Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Map
27°58′37″N 82°49′09″W / 27.97686°N 82.81907°W / 27.97686; -82.81907
Date opened1972 (As Clearwater Marine Science Center)
LocationClearwater, Florida, United States
No. of species59
Volume of largest tank1.5 million gallons
Annual visitors750,000 [1]
Major exhibits17
Websitewww.cmaquarium.org

Clearwater Marine Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization,[2][3] and aquarium in Clearwater, Florida. It is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of sick and injured marine animals, public education, conservation, and research.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium opened in 1972 at its current location on Clearwater Beach, in a former water treatment plant (the large pools being well-suited for rehabilitation operations).

Numerous forms of marine life are permanent residents at the aquarium, all of which have serious injuries that prevent their return to the wild.

The aquarium's best-known permanent resident was Winter, a bottlenose dolphin who was rescued in December 2005 after having her tail caught in a crab trap. Her injuries caused the loss of her tail, and the aquarium fitted her with a prosthetic tail which brought worldwide attention to the facility. Winter later starred in the 2011 film, Dolphin Tale, and the sequel, Dolphin Tale 2, shot partially on location at the aquarium.[4]

  1. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-08-27. Retrieved 2014-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ "About Us". Archived from the original on 2014-02-10. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
  3. ^ "Form 990|Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax 2010|CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM INC" (PDF). 990s.foundationcenter.org/. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2014-02-02. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  4. ^ McCarthy, Ellen (September 23, 2011). "Movies: True story behind Dolphin Tale". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 22, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2012.