MacDill Happenings

MarineQuest 2009, the annual open house at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) in St. Petersburg takes place today from 10am to 4pm. There is no admission fee. This is your opportunity to learn aobut Florida’s fish and wildlife and new research. Tour the facility and talk to staff members to learn about their research. The labs will be open and you can see displays that will show the cutting-edge research being conducted. Hands-on displays include a touch tank filled with marine life from Tampa Bay, marine animal origami, fish printing, face painting and construction of a manatee skeleton. Kids can dive into the water with their hands and pick up horseshoe crabs, sea stars, spiny lobsters, and other marine critters commonly found in Florida’s waters. Through the age-old practice of “gyotaku,” or fish printing, they can create their own artwork. Kids can also learn how to make marine-related origami—such as fish and whales—have their faces painted, put together a manatee skeleton, touch sharks and rays.  Researchers will conduct seminars to discuss current research on topics such as sharks and rays, black bears, manatees, whooping cranes and crocodiles throughout the day. FWRI is located at 100 Eighth Ave. SE, at the waterfront in St. Petersburg near Whitted Airport and USF St. Pete.