New Mote aquarium opens with a wave of excitement in Sarasota

A sneak preview for members precedes the aquarium's Oct. 8 opening to the general public.

  • By Jay Heater
  • | 3:30 p.m. October 7, 2025
  • | 0 Free Articles Remaining!
More than 70,000 students are expected to take advantage of Mote SEA educational opportunities annually.
More than 70,000 students are expected to take advantage of Mote SEA educational opportunities annually.
Photo by Jay Heater
  • Manatee-Sarasota
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There they were on Oct. 6, Lakewood Ranch's Leslie Higgins and Sarasota's Nancy Scanlon, with their bodies crunched down on the floor as they tried to get a better angle to take photos at one of the huge fish tanks in the Mote Science Education Aquarium.

The two seniors had a bit of trouble getting back up. 

 

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