Florida Aquarium Inc

THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM'S MISSION IS TO ENTERTAIN, EDUCATE AND INSPIRE STEWARDSHIP ABOUT OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. OUR VISION IS TO PROTECT AND RESTORE OUR BLUE PLANET.

AQUARIUM VISITATION ADMISSIONS - DESPITE THE ONGOING IMPACT OF THE GLOBAL CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC (COVID-19), THE AQUARIUM NEVER WAVERED FROM ITS MISSION. THE AQUARIUM CONTINUED TO OPERATE UNDER STRICT SAFETY AND CAPACITY PROTOCOLS FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR. BY SPRING BREAK IN 2021, VISITATION WAS BACK TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS. THE AQUARIUM ENDED FISCAL 2021 WITH OVER 740,000 VISITORS, DRIVEN BY RECORD-SETTING ATTENDANCE OVER THE SUMMER MONTHS. THESE VISITORS ENJOY AND LEARN ABOUT THE AQUARIUM'S 9,000 AQUATIC PLANT AND MARINE FISH AND ANIMAL RESIDENTS THROUGH SELF-GUIDED TOURS AND GUEST ENGAGEMENT FACILITATORS. THIS EXPERIENCE PROVIDES AN EYE-OPENING WINDOW INTO LIFE BELOW THE SURFACE. MANY OF OUR GUESTS NEVER HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE THESE RICH AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS IN THE WILD, BUT THEY CAN HAVE CLOSE ENCOUNTERS AT THE AQUARIUM. VISITORS TO THE AQUARIUM ARE EXPOSED TO FRAGILE NATURE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF FLORIDA'S AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT. THE AQUARIUM CONTINUED CELEBRATING ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY INTO 2021 AS A COMMUNITY PARTNER AND RESOURCE. THE "WASHED ASHORE: ART TO SAVE THE SEA" EXHIBIT WAS DISPLAYED. IN CONJUNCTION WITH SUPERBOWL LV, ANOTHER LOCALLY-CREATED BY SCHOOLCHILDREN MARINE DEBRIS ART EXHIBIT WAS ALSO DISPLAYED. THANKS TO COVID-RELATED GRANT FUNDING, VIRUS MITIGATING IMPROVEMENTS WERE IMPLEMENTED FOR GUEST SAFETY AND COMFORT. MANY OF THE PROGRAMMATIC EXPERIENCES SUSPENDED DUE TO COVID RETURNED IN FISCAL 2021, INCLUDING THE VERY POPULAR 'SNOW DAYS' PROMOTION OVER THE HOLIDAY SEASON ON THE NEWLY COMPLETED AND OPENED ROOFTOP TERRACE, POWERED BY SOLAR ENERGY.

CONSERVATION, RESEARCH & ANIMAL PROGRAMS - COVID-19 DID NOT STOP THE THE AQUARIUM FROM FURTHERING ITS CONSERVATION MISSION, OR TAKING EXEMPLARY CARE OF THE ANIMAL COLLECTION. RECORDS CONTINUE TO BE SET AND FIRST-EVER ACCOMPLISHMENTS CONTINUE TO BE MADE IN CORAL PROPAGATION AND RESTORATION. THE AQUARIUM MADE HISTORY IN BEING THE FIRST TO SUCCESSFULLY SPAWN CRITICALLY ENDANGERED ATLANTIC CORAL SPECIES IN A LABORATORY SETTING, RATHER THAN THE WILD (WHERE REPRODUCTION HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED). EACH YEAR, THE AQUARIUM SUCCESSFULLY SPAWNS ADDITIONAL SPECIES CORAL AND PROVIDES HUNDREDS-OF-THOUSANDS OF CORAL LARVAE TO PARTNERS TO SUPPORT THEIR RESTORATION RESEARCH. AT THE CENTER FOR CONSERVATION (A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE AQUARIUM, FWC, AND TECO), CONSTRUCTION WAS COMPLETED ON THE THIRD CORAL ARK GREENHOUSE, WHICH IS ALREADY FULL OF GROWING CORAL. THIS NEW ARK JOINS THE OTHER 2 GREENHOUSES, A YOUTH LEARNING CENTER, AND A SEA TURTLE REHABILITATION BUILDING. (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O)

EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS - THE AQUARIUM IS COMMITTED TO BEING A LEADER IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND STEM EDUCATION THROUGH CREATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT FORGE PERSONAL CONNECTIONS AND COMMITMENTS TO FLORIDA'S FRAGILE ECOSYSTEMS. OVER ITS HISTORY, THE AQUARIUM HAS REACHED OVER 1.5 MILLION CHILDREN THROUGH ITS EDUCATION PROGRAMS. STUDENTS FROM PRE-KINDERGARTEN THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL WERE EDUCATED THROUGH EXPLORATION OF THE AQUARIUM'S HABITATS & BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOURS; ON FIELD EXPEDITIONS TO NATURE SITES; AND EVEN IN THEIR OWN CLASSROOMS. TO OVERCOME THE COVID-19 CHALLENGES, THE AQUARIUM QUICKLY CREATED VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING OPTIONS TO CONTINUE SHARING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O)