPS 900099 888032 888032 EDUCATION AND DISTANCE LEARNING 611710 658344 658344 449654 449654 15142973 55103 55103 604829 262181 2292868 728137 -1688039 -465956 -2153995 -2153995 109223 186399 162420 -53197 -53197 988259 449182 539077 539077 18356888 15142973 0 -1613012 110174 110174 175785 175785 459106 127635 285149 46322 8668403 6976427 1241541 450435 464560 378249 51925 34386 686069 534125 103387 48557 684028 526702 109444 47882 18532 10425 8107 40950 40950 158196 158196 1556080 1200084 161563 194433 336182 251824 3571 80787 727210 503409 101131 122670 802672 542298 255022 5352 525798 504186 4527 17085 36938 34130 1984 824 191228 147162 44066 2321993 646241 1675752 497006 254028 235132 7846 EQUIPMENT RENTAL & MAIN 1254255 811824 426625 15806 SUPPLIES 669884 667092 2782 10 INTERNAL RENTALS 0 155992 -166784 10792 OVERHEAD ALLOCATION 0 2493664 -2493664 208395 153541 54854 20593444 17204997 2147064 1241383 1482022 1957406 2553714 2553984 1626461 4593825 1400000 182840 127571 162290 77996 57335406 34888062 23754917 22447344 1283069 17639787 16945790 48685100 50103916 1292424 1059617 4457284 7538194 8387331 8595375 0 607814 14137039 17801000 X 17649301 14382374 7341290 7748283 9557470 10172259 34548061 32302916 48685100 50103916 X -2236556 175 -8764 X X 0 1 X 1 1 1 X 2613531 2729063 3007908 4217004 4826927 17394433 2613531 2729063 3007908 4217004 4826927 17394433 1425197 15969236 19662 24641 38376 42874 55103 180656 17575089 79756355 0.90860 0.88010 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 158196 158196 20435248 20593444 1000000 250000 0 0 1000000 1000000 1000000 1000000 4000000 6000000 109422 110967 133687 158196 512272 250000 250000 250000 250000 1000000 1500000 0 618040 2655 -2025 618670 615933 -4109 6216 618040 614327 6395 4789 615933 614696 5879 6248 614327 613070 10630 9004 614696 0.98930 0.01070 0 0 7498190 7498190 33771131 20999016 12772115 13351645 12050070 1301575 2714440 1838976 875464 22447344 BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN MOTE MARINE FOUNDATION, INC. 15943356 DUE FROM MOTE MARINE FOUNDATION 133817 DONATED ASSETS HELD FOR SALE 101935 PATENTS 95069 CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS 63799 INVESTMENT IN DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN 607814 16945790 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PAYABLE 607814 607814 X 18960201 175 300 -8764 -8289 18968490 -611602 -611602 18356888 21205346 300 611602 611902 20593444 0 20593444 PART V, LINE 4: ALL ENDOWMENT FUNDS ARE HELD IN PERPETUITY WITH THE INCOME USED AS FOLLOWS 1-THE CULTURAL ENDOWMENT FUND INCOME IS USED TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS FOR THE AQUARIUM 2- THE KEYS ADVISORY BOARD ENDOWMENT FUND INCOME IS USED TO SUPPORT PROGRAM ACTIVITIES AT THE KEYS FACILITY. PART X, LINE 2: UNDER THE INCOME TAXES TOPIC OF THE FASB ACCOUNTING STANDARDS CODIFICATION, THE LABORATORY HAS REVIEWED AND EVALUATED THE RELEVANT TECHNICAL MERITS OF EACH OF ITS TAX POSITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES GENERALLY ACCEPTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR ACCOUNTING FOR UNCERTAINTY IN INCOME TAXES, AND DETERMINED THAT THERE ARE NO UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS THAT WOULD HAVE A MATERIAL IMPACT ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE LABORATORY. PART XI, LINE 2D - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: CHANGE IN NET ASSETS OF MOTE MARINE FOUNDATION, INC. 248,502. EQUITY LOSS IN SUBSIDIARY -257,266. PART XI, LINE 4B - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: COST OF GOODS SOLD NETTED WITH SALES INCLUDED IN PART VIII FORM 990 -449,182. SPECIAL EVENTS EXPENSES INCLUDED IN PART VIII FORM 990 -162,420. PART XII, LINE 2D - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: COST OF GOODS SOLD NETTED WITH SALES INCLUDED IN PART VIII FORM 990 449,182. SPECIAL EVENTS EXPENSES INCLUDED IN PART VIII FORM 990 162,420. OCEANIC EVENING 204520 132790 71730 93776 23322 PARTY ON THE PASS 59235 45510 13725 12379 13549 1 31867 8099 23768 19394 295622 186399 109223 106155 56265 162420 -53197 1 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION PO BOX 37012 MRC 1205 WASHINGTON DC 20013 530206027 501(C)(3) 22750 PROTECT OUR REEFS GRANT UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA PO BOX 103610 GAINESVILLE FL 32610 596002052 THE STATE OF FLORIDA 9537 PROTECT OUR REEFS GRANT UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI 4600 RICKENBACKER CAUSEWAY MIAMI FL 33149 590624458 501(C)(3) 21825 PROTECT OUR REEFS GRANT NOVA UNIVERSITY 3301 COLLEGE AVENUE FT LAUDERDALE FL 33314 591083502 501(C)(3) 11385 PROTECT OUR REEFS GRANT UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA 1 UNF DRIVE JACKSONVILLE FL 32224 592976169 THE STATE OF FLORIDA 13125 PROTECT OUR REEFS GRANT FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 150 W UNIVERSITY BLVD MELBOURNE FL 32901 596046500 501(C)(3) 11505 PROTECT OUR REEFS GRANT REEF PO BOX 246 KEY LARGO FL 33037 650270064 501(C)(3) 6422 PROTECT OUR REEFS GRANT REEF RELIEF PO BOX 430 KEY WEST FL 33041 592696402 501(C)(3) 7125 PROTECT OUR REEFS GRANT 8 0 SCHOLARSHIPS 43 54475 STIPENDS 29 121310 PART I, LINE 2: GRANTS ARE AWARDED TO ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH MOTE MARINE LABORATORY'S PROTECT OUR REEFS PROGRAM USING FUNDS COLLECTED FROM REEF LICENSE PLATE SALES. THE FINAL DECISION AS TO WHICH PROPOSALS WILL BE FUNDED AND UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS WILL BE MADE BY MICHAEL CROSBY, PH.D., THE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF MOTE. TO ASSIST HIM, DR. CROSBY HAS ASSEMBLED A GRANTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF EIGHT INDIVIDUALS WITH BROAD AND DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS IN CORAL REEF RESEARCH, EDUCATION, CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT. THE COMMITTEE EVALUATES AND RANKS EACH OF THE PROPOSALS SUBMITTED. OUTSIDE EXPERTS ARE ALSO CONSULTED TO PEER REVIEW THE PROPOSALS AS NECESSARY. THE COMMITTEE MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS TO DR. CROSBY AS TO WHICH PROPOSALS SHOULD BE SELECTED AND IN WHAT AMOUNTS. A LIMITED NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS ARE AWARDED TO INDIVIDUALS EACH YEAR. THE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD RANGES FROM $500 TO $2,000 FOR A TWO TO THREE MONTH INTERNSHIP. A SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS BASED ON PROGRAM NEED AND STUDENT'S FINANCIAL NEED, ACADEMIC MERIT AND RECOMMENDATIONS. STIPENDS ARE AWARDED TO PARTICIPANTS IN SEVERAL RESEARCH EXPERIENCE FOR UNDERGRADUATES (REU) PROGRAMS AT MOTE MARINE LABORATORY. THE FUNDING AGENCY DETERMINES THE APPLICATION CRITERIA, BUT USUALLY THE STUDENTS ARE SELECTED IF THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY PREVIOUS RESEARCH EXPERIENCE AND MEET OTHER SPECIFIC CRITERIA SUCH AS UNDERSERVED, UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS OR ALUMNI AT A SPECIFIC UNIVERSITY. THE STIPENDS CAN RANGE FROM $500 TO $5,250 DEPENDING ON GRANT AND LENGTH OF INTERNSHIP. X X X X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 MICHAEL P CROSBY PHD PRESIDENT/CEO 274285 0 0 0 0 0 14498 0 8611 0 297394 0 0 0 DAVID VAUGHAN PHD SR SCIENTIST 138041 0 0 0 0 0 13219 0 10103 0 161363 0 0 0 JOHN REYNOLDS III PHD SR SCIENTIST 129097 0 0 0 0 0 15474 0 16800 0 161371 0 0 0 KENNETH LEBER PHD SR SCIENTIST 131414 0 0 0 0 0 15337 0 7307 0 154058 0 0 0 KUMAR MAHADEVAN PH D OUTREACH 218969 0 0 0 1870 0 23090 0 13137 0 257066 0 0 0 ROBERT HUETER PHD SR SCIENTIST 128904 0 0 0 0 0 16206 0 21923 0 167033 0 0 0 X 4 2250 FAIR MARKET VALUE X 14 553501 FAIR MARKET VALUE X 1 145869 FAIR MARKET VALUE X EQUIPMENT 4 16805 FAIR MARKET VALUE 0 1 0 FORM 990, PART I, LINE 6 VOLUNTEERS VOLUNTEERS WORKED IN MANY PROGRAM AREAS INCLUDING IN THE AQUARIUM, ANIMAL CARE, THE SEA TURTLE PROGRAM, HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE INTERNS, ADVISORY BOARD, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, COMMUNITY SERVICE AND RESEARCH. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A MOTE'S ANIMAL HOSPITALS THANK SARA ROBERTS FOUNDATION FOR GRANT MOTE ANNOUNCED IN JUNE THAT THE LAB RECEIVED A GRANT OF NEARLY $106,000 FROM THE SARA ROBERTS FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT RESCUE, REHABILITATION AND RELEASE OF SICK AND INJURED MARINE ANIMALS. THE FUNDS WERE PROVIDED FOR OPERATING SUPPORT AND HELPING PURCHASE EQUIPMENT FOR MOTE'S HOSPITALS FOR DOLPHINS, WHALES AND SEA TURTLES. MOTE'S ANIMAL HOSPITALS HAVE TREATED 70 DOLPHINS AND WHALES SINCE 1992 AND MORE THAN 450 SEA TURTLES SINCE 1995. FLORIDA LEGISLATOR WOWED BY MOTE'S CORAL RESEARCH IN THE KEYS STATE REP. HOLLY MERRILL RASCHEIN, R-KEY LARGO, VISITED MOTE'S TROPICAL RESEARCH LABORATORY ON SUMMERLAND KEY ON JUNE 6 TO LEARN HOW MOTE IS STUDYING AND RESTORING CORAL REEFS, ESPECIALLY IN THE FLORIDA KEYS. RASCHEIN SAID SHE CAME AWAY EDUCATED AND INSPIRED. CORAL REEFS ARE BELIEVED TO SUPPORT AS MUCH AS 40 PERCENT OF ALL THE MARINE LIFE. FLORIDA'S CORAL REEF SYSTEM IS THE THIRD LARGEST LIVING REEF ON THE PLANET - AND IT IS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPORTANT TO FLORIDA'S ECONOMY. HOWEVER, FLORIDA'S REEFS HAVE FACED EXTREME CHALLENGES DURING THE PAST 40 YEARS FROM MULTIPLE THREATS INCLUDING OCEAN ACIDIFICATION ALONG WITH RISING WATER TEMPERATURE AND DISEASES. MOTE SCIENTISTS ARE STUDYING HOW THESE CHALLENGES AFFECT REEFS, AND MOTE HAS ALSO DEVELOPED INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES FOR RESTORING FLORIDA'S CORALS, INCLUDING METHODS TO RAISE THOUSANDS OF CORAL FRAGMENTS AND REPLANT THEM ON DEPLETED REEFS IN THE WILD. MOTE AND FWC TRACK OFFSHORE RED TIDE THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION (FWC) REPORTED IN LATE JULY THAT A BLOOM OF FLORIDA RED TIDE WAS CONFIRMED IN WATER SAMPLES COLLECTED OFFSHORE OF HERNANDO COUNTY. MOTE SCIENTISTS CONDUCTED WATER SAMPLING SURVEYS AND LAUNCHED AUTONOMOUS UNDERWATER VEHICLES (ALSO KNOWN AS AUVS OR UNDERWATER ROBOTS) TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BLOOM AND THE PHYSICAL CONDITIONS SURROUNDING IT. MOTE WORKED CLOSELY WITH OTHER PARTNERS TO MONITOR AND STUDY THE BLOOM, WHILE ALSO PROVIDING VITAL DATA TO EXPAND OUR UNDERSTANDING OF FLORIDA RED TIDE. IN ADDITION, MOTE SCIENTISTS DEPLOYED THE UNDERWATER ROBOT WALDO ON A JOINT MISSION WITH A ROBOT FROM USF TO MONITOR THE BLOOM - ONE OF SIX MISSIONS MOTE'S ROBOT CARRIED OUT IN 2014. FINDINGS FROM 2014 WILL FEED INTO LONG-TERM STUDIES ABOUT THE BIOLOGY, ECOLOGY AND OTHER DYNAMICS OF RED TIDE BLOOMS. MOTE CREATES REEF RESTORATION SITE AS REMEMBRANCE FOR FALLEN WARRIORS VOLUNTEERS FROM SCUBANAUTS INTERNATIONAL, THE COMBAT WOUNDED VETERAN CHALLENGE AND GOLD STAR TEEN ADVENTURES JOINED MOTE SCIENTISTS IN MOTE'S UNDERWATER CORAL NURSERY FOR A CRITICAL MISSION THIS SUMMER: CORAL REEF RESTORATION. WORKING WITH MOTE SCIENTISTS, THESE VOLUNTEERS HELPED PLANT THREATENED STAGHORN CORALS IN A SPECIAL RESTORATION SITE NEAR LOOE KEY OVER TWO WEEKS IN JULY. BY THE END OF THE MISSION, THE GROUPS PLANTED 850 CORAL FRAGMENTS AND HELPED TO CREATE ANOTHER 2,300 FRAGMENTS THAT WILL BE GROWN IN MOTE'S UNDERWATER CORAL NURSERY AND THEN PLANTED ON THE REEF. THE EVENT ALSO MARKED THE CREATION OF A NEW RESTORATION AREA TO HONOR THE SACRIFICES OF AMERICAN SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN SET ASIDE ON A PATCH REEF ABOUT A MILE LONG EAST OF LOOE KEY. NEW PROJECT WORKING TOWARD CONSERVATION OF DUGONGS IN MALAYSIA A NEW PROJECT UNDER WAY IN MALAYSIA IS FOCUSED ON A VULNERABLE POPULATION OF DUGONGS - MARINE MAMMALS RELATED TO MANATEES - WITH THE GOAL OF USING FINDINGS TO HELP SAVE THE NATION'S DWINDLING POPULATION AND IMPROVE HUMAN HEALTH ALONG THE WAY. THE PROJECT LEADER, DR. LOUISA PONNAMPALAM, A RESEARCH FELLOW AT THE INSTITUTE OF OCEAN AND EARTH SCIENCES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE NONPROFIT MARECET RESEARCH ORGANIZATION, IS CONDUCTING A THREE-YEAR HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT OF HER NATION'S DUGONG POPULATION AND WORKING TO HELP INCREASE GRASSROOTS AND MANAGEMENT SUPPORT FOR PROTECTING THE SPECIES. IN 2014, DR. JOHN REYNOLDS, DIRECTOR OF THE ICMC AND LEADER OF MOTE'S MANATEE RESEARCH PROGRAM, AND DR. DANA WETZEL, MANAGER OF MOTE'S ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORY FOR FORENSICS, JOINED PONNAMPALAM IN MALAYSIA TO BEGIN COLLECTING THE ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLES NEEDED TO ADDRESS THE RISKS THAT DUGONGS FACE. IN AUGUST, WETZEL AND REYNOLDS COLLECTED SAMPLES FROM SEAGRASSES AND SEDIMENTS, WHICH WETZEL WILL ANALYZE IN HER LAB FOR CONTAMINANTS. MOTE SCIENTIST HONORED BY INTERNATIONAL SHARK RESEARCH SOCIETY IN AUGUST, SHARK RESEARCHERS PLACED MOTE SCIENTIST DR. CARL LUER IN THEIR "HALL OF FAME." THE AMERICAN ELASMOBRANCH SOCIETY (AES) PRESENTED ITS DISTINGUISHED FELLOW AWARD TO LUER, WHO STUDIES DISEASE-FIGHTING TRAITS OF SHARKS AND RAYS TO SUPPORT THE QUEST FOR BETTER HUMAN MEDICAL CARE. AES IS THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY FOR THOSE WHO STUDY SHARKS AND THEIR RELATIVES THE SKATES, RAYS, GUITARFISH AND SAWFISH - A GROUP OF FISHES CALLED ELASMOBRANCHS. THE AES DISTINGUISHED FELLOW AWARD RECOGNIZES CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF SHARKS AND THEIR RELATIVES. HATCHERY-REARED SNOOK RELEASED INTO SARASOTA BAY ON AUG. 15, SCIENTISTS FROM MOTE AND FLORIDA'S FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION (FWC) RELEASED HATCHERY-REARED JUVENILE SNOOK INTO THE WILD AS PART OF AN ONGOING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO FIND THE MOST EFFECTIVE METHODS TO REPLENISH AND ENHANCE WILD SNOOK POPULATIONS.THE SPECIES IS ONE OF FLORIDA'S MOST POPULAR SPORT FISH AND PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN DRAWING RECREATIONAL ANGLERS TO THE STATE. SNOOK, ALONG WITH RED DRUM, ARE THE MAIN TEST SPECIES FOR RESTOCKING EFFORTS STATEWIDE. THIS PROJECT - WHICH INVOLVED TAGGING AND THEN RELEASING MORE THAN 2,200 SNOOK INTO SARASOTA BAY DURING OVER THREE DAYS - IS DESIGNED TO DETERMINE WHETHER SNOOK THAT HAVE BEEN CONDITIONED FOR RELEASE AT MOTE HAVE BETTER GROWTH AND SURVIVAL RATES IN THE WILD. SCALLOP SEARCH DRAWS COMMUNITY TOGETHER THE ANNUAL SCALLOP SEARCH LED BY THE NONPROFIT SARASOTA BAY WATCH TALLIED 40 SCALLOPS ON AUG. 23, SURPASSING THE COUNT OF 11 FROM 2013. THE EVENT DREW MORE THAN 130 VOLUNTEERS, STRENGTHENING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY'S COMMITMENT TO MONITOR AND RESTORE SCALLOP POPULATIONS IN SARASOTA BAY. MOTE SCIENTIST JIM CULTER WAS JOINED BY DR. KENJI KITAMURA FROM JAPAN'S RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR HUMANITY AND NATURE (RIHN), WHICH IS DOCUMENTING THE LOCAL SCALLOP RESTORATION EFFORT AS PART OF A GLOBAL STUDY ON SCIENCE AND SOCIETY. SCALLOPS AND OTHER IMPORTANT SPECIES OF SHELLFISH IN FLORIDA HAVE SERIOUSLY DECLINED DUE TO CHANGES SUCH AS HABITAT LOSS, POLLUTION, DREDGE-AND-FILL OPERATIONS, OVERHARVESTING AND BLOOMS OF HARMFUL ALGAE KNOWN AS RED TIDES. TO RESTORE DEPLETED POPULATIONS IN SARASOTA BAY, MOTE HAS TEAMED UP WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESS LEADERS AND MANY VOLUNTEER CITIZEN SCIENTISTS TO RELEASE HATCHERY-RAISED SCALLOPS INTO THE BAY AND MONITOR FOR SIGNS OF RECOVERY. INNOVATIVE AQUAPONICS PROJECT RAISES SALTWATER FISH AND SEA VEGGIES MOTE AQUACULTURE PARK (MAP) - MOTE'S SUSTAINABLE FISH FARMING RESEARCH FACILITY - LAUNCHED A PIONEERING PROJECT IN FALL 2014 TO ADVANCE MARINE AQUAPONICS: FARMING SEAFOOD WHILE USING THE WASTEWATER TO FERTILIZE SALT-LOVING CROPS. THIS COMMERCIAL DEMONSTRATION PROJECT, FUNDED BY FLORIDA SEA GRANT AND DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA (USF) AND MORNINGSTAR FISHERMEN, IS USING ECO-FRIENDLY TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED AT MAP TO RAISE THE SALTWATER FISH SPECIES, RED DRUM, TOGETHER WITH PLANT SPECIES SEA PURLSANE AND SALTWORT. THE PROJECT AIMS TO BRING ITS TASTY RESULTS FROM FARM TO FORK, SHOWING COMMUNITIES A NEW WAY TO PRODUCE FOOD LOCALLY FOR FARMERS' MARKETS AND RESTAURANTS. NEAR-RECORD TURTLE NESTING CONCLUDES, RESEARCH ADVANCES BEACHES FROM LONGBOAT KEY THROUGH VENICE HOSTED A NEAR-RECORD NUMBER OF SEA TURTLE NESTS IN 2014 FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF 2,461 NESTS, WHILE MOTE'S SEA TURTLE RESEARCH CONTINUES TO ADVANCE. IN 2014, MOTE POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW DR. JUSTIN PERRAULT AND MOTE INTERNS SUCCESSFULLY DOCUMENTED AND ID-TAGGED 228 TURTLES, INCLUDING 190 THAT SCIENTISTS HAD NEVER BEFORE ENCOUNTERED ON LOCAL BEACHES. MOTE POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW PERRAULT HAS ALSO BEEN INVESTIGATING WHETHER TOXINS FROM FLORIDA RED TIDE, KNOWN AS BREVETOXINS, ARE STORED IN SEA TURTLES' BODIES AND POTENTIALLY PASSED TO THEIR EGGS. PERRAULT COLLECTED SAMPLES OF BLOOD AND SCUTES (OUTER COVERINGS OF A TURTLE'S SHELL) FROM 31 NESTING FEMALE LOGGERHEAD TURTLES, ALL OF WHICH TESTED POSITIVE FOR BREVETOXIN EXPOSURE, EVEN THOUGH THE LAST MAJOR BLOOM OF FLORIDA RED TIDE WAS, AT THAT TIME, IN MAY 2013 - SUGGESTING THAT THE TURTLES HAD STORED BREVETOXIN COMPOUNDS. PERRAULT ALSO ANALYZED SIX SEA TURTLE EGGS AND PRELIMINARY RESULTS SUGGEST THAT NESTING FEMALES MAY PASS ALONG RED TIDE TOXINS FROM THEIR FAT STORES TO THEIR YOUNG AND SEA TURTLE HATCHLINGS MAY RECEIVE BREVETOXINS FROM THE EGG'S YOLK SAC, WHICH FEEDS THE HATCHLINGS AS THEY DEVELOP IN THE NEST. NUTRIENTS THAT FEED RED TIDE "UNDER THE MICROSCOPE" IN MAJOR STUDY IN NOVEMBER, SCIENTISTS ANNOUNCED THAT THE "FOOD" SOURCES SUPPORTING FLORIDA RED TIDES ARE MORE DIVER FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 1 THE PRESIDENT/CEO IS A VOTING BOARD MEMBER. WHEN ISSUES ARISE THAT MAY CAUSE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, HE RECUSES HIMSELF. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11 THE FORM 990 IS PREPARED BY AN OUTSIDE ACCOUNTING FIRM WITH INFORMATION FROM THE ANNUAL AUDIT AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT. THE FINAL FORM 990 IS REVIEWED BY THE CEO AND CFO. PRIOR TO FILING, FORM 990 IS SIGNED BY THE CEO AND PROVIDED TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C TRUSTEES, OFFICERS AND KEY EMPLOYEES ARE REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE ANNUALLY INTERESTS THAT COULD GIVE RISE TO CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. A CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND DISCLOSURE STATEMENT IS DISTRIBUTED AT THE ANNUAL BOARD MEETING OR OTHER TIMES AS NEEDED. ALL SIGNED DISCLOSURES ARE COLLECTED WITH A FOLLOW UP UNTIL RETURNED. THEY ARE REVIEWED BY THE PRESIDENT OR CFO AND BROUGHT TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE IF NEEDED FOR DETERMINATION. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 THE COMPENSATION FOR THE CEO IS DETERMINED BY THE CEO EVALUATION/COMPENSATION COMMITTEE. THE COMMITTEE BASES THEIR DECISION ON COMPENSATION DATA FROM COMPARABLE INSTITUTIONS AND A COMPREHENSIVE WRITTEN SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES BY THE CEO. THE COMPENSATION FOR THE CFO IS DETERMINED BY THE CEO AFTER A BOARD APPROVED BUDGET RATE OF INCREASE. ALL DELIBERATION AND DECISIONS ARE CONTEMPORANEOUSLY SUBSTANTIATED. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE GOVERNING DOCUMENTS INCLUDING THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS, THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, THE FORM 990 AND THE ANNUAL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. THE ANNUAL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON WWW.MOTE.ORG FORM 990, PART XI, LINE 9: CHANGE IN BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN NET ASSETS OF MOTE MARINE FOUNDATION, INC. 248,502. EQUITY EARNINGS IN SUBSIDARY INCOME -257,266. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C AUDIT REVIEW PROCESS THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AUDIT REVIEW PROCESS FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. MOTE MARINE FOUNDATION INC 1600 KEN THOMPSON PARKWAY SARASOTA FL 34236 592226800 PROVIDES FUNDS TO SUPPORT MOTE MARINE LABORATORY FL 501(C)(3) LINE 11A, I 0 MOTE AQUACULTURE INC 1600 KEN THOMPSON PARKWAY SARASOTA FL 34236 650628959 MARINE AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH FL C 1.00000 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1