Stories from the Seaside - the E-Newsletter from the Gulf Specimen Marine Lab

Where the Sea Reveals its Secrets Cold Stunned Turtles are back safely! Meet our new patients!

During the recent major cold-stun event, we were able to triage, warm, rehabilitate, and release so many cold-stunned turtles back into deeper, warmer waters because of the tremendous support from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Dr. Julie O'Brien at CompassionVet, and our many dedicated partners. With mobile MASH units, equipment, and additional manpower, together we made an enormous impact for Florida’s sea turtles. However, this event also made one thing abundantly clear: our region urgently needs a larger, permanent sea turtle hospital. While most of our cold-stun patients were able to recover and be released, two special turtles — Bolognese and Cannoli — required longer-term care and are now official rehab patients at our facility. They are stable and improving, but their cases highlight the growing need for expanded space, equipment, and capacity to treat sea turtles right here at home.  We were only able to manage this historic cold stun because of outside emergency support. Our goal is to expand our Sea Turtle Hospital so that in the future, we can treat large-scale cold stun events independently — without relying solely on temporary emergency infrastructure.

There is clearly a need for expanded sea turtle rehabilitation services in our area, and we are committed to meeting that need.  Because of this, we have made the decision to double our Sea Turtle Hospital Expansion fundraiser goal. This expansion will allow us to respond faster, treat more turtles on-site, and provide the long-term care patients like Bolognese and Cannoli deserve. We cannot do this without our community. If you’ve ever attended a turtle release, visited the aquarium, or simply care about protecting Florida’s marine life, now is the time to help. Together, we can build a stronger future for sea turtles. Stay tuned for updates on Bolognese and Cannoli — and thank you for standing with us.

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Sea Turtle Release! After being found trapped in a freshwater pond and spending months in rehabilitation at the Gulf Specimen Marine Lab, Calypso is finally ready to return to the Gulf. Our team carefully reacclimated her to proper seawater salinity and supported her every step of the way — and now it’s time for the best part. Today, you can watch this incredible sea turtle make her long-awaited journey back to the sea. There is nothing more special than seeing a rehab patient swim free again, and we would love for our community to be there to cheer her on. Come celebrate Calypso’s second chance with us!

Intern Spotlight Meet Ben Piech, one of our amazing 6-month interns from Oak Park, Illinois! Ben has a bachelor's degree in Marine Biology and a minor in Computer Science from University of Tampa. In his free time, Ben enjoys weightlifting, tennis, fishing and sketching. During his time at GSML, Ben is especially excited to gain hands on experience with aquatic life, tag animals, and help educate the next generation of marine biologists! Ben's Goals: To work as a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) State Trooper helping enforce conservation guidelines, to become an aquarist dedicated to educating others, and to share the beauty of the ocean with everyone he meets! Favorite Lab Animal: Florida Regal Goddess Nudibranch! We are so thrilled to have him on as an intern!

Upcoming Event: Mermaids and Mimosas! Silent Auction Donations Needed CALLING ALL LOCAL ARTISANS & BUSINESSES! We are seeking Silent Auction Donations to help showcase our incredible local talent and raise funds for our beloved aquarium! Why Donate? Highlight your handcrafted goods or services Support marine life education & conservation Gain exposure to a wonderful community crowd Be part of one of our most anticipated events of the year! Mermaids & Mimosas At Gulf Specimen Marine Lab April 19, 2026 4-7 PM All proceeds from the silent auction directly support animal care, rehabilitation, and hands-on marine education. Interested in Donating? Contact us at: (850) 228-0609 gulfspecimen.org/fundraisers heichler@gulfspecimen.org Help us make waves for marine conservation while celebrating our amazing local artists!

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