Federal funding will be used to integrate programs of animal care conservation education and research to support public education and awareness field conservation and world class animal care for…

This $2,000,000 Cooperative Agreement, awarded by the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Recovery Implementation program (CFDA 15.657), will support Mystic Aquarium's efforts to integrate programs of animal care, conservation education, and research to aid in the recovery of endangered and threatened species.

The funding will enable Mystic Aquarium to leverage its expertise in marine biology, aquarium operations, and conservation to make impactful contributions towards the recovery of species such as African penguins, Kemp's ridley sea turtles, horseshoe crabs, Cook Inlet belugas, and endangered coral reefs. Key activities will include research, animal care, public education and awareness campaigns, and field conservation initiatives to change the dire trajectory for these important species. The award period is from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2026.

Federal funding will be used to integrate programs of animal care conservation education and research to support public education and awareness field conservation and world class animal care for endangered and threatened species including african penguins kemps ridley sea turtles horseshoe crabs cook inlet belugas and declining coral reefs that support numerous endangered coral and fish speciesto change the dire trajectory for each of these important animals a multipronged approach to species recovery must be employed mystic aquarium will leverage its established partnerships unique role in the community as a trusted science based resource with expertise in research animal care education and conservation to maximize the impact of federal funding with the goal of making impactful contributions towards the recovery of these species