Grant: 23-025C
Project Title: Expanding Temporary Capacity at The Florida Aquarium's Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center
Project Manager: Ashley Riese
Organization: The Florida Aquarium (Non-Profit Organization)
Grant Amount: $35,995.00
Completion Date: 2024-06-05
Summary: The Florida Aquarium will purchase supplies and equipment to build nine Mobile Aquatic Sea Turtle Holding (MASH) units at its Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center. This project will allow the Center to increase its maximum capacity during times of high need, while maintaining lower operating costs for the remainder of the year. The MASH units can be installed relatively quickly to allow the Center the flexibility to respond to natural disasters and other events, which create an unexpected and urgent need for holding space. It will also allow The Florida Aquarium to assist other rehabilitation facilities that need temporary holding space for their animals.
Results: MASH Units are completely done being built at this time. MASH Units are full of water and currently running. The team is collecting water quality data in preparation for a FWC inspection. Once water quality data collection was complete, an inspection with FWC was scheduled for their approval of use. FWC approved the MASH units for use, turtles will be able to reside in the new system. We have completed a promo video with Two-Head Video company about the STLP, STLP Grant, MASH Units and TFA.