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Press Room
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"Return to the sea some measure of the benefits derived from it"
Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute is a 501 (c)(3), non-profit, public charity dedicated to providing effective solutions to conflicts that arise between human activity and the natural world. Hubbs-SeaWorld scientists apply sophisticated technologies to seek the solutions that conserve marine animals while benefiting human populations and their growing reliance on natural resources. Chartered in 1963, the Institute was founded by the builders of SeaWorld to conduct research in the tradition of world-renowned scientists, Carl and Laura Hubbs. The Institute is honored to carry the name of one of the world's most respected marine scientists and the name of the world's leading marine zoological park.
The Institute's staff of sixty conducts internationally-recognized research in three state-of-the-art laboratory facilities: a 30,000 sq ft office/research laboratory complex adjacent to SeaWorld on Mission Bay in San Diego, CA, a 22,000 sq ft experimental hatchery on Agua Hedionda Lagoon in Carlsbad, CA and a 1,500 sq ft research laboratory in Orlando, FL. Also, master planning is underway for a new Marine and Coastal Research Center to be built on 60 acres of land adjacent to the Indian River Lagoon in Brevard County, on Florida's central eastern coast.
Institute research utilizes its scientists' expertise in aquaculture, bioacoustics, conservation, ecology and physiology to develop science-based solutions to problems caused by people's use of the environment we share with the world's animal populations.
We do this by:
- Advancing sustainable aquaculture development to help meet seafood demands without exploiting wild fisheries and to replenish depleted populations of wild fish to ensure health stocks for future generations
- Using innovative technologies to understand the role of sound in the sea, the impact of human induced noise and the mysteries of animal communication
- Developing and deploying satellite-linked transmitters to track the foraging and migrating behavior of animals to better understand and conserve the habitats essential to their survival
- Studying the occurrence and circumstances around the stranding of marine mammals toward answering how these populations are affected by human use of the environment
- Evaluating the effects of pollution on the health and vitality of marine animals to gain a better understanding as to how contaminants can impact the environment
- Sharing the results of our research with scientists, educators and the public, and promoting collaboration with colleagues and the community
- Encouraging the study of animals in zoological parks and aquaria, which provide unique and invaluable opportunities for scientific inquiry and education
- Acting as a mentor for new scientists and educators by providing research opportunities and training through collaboration with academic institutions.
Laboratory facilities support not only the Institute scientists' highly-productive and well-regarded marine research, but are open to collaborating scientists, graduate students and research associates.
Access to SeaWorld's and Busch Garden's extensive marine and terrestrial zoological collection, their superb facilities and their curatorial, education and veterinary expertise are the Institute's greatest assets as they provide unparalleled opportunities for scientific study. Institute research often plays a critical role in providing the foundation for legislation, environmental management decisions and conservation programs that protect both terrestrial and oceanic resources.
The primary justification for the Institute's public charity status is to draw from a wide range of resources to respond to ecological and conservation problems in a timely and productive manner.
As a non-profit, Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute exemplifies successful teamwork between the public and private sectors. The Institute's public and environmental service mission benefits both human and animal populations by conserving the natural environment they share. While many Institute projects are funded by research contracts and grants, the Institute also relies on support from corporations, foundations and private individuals for independent research to promote the conservation of living marine resources.
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Busch Gardens Tampa Bay welcomes the birth of baby Geri into the park's black rhino population. Busch Gardens' veterinarians conduct blood studies on the black rhino both in the park and out in the wild to better understand the health of the endangered species.
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