FLORIDA PANHANDLE
MARINE INSTITUTE
FLORIDA PANHANDLE
MARINE INSTITUTE
FLORIDA PANHANDLE
MARINE INSTITUTE
FLORIDA PANHANDLE
MARINE INSTITUTE
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – When Gulf World permanently closed its doors in May, Gulf World Marine Institute was forced to relocate. Now, the organization has a new name and a new location.
The Florida Panhandle Marine Institute announced its new location at the AMIKids Maritime Academy in Panama City.
This new location will allow them to continue to respond to marine mammal and sea turtle strandings from across the Panhandle.
The Marine Institute will temporarily use office space inside the school, adding pools and temporary buildings to the surrounding outdoor area. But it may take a few months to set up. In the meantime, they will continue to assist other facilities during cold stun events and strandings.
“We’re still in operation. We still receive calls. We still get emergencies that we need to go and respond to. But we will just be if there’s a turtle that we need, rehabilitated or something, we will be taking them to another facility until we can get set up,” Florida Panhandle Marine Institute President Pamela George said. They don’t just do research and rescues, this new location will provide a unique educational opportunity for students at the AMIKids Maritime Academy.
“It’s going to give them that experience outside of school that they’re going to need in order to be able to succeed and become the next, you know, marine pioneers,” AMIKids Maritime Academy Water Aquatics Safety Instructor Tess Collman said. “My passion is marine biology, marine science everything, and I feel like I can fully get the education for it here. I’ve learned so much being here,” AMIKids Maritime Academy Senior Abigail Sain said.
The non-profit desperately needs funding to support the move and continue its mission.
