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MarineQuest is the annual open house of the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. Since 1995, MarineQuest has welcomed thousands of people through our doors to learn more about Florida’s fish, wildlife, and their habitats, and the cutting-edge research that Institute scientists are leading all around the state. MarineQuest is our chance to share our research with you – our passion, focus, and dedication to our mission to conduct collaborative research and monitoring to provide timely information and guidance to protect, conserve, and manage Florida’s fish and wildlife resources.
We invite you to join us at our headquarters in St. Petersburg on Saturday, February 7 for our next MarineQuest event. Learn more and view event details at MyFWC.com/MarineQuest.
Florida cold snap vs. turtle hatchlings
On November 10, air temperatures in Melbourne Beach dropped to 38°F at night, with even colder “feels-like” conditions. Green sea turtle hatchlings emerged that night, encountering freezing temperatures, and became cold-stunned, a potentially life-threatening condition. FWC surveyors found 400 hatchlings frozen in the sand and transported them to Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute in Melbourne Beach. The hatchlings were monitored and most of them were successfully released after warming up.
A year of restoration success in the Florida Keys!
In 2025, our Restoration Ecology team made exciting strides in marine conservation:
- For the first time at FWC, sponge larvae were captured and used in experiments, revealing that sponges prefer settling on specific materials!
- Hatchery-raised long-spined sea urchins are now sticking around longer on coral reefs thanks to new release techniques.
- Coral microbiome samples helped scientists investigate coral survival in nurseries and after outplanting on the reef!
Right whale sighting
Right whale calving season is underway and whales have arrived in Florida! Right whale Catalog #3946 ‘Calamari’ (right) and Catalog #3890 ‘Babushka’ (left) – a pair of adult females - were sighted approximately 3NM off Fernandina Beach, FL on December 03, 2025. Both are potential mothers this winter.
Photograph taken by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission under NOAA permit #26919.
Publication Spotlight: American crocodiles on jet skis: Conflict or coexistence?
American crocodiles in South Florida began making a strong recovery in the 20th century thanks to federal protections. But with their wild return comes a wild twist.
American crocodiles have adapted to using man-made features and are often seen basking in the sun on docks, paddleboards, and even jet-skis! While some may see them as a nuisance, scientists see this behavior as resilience and may be key to their continued comeback.
New on MyFWC.com/Research
We hope you enjoy these articles that have been recently added/updated on our website:
Our Mission
Through effective research and technical knowledge, we provide
timely information and guidance to protect, conserve, and manage
Florida's fish and wildlife resources.
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