Marine Laboratory

SCCF’s Marine Laboratory at Tarpon Bay gives our scientists year-round access to freshwater wetlands, the Caloosahatchee Estuary, San Carlos Bay, Pine Island Sound, and the Gulf of Mexico to help us determine the influences of natural disturbances and the effects of people on estuaries and coastal ecosystems.

The Marine Lab’s research uses an instrument array composed of eight near real-time sensors deployed throughout the Caloosahatchee Estuary and Pine Island Sound. Known as RECON, (River Estuary Coastal Observing Network), its unique set of sensors captures data with enormous depth that allows scientists and water managers to better study water quality issues and identify solutions.

The lab is adjacent to the Pine Island Sound Aquatic Preserve and is located within the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, one of a few designated marine wilderness areas in the United States. It’s funded through private donations and local, state, and federal granting agencies. Most research conducted at the laboratory is conducted in collaboration with scientists in academia, local governments, and state agencies. These partners include the City of Sanibel, Florida Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Gulf Coast University, Lee County, Mote Marine Laboratory, the University of Florida’s Center for Coastal Solutions, and the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge.