The Florida Aquarium 2021 Annual Report

PROTECT RESTORE PERSEVERE

Officers

Kimberly A. Bruce, Chair

Roger Germann, President Kimberly Casey, Vice President Lauren Fernandez, Treasurer K. Tyler Hill, Secretary

FY21 Board of Directors

Kimberly A. Bruce Matthew Blair G. Robert Blanchard

Daniel Borasch Christopher J. Brandriff Douglas Brigman Charlotte Brittain

John D. Couris

Lauren Fernandez Hosana Fieber

Reginald Goins Felicia Harvey Thomas L. Hernandez K. Tyler Hill

Dale Hoffman Kyle M. Klement

John J. Miller Douglas Montgomery Lakshmi Shenoy

James Weiss Andrea Gonzmart Williams A. Paul Anderson

Honorable Jane Castor (Designee: Dennis Rogero)

Santiago Corrada

Honorable Janet Cruz

Supt. Addison Davis (Designee: Larry Plank)

Honorable Charlie Miranda

Honorable Mariella Smith

Honorable Jackie Toledo

Dear Friends,

What a difference a year makes. Coming off a previously unimaginable year of trials brought on by the 2020 global pandemic and triumphs in the way that we responded to and overcame many of its challenges; we are thrilled to report that 2021 was a year of unprecedented Forward Momentum

Thanks to the hard work and commitment of our staff, volunteers and the support from our guests, donors and community, we made tremendous strides and succeeded in breaking records – in attendance, in revenue and in animal care and conservation. Some highlights:

• This year saw the strongest financial results in The Florida Aquarium history. Operating revenues came in 70% higher than the previous year and 46% over our projected budget.

• Financial performance saw record-breaking numbers in a variety of areas, including record-breaking admission and membership revenues, gift shop sales and even parking revenues exceeded $1 million for the first time.

• The long-awaited Rooftop Terrace opened in June 2021. Featuring more than 1,100 solar panels provided courtesy of TECO, the terrace will produce an estimated 134 kilowatts of electricity per year and provide 6,000 square feet of event, entertainment and relaxation space overlooking Sparkman Channel and Hillsborough Bay.

• The opening of our third coral greenhouse expanded the Aquarium’s capabilities to raise coral in support of Project Coral and the Florida Reef Tract restoration efforts.

• The single largest admission of sea turtles was taken in at our Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center at the Center for Conservation for emergency treatment and ongoing care.

• We launched our 2021-2023 Business & Operations Sustainability Plan our initial three-year sustainability plan sets ambitious goals. By making decisions that are based on science, we strive to make a measurable impact and reflect an environmental, social and economic conscious.

• To the delight of Florida residents and visitors during the December holiday season, a re-invented Snow Day event gave guests the opportunity to play in “real snow” on the Rooftop Terrace while adhering to safety protocols during the pandemic.

• As part of the community commitment surrounding Tampa-based Super Bowl LV, NFL Green (the environmental initiative of the National Football League) and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission worked with The Florida Aquarium and others in the continuation of the football field-sized coral restoration project, 100 Yards of Hope. An interactive digital display at the Aquarium was installed and offspring of threatened coral species raised at The Florida Aquarium were transferred to the reef off the coast of Miami.

The above are but a few highlights of all that has been accomplished this year. Read on for an exciting review of the year we moved beyond the constrictions of the pandemic to unrestricted innovation, renewed vigor and an unwavering commitment to our purpose and vision.

Roger Germann President and CEO

Kimberly Bruce Chair of the Board of Directors

FORWARD MOMENTUM Sustaining

While the health and well-being of our animal population is critical to our mission, we understand it is equally important to attend to the well-being of our workforce our staff, volunteers and leadership – without whom the operation of every facet of our organization would be impossible.

Wellness Day

To provide a respite from the extraordinary innovation and resilience required to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Aquarium closed to the public for a day of staff relaxation and team building on March 11; roughly a year after the initial COVID-driven closure to the public.

With recovery on track, it was critical to tend to the mental well-being of our staff.

During the Wellness Day, staff members were encouraged to come and enjoy the Aquarium in ways they most enjoyed, from watching our fish to reading to relaxing by playing games with fellow staff members. The result was a rejuvenated, re-energized staff, ready to move forward with our mission.

Volunteer Engagement

During 2021, with the restrictions of the pandemic eased, we actively engaged in rebuilding our volunteer force. While we are fortunate to have an abundance of individuals interested in volunteering, we still actively recruit new volunteers. Collaborating with local schools, colleges and universities, as well as community organizations, we are able to fortify our teams.

Often recruitment is organic with a visit prompting a desire to get more involved, referrals from existing volunteer and students looking to gain skills and knowledge for career advancement.

For existing volunteers, communication was key to their return to service. Through virtual check-ins, electronic updates and personal phone calls, we were able to keep in close contact. With safety as our top priority, we eliminated time commitment requirements for certain assignments; allowing volunteers to return to service at their discretion.

In 2021, we modified the annual volunteer appreciation event; foregoing a sit-down gathering for a family night of visitation. A virtual appreciation event also was held to recognize volunteer achievement.

We are forever grateful to the dedication and commitment of our volunteers in helping us protect and restore our blue planet. With more than 20,799 hours logged in 2021, these intrepid and generous individuals are vital to our success in moving our mission forward.

Safety

The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic influenced every aspect of our operations and Human Resources was no exception. Our professionals were tasked with interpreting and responding to the changing guidelines imposed by the evolving public health crisis, updating policies, procedures and safety protocols as needed.

In addition, we developed and implemented a vaccination campaign and incentive program to encourage all team members to get vaccinated. By the end of FY 2021, 89% of our full-time workforce was fully vaccinated.

Moving Forward in

CONSERVATION

A major contributor to the critical work of coral restoration, The Florida Aquarium continued to reach impressive milestones and realize measurable conservation achievements by increasing the genetic diversity of coral offspring, improving coral care and husbandry techniques through research and amplifying coral propagation rates.

Because of The Florida Aquarium’s unprecedented success in the sexual reproduction and rearing of corals, a unique partnership with the NFL and Force Blue, a group of retired special operations military veterans, was borne out of Tampa’s hosting of Super Bowl LV. The collaboration brought extra attention to our conservation activities and provided additional forces to our efforts.

Programs like Dive 55 and 100 Yards of Hope featured marine cleanup and coral restoration projects that not only benefited the environment and sea life, but also brought media attention, a documentary, and increased awareness of the plight of polluted waters and endangered coral reefs to the public.

Strategic Colony Development

During the 2021-2022 spawning events, thousands of additional larvae were settled for rearing by the coral team at The Florida Aquarium. Additionally, we continued to expand our collection Elkhorn coral, an important reefbuilding species, through essential partnerships like the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Biscayne National Park.

The Florida Aquarium coral conservation program was the first to receive boulder star coral larvae collected from wild spawning by Biscayne National Park. Listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, this species has never been raised from larvae.

Grooved Brain Coral Rescue

Another triumph was achieved when, for the first time, grooved brain corals rescued from a disease outbreak and maintained in human care were bred with wild corals that had survived the disease in a collaborative initiative between scientists at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and The Florida Aquarium. This breakthrough research effort represents the first-time cryogenically preserved sperm successfully was used to crossbreed brain coral parents from different locations, with the goal of enhancing genetic diversity and disease resistance to help protect and restore Florida’s depleted coral reefs.

Restoration in Action

Outplanting of mountainous star coral (Orbicella faveolata) in Biscayne National Park became part of the first Aquarium-Park Partnership to participate in the Zoo-Park Partnerships for America’s Keystone Wildlife project. A total of 320 corals also were given to our partners at University of Miami and Biscayne National Park for release onto reefs in Miami-Dade. Approximately 500 corals grown by coral biologists at The Florida Aquarium were planted on the reef in the Lower Keys in June.

Urchin Outplant

In December, researchers at The Florida Aquarium, University of Florida and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission realized a significant achievement for reef restoration when they successfully spawned, settled, reared and released nearly 200 Long Spined Sea Urchins (Diadema antillarum) off the coast of Florida. These urchins provide a vital service by feeding on algae that can suffocate healthy coral reefs. Our researchers are helping discover ways to rear volumes of urchins and other grazers that clean coral reefs as part of the restoration effort.

– Keri O’Neil, Manager & Senior Scientist, Coral Conservation

“We are in a race to help the world’s coral reefs, and this release of critically important algae grazers is a huge step forward. I am immensely proud of our team, and our partner institutions, who came together to find healthy and supportive methods to foster hundreds of urchins and release them into the wild.”

Expanding Infrastructure

As our success in coral reproduction and the need for our baby corals in restoration projects continue to grow, so does our need for space. To accommodate this demand, a third state-of-the-art greenhouse was constructed at The Florida Aquarium’s conservation complex in Apollo Beach. This new greenhouse expands the space needed to care for tens of thousands of baby corals. This greenhouse – and the important work that will take place inside – was made possible thanks to funding from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission with support from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Additionally, The Florida Aquarium was approved for $1.9M in funding from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as part of the Hurricane Irma Disaster Relief Funding, to build a 4,200 square foot Coral Care Complex to exponentially expand our coral reproduction and rearing efforts.

Other Highlights:

• A manuscript on lab induced spawning was published in an open-access scientific journal, Frontiers in Marine Science.

• In 2021, we provided over 500,000 coral larvae to collaborating scientists from seven different facilities in Florida.

• Brian Reckenbeil was hired as the new Restoration Manager. Brian formerly served on the Restoration Ecology team at Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Dive 55

In January, volunteers from The Florida Aquarium participated in the Dive 55 Marine Debris Clean Up at Manatee Public Beach in Holmes Beach. As part of the activities surrounding Tampa’s hosting of Super Bowl LV, the Aquarium, Force Blue, NFL Green, Pepsi and the Super Bowl LV

Later displayed at The Florida Aquarium, the goal was to help build awareness about ocean pollution and marine debris. See the Learning section (p. 14) for more information about the A Lasting Legacy in Tampa Bay conservation art contest and exhibit.

100 Yards of Hope

Another event inspired by Super Bowl LV was the 100 Yards of Hope coral restoration program. In honor of the National Football League’s 100th season, a variety of coral species, born and raised by The Florida Aquarium, were planted in a football-field sized restoration project in the waters off Miami.

The National Football League teamed up with Force Blue, scientists, researchers and other public/private partners came together to restore a portion of the reef off the coast of Miami and lay the groundwork for future coral restoration worldwide. Divers planted thousands of corals to establish the north and south end zones and center field of the football field sized reef.

100 Yards of Hope Documentary and New Exhibit

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsored the filming of a 40-minute documentary about 100 Yards of Hope, to increase awareness of the threat to coral reefs and the unique collaboration of organizations and scientists who came together to make this effort a success.

Dr. Debborah Luke, The Florida Aquarium’s Senior Vice President of Conservation, was quoted in the film expressing the critical need for coral reef restoration and the work of The Florida Aquarium was prominently featured.

In February, as part of the excitement of the Super Bowl activities including 100 Yards of Hope, the Aquarium unveiled the new exhibit, Restoring Florida’s Coral Reef, inspiring guests to learn more about the third largest barrier reef in the world, the Florida’s coral reef. Interactive digital displays featured a set of stunning short documentary films detailing the 100 Yards of Hope project and our ongoing and innovative coral conservation programs.

Sea Turtles

In 2021, The Florida Aquarium expanded our Sea Turtle Conservation Program beyond rehabilitation. Through partnership with the Sea Turtle Conservancy, we began a satellitetracking project. Data collected will help us gain a better understanding of post release behaviors in supporting of ongoing sea turtle conservation efforts.

We began a collaboration with Loggerhead Marinelife Center to launch a Responsible Pier Initiative project. This project will help assess what sea turtle species are using the Tampa Bay region, determine if sea turtles are being caught by anglers and inform the community about what to do if a sea turtle is accidentally hooked or entangled.

As we continue to expand our rescue and rehabilitation efforts, between October of 2020 and September 2021, we took in 32 turtles through our program; doubling our annual average since opening the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center. As part of this milestone was a record setting day in March, when The Florida Aquarium team of animal care professionals admitted 17 sea turtles to the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center at our Apollo Beach campus. A large cold-stun event on Florida’s east coast resulted in the single largest admission of sea turtles to The Florida Aquarium.

Being further future-focused, we launched a new sea turtle rehabilitation internship program. This new program supports two important pillars of The Florida Aquarium mission: education and conservation.

Public Engagement

The Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center as part of the Florida Conservation & Technology Center opened to the public for the first time beginning in January; kicking off what will ultimately be seasonal hours.

Business & Operations Sustainability Plan

The Florida Aquarium has made significant progress in embracing sustainability efforts throughout our operations. These initiatives reflect the Aquarium’s unwavering commitment to protect and preserve the Blue Planet for future generations. Under the leadership of our “Blue Team,” the formal Sustainability Plan was adopted in 2021.

Striving to build a sustainability model that serves as a shining example for zoos, other aquariums and our entire community, the Aquarium has committed to eliminate plastic bottles by 2023, become a zero-waste facility by 2030 and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.

Conservation by the Numbers

• CORAL SPECIES SPAWNED: 13

CORAL LARVAE DELIVERED TO PARTNERS: 554,500

NEW CORALS SETTLED: 102,892

CORALS OUTPLANTED: 1,762

CORALS TRANSFERRED: 300

RESCUED SEA TURTLES ADMITTED: 34

SEA TURTLES RELEASED: 25

SEA TURTLES SATELLITE TAGGED: 2

LBS. OF DEBRIS COLLECTED: 4,556

MANGROVES PLANTED/MOVED: 5,570

GUEST EXPERIENCE Moving Forward in

The Florida Aquarium welcomes visitors from around the region and around the world to experience a wide variety of aquatic and terrestrial animals. The guest pathways come alive with viewable habitats specifically designed to enhance the animals’ well-being as well as our guests’ enjoyment and education.

From exploring complex ecosystems to learning about the plight of endangered species like the African penguin to literally touching nature at our moon jellies experience, visitors rave about our interactive, immersive and educational experiences. We are always working on improving the guest experience and 2021 was no exception.

Additional Pathway Encounters

Elements of surprise and spontaneity make a visit to The Florida Aquarium even more memorable. Throughout 2021, we created additional moments of delight by expanding the number of pathway encounters throughout the Aquarium—always keeping safety of our guests, Team Members and animal ambassadors as the top priority. We reimagined and relaunched a number of informal programs at a variety of habitats and program areas, including “Trail Talks” at the Wetlands’ Ranger Station. Beyond these informal animal encounters, visitors were treated to more tabling activities and “surprise and delight” interpretive opportunities throughout the year.

A Lasting Legacy in Tampa Bay: Conservation Inspiration through Art

As part of the environmental activities associated with Tampa as the Super Bowl LV host city and the Aquarium’s partnership with NFL Green, students from Hillsborough County Public Schools combined creativity and conservation to design and construct art pieces from debris collected during NFL Green Week’s Project Dive 55. On January 25, retired special operations military veterans collected debris and garbage in the Gulf, including fishing ropes, crab trap buoys and more. We challenged students to use what was collected to create original artwork that was unveiled at the Aquarium in honor of World Oceans Day in June and displayed through the end of November.

Guest Experience Assessment

In support of key components of fiscal year 2022 strategic priorities, we began vetting vendors for a guest experience audit. We are committed to consistently improving our guest experience through an external and objective process that will also inform how we strategically plan for the future.

LEARNING Moving Forward in

With our mission of entertaining, educating and inspiring stewardship of the natural environment, learning is integral to who we are and why we exist.

Our education programs serve all: children, teachers, visitors and the community at large. Learning experiences we offer are designed to promote understanding, appreciation and compassion for aquatic life in our region and throughout the world.

Student Upcycled Art

Two innovative and inspiring art exhibits featured student entries illustrating the importance of conservation and protecting our environment. Over the winter holiday season, the Aquarium hosted our annual Upcycled Wreath Challenge, open to all K-12 students in Hillsborough County Public Schools. Participants created wreaths consisting entirely of reused/repurposed items and materials, with themes focusing on the Aquarium’s conservation priorities. Wreaths were displayed at the Aquarium throughout December.

Another “trash to treasure” initiative, A Lasting Legacy in Tampa Bay: Conservation Inspiration through Art, challenged students to use the marine debris gathered during Dive 55, a day-long marine debris removal operation and beach clean-up on Anna Maria Island earlier in the year. Students from 14 different schools from Hillsborough County used pieces of the cleaned debris in the design and building of artwork representing fish and marine mammals of various species. Combining creativity and conservation, 24 works of art were displayed at the Aquarium, delivering a powerful message about marine debris and plastic pollution.

NFL Green and Layla’s House

This year saw the initiation of the Forever 55 Legacy Microgrant Program, an award that the Aquarium received to work with Layla’s House, a community site in East Tampa. Layla’s House promotes healthy, happy families by coordinating and providing programs, resources, activities and opportunities that enhance positive early childhood development and support for families of children from birth to age five. The collaborative program focuses on using science and nature to foster early childhood literacy and includes virtual programming, family visits and resources and materials for participating families.

Camp Comes Back

Camp programs were as popular as ever for 2021. Although there was a reduction in room to align with Center for Disease Control (CDC) COVID-19 recommendations, The Florida Aquarium was able to serve over 900 campers onsite. While field trips were not a feature this year, participants enjoyed virtual visits with a variety of scientists representing global destinations such as Greenland, Washington, D.C./Annapolis and the Galapagos Islands.

STEM Initiatives

Through the generous support of CIBC, the Aquarium launched a new program with Hillsborough County Transformation Schools, a network of the most vulnerable and chronically challenged public schools in the region. With the support of the Tampa Bay STEM Network, the Aquarium collaborated with dynamic marine scientist and author Dr. Ellen Prager to gift Kindergarten and fifth grade students with books. The program perfectly aligns with our commitment to bring quality STEM content to students of all ages while also supporting literacy building.

In June, a five-day immersive program with Mission: Tampa Bay Girls STEM CAMP, was held at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) and the Aquarium. More than 40 girls from age 11 to 14 joined together to plan, prepare and execute their own unique investigation into the health of Tampa Bay. The budding engineers used remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to explore not only science, technology, engineering and math content, but also the many careers associated with STEM.

Teacher Workshops

LET’S TAKE BACK THE BAY

Teachers of grades 6 through 12 were invited to participate in a one-day, immersive program focused on invasive species in Tampa Bay. The day was split into two sessions –the first at the Aquarium exploring background content and the second in the field to investigate and remove troublesome invasive species. The program was made possible by a grant from the Tampa Bay Estuary Program and open to teachers from Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, Polk and Pasco Counties.

SPRING TO THE GULF EXTENSION

2021, in light of pandemic-driven limitations, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued The Florida Aquarium an additional one-year extension of the Our Tampa Bay Watershed: Spring to the Gulf B-Wet grant.

The program provides teachers in Title I schools with the tools to engage confidently fourth and fifth grade students in hands-on learning about the Tampa Bay watershed, Earth’s climate system, human impacts on water resources and how to take simple actions to protect the environment.

Teachers served with the initial grant were joined by a cohort of six new teachers for 2021. Activities for teachers included an orientation meeting and a one-day summer research cruise aboard the R/V Weatherbird II. Aquarium staff altered program content to focus on watersheds and biodiversity, with continuation of staff-led field trips and stewardship action projects for students in the fall. In total, 18 teachers and 439 students we reached in the three-year duration of this grant.

RESEARCH VESSEL WEATHERBIRD II

Ten teachers participated in an expedition into the Gulf of Mexico aboard the Florida Institute of Oceanography’s R/V Weatherbird II on June 18. The educators participated in a range of research activities including identifying and handling marine animals, conducting water sampling, recording data and taking photographs for documentation purposes.

AZA ENGAGEMENT

Debbi Stone, Senior Vice President of Learning and Guest Engagement, was a valued and vital participant in the mid-year and annual conferences of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) during 2021. This is evidence of the impact and influence The Florida Aquarium has on the AZA community beyond our region, now and into the future. In addition to serving as the Chair of AZA’s Conservation Education Committee from 2020-2021, Debbi spearheaded and supported industry-relevant sessions, including: climate change, conservation, guest engagement and the future of virtual initiatives for enhancing guest engagement.

ANIMAL CARE & HEALTH Moving Forward in

The animal ambassadors, both aquatic and terrestrial, that engage our audiences are central to the fulfillment of our mission to entertain, educate and inspire stewardship of the natural environment. The health and well-being of each individual animal, from the smallest reptile to the largest elasmobranch, are among our most vital and most welcome responsibilities.

Expanding Veterinary Care

Transitioning from a reactive care model to a preventative care model has enabled our team to conduct animal welfare assessments with more than 10% of our living collection so far.

An additional animal health expert associate veterinarian Dr. John Mastrobuono was hired to expand our medical team and allow a greater focus on veterinary research and discovery. Staff veterinarian Dr. Lindsey Waxman, in addition to numerous scientific papers she has previously authored, recently completed her first scientific publication on advancements in fish anesthesia; presenting her findings to the International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine (IAAAM)

AHA Certification Process Begins

The Florida Aquarium began the process of securing American Humane Association (AHA) certification which involved a rigorous inspection. Areas of evaluation include: excellent health and housing; positive social interactions within groups of animals, as well as between animals and animal care staff; safe and stimulating environments with concern for factors such as appropriate lighting, sound levels, air quality and thermoregulation; and, evidence of thorough preparation and protocols established to prevent and manage medical or operational emergencies.

Expansion and Upgrades

With a continued focus on guest experiences, we instituted an organized and methodical approach to grow our living collection in both numbers and diversity of species. This also involved increasing the numbers of animals on habitat, refreshing older habitats and incorporating new and innovative ideas. A notable upgrade to the Coral Reef gallery included extensive maintenance to plumbing systems necessary for the introduction of 2,500 false pilchards.

“Animal care and welfare is our number one priority here at The Florida Aquarium.

Saving the Sea Turtles

In total, 24 sea turtles were treated and rehabilitated this year by the veterinary and animal care teams at The Florida Aquarium. All patients at The Florida Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center received consistent and extensive care.

Care for the rescued turtles often involved close daily monitoring for severe anemia, loss of blood proteins and dehydration. Vitals such as heart rate, respiratory rate and body temperatures were closely watched to ensure continued improvement of severely affected individuals. Diagnostics, including ultrasounds, radiographs and blood work, help detect secondary infections like pneumonia and organ disease. All of these measures allowed our team of animal health experts to stay ahead of disease progression. With a fully equipped, state of the art facility, including a specialized surgery suite, and a strong partnership with USF Radiology and TGH Imaging Powered by Tower we were able

Penguin Population Loss

The penguin colony at The Florida Aquarium is among the most important of the species ambassadors, not only for their popularity, but also for their impact on the future of their wild counterparts. A catastrophic loss to the colony was experienced in July 2021; leaving the team stunned and searching for answers. Teams from Animal Care & Health, Engineering, Water Quality, Nutrition and others, methodically and painstakingly scrutinized every aspect of care provided. These findings also were formally reviewed and accepted by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums; of which The Florida Aquarium an accredited member. Following an exhaustive investigation that included consultation with more than ten veterinarians, and testing at laboratories, no definitive cause could for this tragic loss of the seven birds.

More Treatment, More Care

Coming off the restrictions imposed at the height of the pandemic, 2021 was an especially busy year for Animal Care & Health.

The team successfully conducted exams on four tiger sharks to facilitate 1) the older male to an alternative accredited facility and acquisition of three younger

geriatric moray eel, that had been nine months, was successfully cleared of a lifethreatening kidney infection.

cownose ray was diagnosed lymphocytic leukemia and began a palliative care treatment with promising results. otter, chameleon and spotted eagle rays, as avian, herpetile and fish individuals all completed quarantine and were able to join our population.

The team performed annual examinations and provided preventative care on the adult green moray eels, all of the spotted eagle rays and our long Burmese python.

Continuing the focus on preventative measures, biosecurity protocols were created to keep atrisk animals, such as lemurs and otters, from contracting COVID-19 from staff or guests, while water quality protocols were instituted among a broad range of habitats.

Animal Acquisitions

During the height of the pandemic in 2020, acquisitions of new animals and species came to a halt after the year’s first quarter due to restrictions on travel and transport caused by COVID-19, with only 270 animals added to our collection. In 2021, with restrictions eased, we have been able to bring hundreds of new individuals under our care, representing a diversity of species.

The Hidden Pacific habitat saw the broadest introduction of new species, including Kelp greenling, canary, vermillion and yellowfin rockfish, buffalo sculpin, and shiner and striped surf perch. Hogfish and high-hat lobsters were added to the lobster habitat and new puffers were introduced to the Piling habitat. The population at the popular Moon Bay touch experience doubled since last June.

Welcome Dr. Mastrobuono

After a year-long search, Dr. John Mastrobuono officially became member of the staff of The Florida Aquarium.

Joining Dr. Lindsey Waxman and the other members of our team veterinary professionals, Dr. Mastrobuono will work collaboratively to provide preventative, diagnostic and medical care for the entirety of the Aquarium’s living collection, as well as the rescued animals Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center.

Dr. Mastrobuono earned his VMD (Veterinariae Medicinae Doctoris) the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, involved in primary, referral and emergency care for companion animals as well as exotic species. His studies and experience include emergency procedures, anesthesia protocols, surgery, medical genetics, artificial insemination and training for staff and clients on exotic animal medicine and care.

PHILANTHROPY Moving Forward in

While the public health challenge of 2020 forced us to restrict and reconfigure our operations, 2021 turned out to be a year of incredible forward momentum. It was a year of acceleration and accomplishments that were made possible through the grit and determination of our staff and the giving hearts and generous spirit of our donors.

It is through the philanthropy of our donors and funding partners that we have been able to create and sustain the many advances in animal care, conservation, and learning featured in this report. And, of course, the many families and individuals, who have made our mission their own.

Record unrestricted revenue

The final fundraising for the year equaled $2,242,532, which not only amounts to 4 percent more than our budgeted goal, but is also the largest amount of unrestricted funds ever received.

Individual fundraising came in at 53 percent over the projected goal and Grants and Foundation funding were also strong this year earning 5 percent more than the goal.

More beyond projected budgets

Though The Florida Aquarium raised a record-number of funds in FY21, the goal of philanthropy goes far beyond a balance sheet. Creating engaging experiences for both our guests and our donors is paramount.

Many new initiatives were implemented in FY21 to strengthen our relationships with both individuals and the corporate community.

With the additional hiring of a Donor Relations Specialist, The Florida Aquarium is prioritizing stewarding our generous philanthropic community and showcasing the impact that donor support has on our mission. Through special events like a sneak-peek at Snow Days, personalized tours and newly created donor impact reports, we hope that all who donate to the Aquarium understand the role that philanthropy has on our programs.

We also created a new event model just for those in the corporate sector. In order to engage ties with the business community, the Aquarium initiated a series called “Sips with the SEA-E-Oh” which invited business leaders into the Aquarium to meet and engage more closely with our CEO in order to learn about the many opportunities to build awareness, goodwill and lasting positive impact in our community and beyond.

Successful Campaign Brings Penguins to All

Prior to 2021, many visitors were enthralled with our colony of South African penguins, and especially delighted when a random encounter took place during a visit. To ensure all guests were able to enjoy this experience with every visit, a campaign was launched to fund an outdoor penguin habitat. The habitat, located in our outdoor plaza, allows guests to watch penguins on land and underwater. As an endangered species, the penguins are a focus for conservation by The Florida Aquarium in partnership with SAANCOB, the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds as well as the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA).

FY21 DONOR LIST

$100,000+

CIBC US

City of Tampa

Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission

Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners

The Mosaic Company University of Miami

$25,000–$99,999

An Anonymous Fund at the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay Association of Zoos & Aquariums Bank of America Bank of America Foundation

Calhoun International

Caribbean Conservation Corporation Coca-Cola Florida

Constellation Brands JL Marine Systems Inc

Pepin Distributing Co.

State of Florida Division of Cultural Affairs

The Spurlino Foundation & Joanne and Cyrus Spurlino Vinik Family Foundation Lili Weinstein

$10,000–$24,999

Amalie Motor Oil & Carmen and Harry Barkett

Amgen Capability Center

Anonymous

ARAMARK Sports and Entertainment

Bob and Linda Blanchard Family Foundation

Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation Donor Advised Fund

Crystal Springs Preserve, Inc. Celia and James Ferman & the Ferman Community Advancement Fund at the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay Force Blue Inc.

Kimberly Bruce and Michael Gratz Thomas Hall and Ken Jewett Nancy and Dave Iben

Laura and Preston Farrior Family Foundation

Brett Morgan and the Morgan Auto Group Mote Marine Lab

Raymond James Financial Amy Rowland

Sean Thomas Beckwith Charitable Fund at the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal

Tampa Bay Sports Commission

The Fields Galley Private Foundation

The Frank E. Duckwall Foundation

The John A. and Elizabeth F. Taylor Foundation, Inc. Verizon

$2,500–$9,999

Aquatech Eco Consultants, LLC & Andrea Gonzmart Williams and Beau Williams Bank of Central Florida Beard Foundation, Inc.

Bloomin Brands

Diana and Daniel Borasch Lauren and Douglas Brigman Charlotte Brittain

Brown & Brown Insurance Amanda and Gregory Cargill Carol and Barney Barnett Fund within the GiveWell Community Foundation

Catalyst Communications Group LLC David Yurman Enterprises LLC

DeBartolo Family Foundation

Dorothy Holle and Alan Donn Doug and Lauren Brigman Family Foundation Karla and Randy Enwright

FACEBOOK

Lauren Fernandez Fifth Third Bank

Stefanie and Charles Fletcher Laura Zaremba and Roger Germann Kristin and Daniel Greco Cindy Gunn and Linda Jack Barbara and Anthony Henneke Pam and Tom Hernandez Dale Hoffman

Isermann Family Foundation Lakshmi Shenoy and Ryan Jacobs John and Dianne Couris Fund at Schwab Charitable JP Morgan Chase Employee Giving Campaign

Kimmins Contracting Corp Klemtek & the Vet Marketing Firm Wendy and Craig Klingensmith Rita and Gary Lowman

Macy’s McNichols Company & the McNichols Family ME Wilson Company Gayle and Gregory Mester Lisa and John Miller Judy and Douglas Montgomery Nvirotect Pest Control Services, Inc. Osmo

Outback Bowl

Reginald and Angela Goins Charitable Fund Rooms To Go Foundation Nan Smith and Dan Rosenthal Barbara Rowland Veronica Cintron and Preston Rudie Robyn and Jonathan Sajeski Cathy and Bob Smith TECO Energy, Inc tervis

The Brent and Debbie Sembler Family Fund

$2,500–$9,999 (cont.)

The Collins Family Charitable Fund Thomas A & Mary S James Foundation

Jean Treimanis

Linda and James Weiss Carolyn and John Yodzis

$500–$2,499

Patti and Bill Alcorn

Cynthia Holloway and C.T. Alley

All State Employees in Memory of Chip Sprague James and Lourdes Alver

Art-Kraft Sign Co

Bev and Ron Bailey Mayami and Sean Beckwith Jennifer Bennett

Lynda Dilts-Benson and Dalton Benson Beverly Birkitt

Tracey and Matthew Blair Stephanie and Robert Bourque Meagan and Christopher Brandriff Nicole and Scott Broome Christine and Tony Bruno Ed Buckley and Emma Maurer Gregory Celestan Blair Chan Charities Aid Foundation of America C/O CyberGrants

Julie Harahan and Jerry Copeland Coppertail Brewing Co., LLC Cornelia and Richard Corbett Elizabeth Corwin JoAnn and Frank Crawford Kelly and Keith Curington Brooke Baldwin and Raymond Cutro Rebecca and Michael Daharsh Sara and David Dimlich Patricia and Gerald Donohoe Kimberly and Robert Floyd Rosemary Galford Heidi Goss John Grady

Amy Evancho and Erik Gunhus Anne and Thomas Henderson Karin and John Hotchkiss Richard Huss

Vincent Jackson Karen and Matthew Johnston Mary Jane and Glenn Jones

Julianne C. McKeel Rev Family Trust Penny and William Keadey Harvey Kennedy

Lemonade Stand for the Oceans Leslie J. & Hope C. Barnett Family Philanthropic Fund held at TOP Jewish Foundation, Inc.

Robert Long Lucinda Robb Giving Fund

Brooke Lyons Brandon and Tim Manka-Clemons Cynthia and Patrick McGirk Mary and Brian McNulty Stephanie and Alex Menke Vivian Moll

Lisann and John Morris Kimberly Morris

Mountain Valley Real Estate Regina Zvara and Stephen Mushahwar Lauren Mushahwar Susan and Henry Ohleyer PAR, Inc.

Parks Medical Electronics, Inc. Jonathan Persky Ruth Anne Pfaff Jacqueline Preis Robey Family Fund

Roderick Salach Adajean Samson Leroy Shear Judith and Les Smout Tammy and Kareem Spratling Lila and Ralph Stair Deborah and Kevin Stone Jacquelyn Sutton

Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation, Inc.

Tepper Donation Fund

The Benevity Community Impact Fund

The Manny and Ruthy Cohen Foundation The Progressive Insurance Foundation The Walmart Foundation

Sally Thompson

vineyard vines Hyde Park Village Kara and Jeff Wagner Lori and Mark Watson West Marine BlueFuture® Fund Billie Jo and Charles Wilson Mark Winders Jeff Wolfe Tara and Andrew Wood

FINANCIALS

•

Strongest financial results in Aquarium history. Operating revenues were 70% higher than prior year, and 46% over budget.

•

Highest admission revenues and per caps

•

Highest Membership sales

• Highest gift shop per caps and sales

• Parking exceeded $1 million in revenues for first time

• Cash operating reserves that were depleted during the pandemic have been completely restored

• Cash is available for future investment and long-term financial sustainability

• Full forgiveness of the $2 million Paycheck Protection Loan #1 was received

• Paycheck Protection Loan #2 proceeds of $2 million were received. Full forgiveness is expected for this one too

• The Shuttered Venue Operators grant for $8 million was received

• Hillsborough County COVID-mitigation grant for $500,000 received

• City of Tampa Channelside CRA grant of $700,000 awarded for HVAC and Building Automation improvements

• Numerous coral conservation grants were awarded

• Capital funding for the new penguin exhibit and coral conservation facilities were received

• Channelside Rooftop Pavilion opened, through funding from TECO and Hillsborough County

2020 Operating Expenses

Admissions $16,647,218

Memberships $1,407,739

Contributions $2,680,162

Restaurant and Gift Shop $6,292,812 Parking $1,019,720 Other Turnstile $1,193,414

Total Operating Revenue $29,241,065

$8,264,526 $1,449,673 $2,601,744 $3,638,607 $478,469 $1,105,372 $17,538,391

Guest Services and Facility Maintenance $5,804,156

Animal Care, Health and Conservation $5,864,477

Learning $1,627,120 Marketing $1,781,622 Administration $3,017,514

Development and Membership $831,911 Restaurant and Gift Shop $4,165,094

Operating Expenses $23,091,894

$6,390,890 $5,341,137 $1,712,435 $2,185,370 $2,524,607 $733,823 $2,376,047

The Florida Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization whose mission is to entertain, educate and inspire stewardship of the natural environment. The Florida Aquarium is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA).