The Florida Aquarium 2020 Annual Report by thefloridaaquarium

PROTECT RESTORE PERSEVERE 2020

ANNUAL REPORT 1

Officers Kimberly A. Bruce, Chair Roger W. Germann, Jr., President Lauren Fernandez, Treasurer Kimberly Casey, Vice President K. Tyler Hill, Secretary

FY20 Board of Directors Kimberly A. Bruce Daniel Borasch Carmen Barkett Ted A. Beattie Matthew Blair Christopher J. Brandriff Douglas Brigman Charlotte Brittain John D. Couris Lauren Fernandez Reginald Goins Felicia Harvey Thomas L. Hernandez K. Tyler Hill, Esq Dale Hoffman Kyle M. Klement Craig Klingensmith Rita Lowman Douglas B. Montgomery Michael Nursey Larry Shannon, Ph.D. Lakshmi Shenoy James Weiss Andrea Gonzmart Williams Stuart Williams A. Paul Anderson Honorable Jane Castor (Designee: Dennis Rogero) Santiago Corrada Honorable Janet Cruz Supt. Addison Davis (Designee: Larry Plank) Honorable Charlie Miranda Honorable Jackie Toledo Honorable Stacy White Al Oaks (Volunteer of the Year)

Foundation Board Members Douglas Montgomery, Chair Thomas Hall, Co-Chair Beverly Birkitt Thomas duPont James L. Ferman, Jr. Jack McMullen Kim Casey Kimberly Bruce Trustees Richard A. Beard III Jack Butcher William E. Crown III Joseph Garcia Irene Guy David A. Kennedy Joe Lewkowicz Eugene McNichols Hon. Sandy Murman Dana Nafe R. James Robbins Jr Robert Sharp Cy Spurling Sally Thompson Paul L. Whiting Executive Leadership Roger W. Germann, Jr., President and CEO Kimberly Casey, Chief Financial Officer Kara Wagner, Chief Development Officer Andrew J. Wood, Chief Operating Officer Timothy M. Binder, Senior Vice President of Animal Care and Health Kelly Curington, SHRM-CP, Senior Vice President of Human Resources Debborah Luke, Ph.D, Senior Vice President of Conservation Debbi Stone, Senior Vice President of Engagement and Learning

Dear Friend, There is no denying that 2020 did not play out as the world expected. A global pandemic challenged our resolve as humans and as an organization. Yet despite significant trials and tribulations, The Florida Aquarium never wavered from saving wildlife, providing our animals the very best care, educating schoolchildren, strengthening our commitment to our community and supporting our staff and volunteers. The first half of our fiscal year saw tremendous attendance growth and philanthropic support. Learning programs were in high demand. Conservation researchers were developing new scientific techniques to expand coral reproduction. Endangered sea turtles were being rescued. Neighborhood wetlands and beaches were being cleaned. And oh yes, we were planning a yearlong celebration to commemorate our 25th Anniversary. On March 16th however, everything changed and we were required to temporarily close our doors to the public and adjust how we could fulfill our mission in uncertain times. While many organizations struggled to navigate these uncharted waters, we took on the public health crisis with bold determination and forged ahead to actively fulfill our important mission. Here are a few high points we wanted to share from the second half of the year: • We were the first public aquarium in North America to reopen. We teamed up with Tampa General Hospital and USF Health to pilot the first COVID-19 safety certification. • We welcomed our frontline heroes – healthcare workers, law enforcement and firefighters – for free as a way to show our appreciation. • Our 9,000 animals never felt the effects of the public health crisis. • We pivoted to online learning and met our schoolchildren in their homes. • Our coral researchers achieved another historic reproduction breakthrough with a new species of Atlantic coral. • Our animal rescue team returned endangered sea turtles to the wild. • We supported local businesses by purchasing meals and supplies, investing in our community. • We retained 96% of our staff, and preserved salaries (except for a few voluntary leadership reductions). • Our generous donors continued to invest in our mission and operations, and thanks to our government leaders like U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and our partners at Bank of Tampa, we received vital financial support from the Paycheck Protection Program. Our 25th Anniversary year was certainly memorable and the 2020 annual report tells a story of continued optimism. Thank you for your generous support of our mission, investment in our operations, and your compassion for our staff and volunteers. We thrived this past year because of you! With an ocean of gratitude,

Roger W. Germann, Jr. President/CEO

Kimberly Bruce Chair of the Board of Directors

Celebrating

25 YEARS It may be only fitting that The Florida Aquarium’s 25th Anniversary celebration fell squarely in the middle of a global pandemic. It took guts, innovation and perseverance to navigate 2020. Much like the grit and determination it took of leadership, staff and volunteers of The Florida Aquarium over the first 25 years. The history of The Florida Aquarium is a storied one with peaks and valleys, triumph and tribulation. Today, The Florida Aquarium is stronger than ever.

The constant evolution by foresight, necessity and responsibility has seen The Florida Aquarium help with the rejuvenation of Channelside and grow from an entertainment attraction to a muchneeded economic driver. Once a leading cultural attraction in the Tampa area, The Florida Aquarium has become one of the most popular aquariums in the United States. “You could see the guests’ enthusiasm grow,” said Rita Coley, Environmental Services Manager and one of the longest-tenured team members at The Florida Aquarium. “You could feel a sense of momentum that continues to this day.” Ultimately, The Florida Aquarium has advanced to a conservation-based attraction with a strong local and regional impact on STEM education and strategic priorities that focus on climate change, sustainability, habitat restoration and animal rescue. Through investments in both human and capital resources, The Florida Aquarium has emerged as a global leader in coral conservation. While the grand celebration planned throughout 2020 was largely sidelined, there was much to celebrate! A party on January 16, 2020, engaged staff, volunteers and visitors to kick-off what would have been a year of celebration. During the event, leadership announced infrastructure expansions and exhibit and habitat enhancements scheduled through the year. In March, when the “world stopped turning,” The Florida Aquarium forged forward ensuring

that staff was safe-physically and financially, the business was protected and the animals continued to receive world-class care. Projects continued with the completion of the CIBC Aquatic Lounge in the Mosaic Center and the Rooftop Terrace and solar installation. In May, following nearly two months of closure and countless hours of planning and preparation, The Florida Aquarium became one of the first to open its doors; providing local families with a safe and enjoyable respite. Slowly guests began to enjoy The Florida Aquarium experience (only slightly modified) they have come to know and love with animal ambassador experiences, Wild Dolphin Cruises, The Splash Pad adventures, special events and more. They also experienced the newly added exhibit spaces as well as the traveling exhibit Washed Ashore thanks to the support of The Vinik Family Foundation. While there was no pomp and circumstance, the 25th anniversary was still a celebration of fun and family, diversion and discovery, health and happiness and, of course, perseverance.

“We’re not just a world-class aquarium. This experience can change people,” said Eric Hovland, who was hired in November 1994 when The Florida Aquarium was still under construction. The work was nonstop but exhilarating and definitely worth it, especially in reflection of where we are now. Today, with the Aquarium now a financial success, Hovland is proud of the devotion of resources to critical research like the groundbreaking Project Coral and sea turtle rescue. Now an Associate Curator, Hovland relishes the opportunity to enlighten children and adults about the Blue Planet.

“We send people home with the message that they really can make a difference.”

Navigating a

GLOBAL PANDEMIC OUR MISSION DIDN’T CHANGE, OUR METHODS DID It is well documented that the mission of The Florida Aquarium is to entertain, educate and inspire stewardship of the natural environment. The global pandemic did not require us to change that focus. In fact, the challenges the pandemic posed to students and families and the environment served to strengthen our resolve. Children required homeschooling and parents assumed new, additional roles. Entertainment options outside the home became limited. Single-use plastics made a resurgence when grocery stores and coffee shops did not accommodate reusable items. Disposable, single-use gloves and face masks were found littered on the ground. The effects of climate change and habitat loss continued. Animals in our care and in the wild still needed the animal care professionals at The Florida Aquarium. We were steadfast in our mission, simply adaptable in its implementation. 6

Our people are central to the fulfillment of our mission, vision and commitment. From the very beginning of the pandemic, The Florida Aquarium worked tirelessly to ensure the safety of our employees while continuing the world-class animal care and our critically important mission programs. A post-pandemic survey of leading US Aquariums conducted by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) on attendance, staffing and compensation, revenue and cash flow, etc. revealed that The Florida Aquarium excelled among our colleagues in the industry in each of the categories. Remote workstations were quickly implemented where applicable, safety protocols were immediately put into place, PPE was provided and safety barriers were installed on the main

campus and at the Center for Conservation (CFC). The Animal Care and Health and Conservation teams were split into groups and shifts were adjusted to ensure continual coverage with limited cross-over. Daily care and nutrition for our animals never wavered; including rescued sea turtles and corals at CFC. The Learning and Marketing teams worked together to immediately implement virtual learning opportunities for individuals and schools. Daily live content was made available through social media outlets. The Florida Aquarium website was populated with online resources for teachers and parents alike. Children were unable to attend school or visit the Aquarium, so we brought these resources into their homes virtually. The Development team embarked on fundraising initiatives to ensure The Florida Aquarium had adequate resources to operate animal care and health and conservation seamlessly while ensuring the continuity of all employment. Tough decisions were made financially to the ensure the viability of the organization with budget cuts that reduced capital expenditures, delayed some large-scale renovation projects and decreased marketing and advertising spends.

Even in the early days of the closure, The Florida Aquarium charged forward to deliver on its mission and conservation priorities. The Animal Response team provided hope and inspiration with the release of Titan and Starbird, two loggerhead sea turtles, at Mary McLeod Bethune Beach Park in New Smyrna Beach. Reaffirming that conservation never stops! In April 2020, scientists at The Florida Aquarium made history once again by becoming the first in the world to reproduce ridged cactus coral (Mycetophyllia lamarckiana) in human care. The work is part of a collaborative effort to save the Florida Reef Tract from extinction with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries. Not even a global pandemic could slow us down when it comes to protecting and restoring America’s “great” barrier reef.

While The Florida Aquarium generally equates our motto “Protect and Restore” to our Blue Planet, its meaning became multi-fold when reopening the doors to guests in May. We had an obligation to protect our employees, guests and animals. We wanted to restore life to as close to normal as possible. Studies have shown that the human-animal-nature bond plays a role in supporting public health. We believed strongly that a visit to The Florida Aquarium was (and remains) good for mental and emotional wellbeing. Following a soft open for members and first responders, on Friday, May 15, 2020, the Aquarium opened to the general public with new standard operating procedures and enhanced health and safety measures to safeguard guests, staff and animals. This phased, controlled approach allowed us to reopen with a slightly modified but equally enjoyable guest experience.

Social distancing markers were installed extensively on guest pathways throughout the campus, traffic flows were revised, safety equipment and barriers were installed and safety protocols were implemented. Advance, online reservations were required. The Florida Aquarium piloted the Tampa General Hospital (TGH) and USF Health COVID-19 safety certification, leading the charge in creating the TGH Prevention Response Outreach team (TRPO). We were even able to successfully host summer camps with stringent safety protocols allowing over 500 youth to engage in STEM-based summer programming. Activities looked a bit different than years past, but we squarely delivered on education and entertainment to the delight of children and parents in our community.

After months of the “new normal,” The Florida Aquarium safely hosted our first special event since the closure with the return of one of Tampa’s most popular winter traditions -Snow Days in December 2020. With new, safe ways to play with real snow; guests also enjoyed socially distant dance parties and more. Whether it was snowballs or split shifts, otter enrichment or online learning, rehabilitation or remote work, face masks or food prep, our mission didn’t change, just our methods! 9

Delivering in

CONSERVATION The Florida Aquarium’s resolve to save Florida’s endangered coral reefs continues with historic breakthroughs by our coral experts, like Keri O’Neil. To date, the Coral Conservation team at The Florida Aquarium has been able to sexually reproduce eight different species of coral affected by stony coral tissue loss disease. This work provides additional hope for the future of coral reefs in our backyard and around the globe.

Ridged Cactus Coral

Grooved Brain Coral

The groundbreaking coral researchers at The Florida Aquarium made history once again in 2020; becoming the first in the world to reproduce ridged cactus coral (Mycetophyllia lamarckiana) in human care. The work is part of a collaboration effort to save the Florida Reef Tract from extinction with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service.

On May 7, 2020, beneath the computercontrolled LED illumination in the Aquarium’s coral lab, we successfully induced spawning of grooved brain coral. Inside the Project Coral lab, scientists used technology to mimic environmental conditions of coral in the wild, like sunset, sunrise and moon cues as well as regulate temperature, to induce spawning of the grooved brain coral. Brain coral had never spawned in human care.

Until that point, the larvae of the ridged cactus coral had never been photographed or measured and the larval release time had never been recorded. With these advances, the team at The Florida Aquarium is hopeful that this information will be helpful in conserving this species and saving these animals from extinction.

This grooved brain coral parent colonies came to the Aquarium in 2018 as part of the Florida Coral Rescue Project, managed by FWC and NOAA Fisheries, to preserve genetic diversity in coral and respond to the ongoing stony coral tissue loss outbreak that has caused coral to die along Florida’s Coral Reef since 2014.

Ridged cactus corals are a brooding coral, which means their sperm is released into the water, but their eggs are not; fertilization and larval development occur inside the parent coral. The corals release fully-developed larvae that swim immediately after release. Brooding corals release fewer and larger larvae, which already carry the symbiotic algae from their parents that are critical for survival.

The larvae corals from the May spawn were given settlement tiles and will be cared for in the coral greenhouse at The Florida Aquarium until they are large enough to be planted onto the reef.

It has been unknown how long a coral will continue to release the larvae or how many will be produced as no one had documented this process in this species before; making these efforts more critical to solving the mystery of reproduction in the wild. The Florida Aquarium is committed to caring for threatened species of coral and leading critical initiatives that facilitate our ability to restore the Florida Reef Tract.

Increasing sea turtle rehabilitation In 2019, The Florida Aquarium opened its $4M Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center with the explicit goal of saving endangered sea turtles. Since opening its doors, The Florida Aquarium has helped rescue and rehabilitate more than 150 endangered turtles. Throughout 2020, the Animal Response team has cared for turtles from the northeast, where cold stunning is a growing problem, as well as the east coast of Florida. The team has been working to streamline processes and increase capacity among the growing needs of sea turtle rescue. But, that’s simply the start. Veterinarians of The Florida Aquarium are collaborating with colleagues within the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to share data. Satellite tracking of released sea turtles is on the horizon as we strive to understand migratory patterns.

Banner to Mississippi In 2016, The Florida Aquarium’s Animal Response team, in coordination with FWC, received a threatened green sea turtle named Banner, who had been found, stranded in Brevard County with serious boat strike injuries. Despite years of exceptional rehabilitative care, FWC deemed Banner non-releasable due to the severity of his injuries. Thanks to our colleagues at Mississippi Aquarium in Gulfport, MS, Banner has found a forever home where he will receive the critical, long-term care he will require to live a safe and healthy life. From the public who reported the injured turtle to rescue, recovery and transport volunteers; from FWC to the expert veterinary and Animal Response team at The Florida Aquarium and to those at Mississippi Aquarium, Banner’s story exemplifies the wide and diverse network of partners critical to conserving these amazing animals. Banner now resides in a 400,000-gallon habitat with a host of other sea life. All care and turtle rehabilitation by The Florida Aquarium is done with the approval of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) under conditions not harmful to marine turtles and authorized under conservation activities pursuant to FWC MTP-19-179.

Advocacy | Bead Free Bay For the second straight year, The Florida Aquarium worked to encourage participants in the annual Gasparilla parade to celebrate mindful of the impact on the environment. Hosting a “pay by the pound” promotion from January 19 – February 2, visitors bringing 10 pounds of beads to the Aquarium collected during a local clean-up received a $10 discount off admission, 20 pounds garnered a $20 discount and those who collected 30 pounds or more received complimentary admission. The collected beads were then donated to the MacDonald Training Center, an innovator in educational, vocational, residential and employment services to people with disabilities. The Center sorts the otherwise non-recyclable beads and resells them for next year’s Gasparilla. The Aquarium also partnered with Tampa Mayor Jane Castor’s “Bead Free Bay” initiative and “No Throw Zone,” to discourage Gasparilla participants from throwing beads into Tampa Bay. Following the celebration, The Florida Aquarium joined Green Gasparilla, Calypso Dive and NAUI divers to host the 3rd Annual Post Gasparilla Diver Cleanup. Over 20 divers donned their wetsuits and air tanks to remove beads from Tampa Bay. A total of 38 pounds of beads were retrieved from the Bay during the underwater cleanup and 310 pounds of litter and beads were removed on land.

Leadership | Debborah Luke, Ph.D. In January, Dr. Debi Luke, an internationally recognized leader with over 25 years of marine and environmental conservation leadership experience, joined The Florida Aquarium as Senior Vice President of Conservation. In her role, Debi will be expanding the Aquarium’s dedication to understanding and conserving aquatic species and ecosystems. Debi served as the Executive Director of the Society for Conservation Biology – the premier organization for professionals and students who dedicate their work towards advancing the science and practice of conserving Earth’s biological diversity. Overseeing the strategic business planning for seven regional global sections and over 35 international chapters, she supported the development of international collaborations that addressed critical environmental and conservation issues, managed the administration of three of the world’s most prestigious peer-reviewed conservation-based scientific journals and created a marine-focused track for the organization’s international congress. Previously, Dr. Luke served as Senior Vice President of Conservation & Science for the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), where she successfully launched the field conservation programs that supported SAFE, AZA’s premier Saving Animals from Extinction program. Dr. Luke was the Director of Education & Research at Sea Life Park in Hawaii. Among other roles, she served as the Director of Manatee Care & Research during ten years at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium. Dr. Luke earned both her doctorate and master’s degrees in cognitive neuroscience and marine science from the University of South Florida and an undergraduate degree in psychology from New College in Sarasota. 13

Engaging

OUR GUESTS A clear pattern has emerged through the pages of The Florida Aquarium 2020 annual report. The 2020 fiscal year began with great promise with the opening of engaging new exhibits and the development of new spaces when alas the global pandemic changed everything. But, while the “world stopped turning” in March of 2020, The Florida Aquarium pivoted. Our mission to educate, entertain and inspire took on a whole new look and an entirely new importance. Once again our mission did not change, just our methods. As schools closed and learning changed, The Florida Aquarium became a resource for online educational programming. Our virtual and social content provided a much-needed lightheartedness. And, when we could finally reopen, we became a respite for children and families. With safety protocols in place, The Florida Aquarium, again, was a place for entertainment, education and inspiration. The Florida Aquarium was a place where the community could come to recharge and reconnect. 14

Through the dedication and encouragement of a compassionate staff, guests to The Florida Aquarium could once again see and, in some cases, touch animals. They could experience the newly opened Washed Ashore exhibit made possible by The Vinik Family Foundation, enjoy the CIBC Aquatic Lounge in the Mosaic Center and refresh at Corona Cove. On February 29, 2020, through the support of The Vinik Family Foundation, The Florida Aquarium debuted Washed Ashore – Art to Save the Sea. This world-renowned traveling art exhibition features aesthetically compelling sculptures made entirely of plastic debris collected from beaches to unmask the impacts of plastic pollution on oceans, waterways and wildlife. The unique exhibit educates guests on the negative and devastating effects of plastic pollution and aims to spark positive changes in consumer habits. Among the 18 larger-than-life sculptures were a 12-foot-long shark, 16-foot-long parrotfish and a 20-foot-long coral reef. Through engagement with Washed Ashore, the Aquarium hoped to encourage changes in guest behavior to make a difference in their day-to-day lives. Washed Ashore was founded in 2010 by Oregon artist and teacher Angela Haseltine Pozzi. After seeing an increase in debris on Oregon beaches, Pozzi created the nonprofit to make a difference. Since its launch, Washed Ashore has collected nearly 26 tons of garbage from more than 300 miles of Pacific coastline. With help from volunteers, the organization has made more than 80 sculptures and sadly with more on the way. Through the generosity of The Vinik Family Foundation, the Washed Ashore – Art to Save the Sea exhibit was included with a general

admission ticket to the Aquarium. Originally scheduled through August of 2020, additional support from The Vinik Family Foundation allowed for an extended run of the exhibit to ensure a broader reach following the pandemic closure. During that same week in February 2020 The Florida Aquarium also celebrated the opening of the CIBC Aquatic Lounge in the Mosaic Center –a gallery featuring several state-of-the-art exhibits to showcase new aquatic species at the Aquarium. Located adjacent to the Aquarium’s popular event space, the CIBC Aquatic Lounge is also available as a reception gathering location for corporate and private events. This avant-garde exhibit experience is made possible through a new, multi-year partnership with CIBC Bank USA. While in some ways guest engagement was more of a challenge in 2020, it also became even more important and the successes of the year more gratifying!

A new partnership with Corona in 2020 allowed The Florida Aquarium to renovate the outdoor bar. Located in the outdoor pavilion, near The Splash Pad and Wild Dolphin Cruise launch, Corona Cove offers a wide selection of adult beverages featuring, of course, Corona products, and waterfront views.

Connecting

THROUGH LEARNING Connecting through learning took on a different and quite literal meaning in 2020. The mission of the Learning team went beyond empowering the next generation of environmental stewards to include powering up devices as well. Like all aspects of The Florida Aquarium’s business, the first half of our fiscal year was on a record-setting pace for Learning, too. Launched in quarter one of 2019, The Florida Aquarium hosted STEMtastic, where a record-breaking 1,600 attendees gathered for a night to celebrate STEM in Hillsborough County Public Schools. Families of K-12 youth enjoyed hands-on activities focused on science, technology, engineering, and math, while learning about the STEM possibilities available to students. In partnership with the Tampa Bay STEM Network, programs like STEMtastic provide access and opportunities for diverse audiences. 16

When the Aquarium was unable to engage and inspire audiences in person, innovative virtual programming was launched to expand our reach through technology. Many of these programs have continued, as their availability continues to expand access to audiences of all ages who otherwise might be unable to attend in person. Highlights of 2020 included:

Virtual Discoveries in STEM launch

SEA-SPAN

• A new section of the Aquarium’s website provided for easy navigation of on-demand content, activities, curricula and more.

• Almost immediately upon the Aquarium’s temporary closing period, a daily Facebook Live program was launched with support from CIBC and Publix that continued for several months after the Aquarium reopened. Available on-demand after airing, SEA-SPAN allowed audiences near and far to remain connected with us during a time when connections were most needed.

quaTots summer interactive series A (12 episodes): • When the hard decision was made to cancel in-person summer camps for some age groups, our commitment to reach all ages remained steadfast. At no cost to families, this 12-episode series targeted to ages 3 and 4 was launched with music, dancing, animal encounters, crafts, science investigations and more.

Escape Galapagos reading series • In support of building literacy through reading, the Aquarium partnered with marine scientist and author Dr. Ellen Prager to provide live readings of her newest middle grades fiction book. Companion drawing tutorials of some of the Galapagos Islands’ most dynamic animals expanded the impact of the series by combining art and science.

With an abundance of caution and new safety protocols in place, The Florida Aquarium was able to successfully host in-person summer camps. While many organizations were understandably making the tough decision to forgo in-person summer camp programming, the Learning team spent countless hours planning for a summer experience that could be safely offered in-person. Through reduced capacities and expanded safety protocols, a total of 556 youth attended well-received and appreciated camp experiences.

The overwhelmingly positive response often resulted in feedback like this email from a family:

“This is an incredibly challenging time, and [your team] made an uncertain and challenging time one filled with happiness and stability for our girls. We can’t thank you enough for your daily smiles, positive attitude and passion. We know the hurdles you had to overcome and the endless work and evolution that must have happened to make the experience as safe and positive as possible. You have made a huge difference in our world during COVID and we can’t thank you enough.” 17

Elevating

ANIMAL CARE We are grateful that as we navigated a global pandemic the animals entrusted to The Florida Aquarium continued to receive world-class care from our Animal Care & Health team. It’s not to say that this time was not without its challenges. However, through teamwork and unparalleled passion, each and every animal– fish and amphibian, bird and reptile, mammal and mollusk – was supported. In the first quarter of FY20, leading up to the pandemic, the Animal Care & Health (AC&H) team was on a trajectory to realize substantial advancements. Through tremendous efforts by everyone from volunteers and interns, biologists, departmental leadership and veterinarians, the team was able to shift from primarily administering reactive care to a focus on preventative care. The concentration on preventative care (up to 60% of the time) – mainly regular physicals and routine health exams – has far-reaching benefits not only in animal welfare but also in fiscal responsibility. 18

And, while animal care never wavered in Q2, the team was directly impacted by safety protocols necessitated as a result of the pandemic. The Animal Care & Health team was divided into two distinct groups to eliminate overlap of personnel and any potential accidental exposure to COVID-19. This ensured the uninterrupted professional care that our animals deserve. Through it all, the team persevered! While the ultimate goal for the remainder of FY20 had been to further elevate the time dedicated to preventative care, the team never lost ground; maintaining the 60% allocation of time.

Again, our mission didn’t change – just our methods.

Animal Care Advancements A number of important animal care advancements occurred during FY20; most notably in infrastructure and equipment. These included the installation of new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units in the penguin, herptile, mammal and raptor behind-the-scenes habitats as well as Journey to Madagascar; allowing for direct temperature control for the individual needs of our animals. A bio-farm, allowing us to accelerate the growth of beneficial bacteria needed in life support filter media, was completed in the behind-the-scenes area of Animal Care. This process will decrease the time required for re-establishing quarantine systems after animals have been cleared to go on exhibit and before the next quarantine cycle begins. Three rescued parrots and a two-toed sloth, relocated to The Florida Aquarium, completed quarantine. The process of behavioral training was initiated for these animals with the goal of participation in the animal ambassador program.

“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” - Pele

Animal Health While in the throes of a public health crisis, animal health was never compromised at The Florida Aquarium. Thanks to the collective resolve of our professionals, the team delivered the highest number of preventative annual physical examinations on collection animals ever performed at The Florida Aquarium; allowing diagnostics and prescribing potentially life-saving treatments before health issues became much more serious for many animals. Additionally, our world-class animal care continued as the veterinary team provided individualized and compassionate care to a number of species ambassadors. Flip, the resident rescued green sea turtle, that receives regular treatments, was transitioned to new therapies for chronic arthritis which includes cold laser, medications and medical supplements. Surgical management was successful in treating shell disease in one of our box turtles and our endangered female radiated tortoise was cured of a severe fungal infection. The AC&H team successfully completed “hands-on” physical examinations to gain valuable information about the current medical condition of a male sand tiger shark, ruling out a systemic infection as the root cause of some navigational difficulties. The animal remains under the watchful eye of the Animal Care & Health team. During 2020, veterinarians were able to successfully perform physical and reproductive examinations on all female southern stingrays

as part of a collaborative study involving numerous facilities under the umbrella of the South-East Zoo Alliance for Reproduction and Conservation (SEZARC). Among the most exciting news in animal health in 2020 was the successful pupping from six high-risk cownose ray pregnancies. Unfortunately, on the other side of the life cycle, we lost one of the larger female southern stingrays, Gray, from the reef habitat. The Animal Health team successfully placed a prosthetic beak on Tupelo, the crested Caracara as a means to mitigate a feather-picking behavior which had been a significant medical concern. The Marine Operations team worked collaboratively with Animal Care & Health to overhaul and began to reinstate the volunteer dive program for dexterity with changing pandemic conditions. The new process pays special attention to the safety of staff and volunteers. We are confident this effort will ultimately optimize efficiency of habitat maintenance and realizing cost savings. The Florida Aquarium is proud that other AZA institutions have modeled their volunteer dive programs after this new process. While all turtles admitted to The Florida Aquarium sea turtle conservation program are treated with gold standard parameters for exceptional care, the team took extreme measures to ensure the success of a particular pair of patients in 2020. The amputation of permanently damaged flippers from two rescue sea turtles helped facilitate their release back to the open ocean.

All sea turtle rehabilitation work conducted by The Florida Aquarium is done with the approval of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) under conditions not harmful to marine turtles and authorized under conservation activities pursuant to FWC MTP-21-179.

Acquisitions In the first quarter of 2020, before transporting animals came to a standstill during the pandemic, The Florida Aquarium added 270 animals inclusive of 25 species. One of the most prolific acquisitions included an African penguin named Kini that joined The Florida Aquarium’s colony in August. Hatched at The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans, now at age seven, Kini became the youngest penguin resident at The Florida Aquarium. Another notable addition was a male spotted eagle ray. Born at Discovery Cove in Orlando, the ray arrived at The Florida Aquarium on November 19, 2020. This distinctive looking ray species has a round, pointed snout that resembles a bird beak and can leap clear out of the water to avoid predation. After clearing quarantine, the ray settled into the Heart of the Sea habitat.

Cleatus Spotlight On May 1, 2020, The Florida Aquarium lost our beloved goliath grouper Cleatus at the approximate age of 30 following a prolonged illness. Cleatus had been at the Aquarium since opening day in 1995. The Florida Aquarium’s mission to inspire stewardship is never more compelling then when engaging with a species ambassador. For 25 years, Cleatus helped provide that connection to millions of our guests. Fans of Cleatus and The Florida Aquarium took to social media following his passing to share their thoughts. Highlights from among the hundreds of comments included one from Ann Sofia which read “He was the only Goliath grouper I have ever seen, and so I always looked for him as an amazing example of the variety of species in the natural world” and Sarah Shea Carmack who shared “Thank you, Cleatus” for teaching us and so many others over the years” or Chris Jacobs, who said “it’s amazing how many people he impacted.” 21

PHILANTHROPY

BEING CHANGE-MAKERS IN A TIME OF UNCERTAINTY Throughout 2020, The Florida Aquarium benefited from our altruistic donors who continued to invest in our mission and operations. Generosity and community-mindedness allowed The Florida Aquarium to exceed our fundraising goals – raising $2.1M. The Aquarium grew philanthropic support throughout the year thanks to existing relationships and the welcoming of new donors. Corporate support was anchored once again by major gifts from CIBC USA, Constellation Brands and Great Lakes Dredge and Dock. In addition, we hosted the second-largest Brews by the Bay fundraising event in fall of 2019 thanks to the hundreds of attendees and our event sponsors including Pepin Distributing Company and Aramark. Of course the year had its challenges too, but despite a public health crisis and earned revenue losses, animal care remained our top priority, along with workforce continuity and making an impact in conservation and learning. Shortly before The Florida Aquarium had to temporarily close its doors to the public, Kara Wagner joined the Aquarium as the Chief Development Officer. Still new to the Aquarium’s donor community, Kara and her team navigated uncertainty in the marketplace and made the thoughtful decision to cancel the Aquarium’s signature fundraising event – SeaGrapes. But driven to fund our mission, the Aquarium launched a successful major gift campaign in honor of our 25th Anniversary. Through the combined efforts of the $25K for 25 major gift campaign, vital dollars were raised in support of our mission and general operations. With lead gifts from The Spurlino Family Foundation and Amalie Motor Oil, the campaign raised over $400,000*. While celebrating our past 25 years didn’t play out the way the Aquarium envisioned, the belief and passion in our mission was evident as our generous supporters helped fund the future!

The Development Committee, under the leadership of Reginald Goins, Committee Chair, helped guide philanthropic plans to lead us to success. The Development team continued to make data-informed decisions regarding both short and long-term goals throughout the public health crisis, and we were able to refine strategies and tactics that allowed The Florida Aquarium to secure essential funds in Fiscal Year 2020.

One example pertains to federal government support of conservation. As national leaders in coral science and research, the Aquarium continued to receive impactful support through grants and foundations. In fact, $1M in grants was secured for coral and sea urchin research from The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). Thanks to our generous donors and supporters, The Florida Aquarium endured the public health crisis and continued to boldly advance the mission and operations. While no non-profit welcomes a global pandemic, the Aquarium, with the support of the Board of Directors, was able to expand its reach and message of hope, generate more opportunities to support from a position of strength and increase general awareness and visibility of the critical mission and role the Aquarium plays in saving wildlife from extinction. * For a full list of donors to The Florida Aquarium in FY20, including all donors to the $25K for 25 campaign, please see pages 24 and 25.

FY20 DONOR LIST $100,000+

City of Tampa DEX Imaging, Inc. Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners Vinik Family Foundation

$25,000–$99,999

Amalie Motor Oil & Carmen and Harry Barkett Bank of America Bob and Linda Blanchard Family Foundation CIBC Bank US Constellation Brands The Frank E. Duckwall Foundation James L. and Cecelia D. Ferman, Jr. Fund at the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay Fifth Third Bank Florida Blue L.V. Thompson Family Foundation, Inc. McNichols Company & the McNichols Family Robert R Sharp Family Foundation & Peggy and Robert Sharp The Spurlino Foundation & Joanne and Cyrus Spurlino State of Florida Division of Cultural Affairs TECO Energy, Inc tervis

$10,000–$24,999

ARAMARK Sports and Entertainment Calhoun International Macy’s FACEBOOK The Fields Galley Private Foundation Angela and Reginald Goins Jacarlene Foundation ME Wilson Company Nova Southeastern University PODS Verizon Wells Fargo Foundation

$7,500–$9,999

Bailey Family Foundation, Inc. Kimberly Bruce and Michael Gratz Laura Zaremba and Roger Germann TD Charitable Foundation

$5,000–$7,499

AT&T Florida Bloomin Brands Diana and Daniel Borasch Brown & Brown Insurance Niki and Leo Cannyn Hill Ward Henderson Dale Hoffman Wendy and Craig Klingensmith Leff Family Foundation Pilot Bank Publix Super Markets Charities, Inc. Amy Rowland Visit Tampa Bay Carolyn and John Yodzis

$2,500–$4,999

All Covered Beverly Birkitt Doug and Lauren Brigman Family Foundation Charlotte Brittain Niki and Leo Cannyn Dianne and John Couris Bette and William Crown Dorothy Holle and Alan Donn Susan and Stephen Dryer Lauren Fernandez JPMorgan Chase Foundation Thomas Hall Barbara and Anthony Henneke Pam and Thomas Hernandez Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa Anne and Ken Hyatt Kiwanis Club of Midtown Tampa Gayle and Gregory Mester Judy and Douglas Montgomery Event Network Port Tampa Bay Suzanne and Mitchell Rice

$2,500–$4,999 (cont.)

Daniel Schnepf Allied Universal Security Services Lakshmi Shenoy and Ryan Jacobs Linda and James Weiss Paul and Gail Whiting Family Fund Zenith Insurance Company

$1,000–$2,499

Troy Atlas Tracey and Matthew Blair Meagan and Christopher Brandriff Elaine Cook James M Cooper Coppertail Brewing Co., LLC Kelly and Keith Curington Eve and Miguel Damien Disney VoluntEARS Grants Enterprise Holdings Foundation Kimberly and Robert Floyd Erik Gunhus Association of Zoological Horticulture Integrity Express Logistics LLC Jack McMullen Mary and Brian McNulty Sarah Melnyk Stephanie and Alex Menke Robin Moch Lisann and John Morris Becky and Kenneth Moser Kevin Most Outback Bowl Marc Seaverson Linda Shear Sherloq Group, Inc. Cathy and Bob Smith Deborah and Kevin Stone Lori and Mark Watson Mark Winders Tara and Andrew Wood

$750–$999

Community Foundation of Tampa Bay Erin Daly Patricia and Gerald Donohoe Natasha Duchannes Stefanie and Charles Fletcher Scott Hancock Cynthia Holloway and C. T. Alley Karin and John Hotchkiss Mary Jane and Glenn Jones JP Morgan Chase Employee Giving Campaign Jeremy Kinross-Wright Valerie and Albert Litschgi Tara and Peter Loux Gail P. and H.T. Lykes Sally Thompson

$500–$749

Amscot Financial, Inc. Cynthia and Mark Carron Robert Chuong and Elaine G. Wong Fund Patricia Martini Clark Exelon Foundation, Inc. Lawrence Gross John Hendrick Bill Jacobson Sharon Kraynick Barbara Moch Denise and Wayne Philibert Roderick Salach Patricia and William Shepard Society of Information Risk Analysts YourCause, LLC

HIGHLIGHTS COVID-19 Response

The Florida Aquarium helped Tampa General Hospital and USF Health pilot the TPRO COVID-19 safety certification; allowing us to become the first attraction to open to the public safely at a time when our community needed us most!

Attendance

Increased ticket sales in Tampa DMA by 14% over the previous year, building on our goal to strengthen community affinity for THE Florida Aquarium; including a 4% increase in pre-COVID-19 attendance compared to the same period in FY19.

Exhibits

We opened CIBC Aquatic Lounge in the Mosaic Center featuring three new animal habitats along with a beautiful photography exhibition and with the support of The Vinik Family Foundation Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea opened featuring world-renowned sculptures made from ocean debris.

Conservation

Made critical steps in resiliency research and restoration with induced spawning in a third coral species, the Grooved Brain Coral and reproduction of Ridged Cactus Coral, Spiny Flower Coral, and even our own 3-year-old staghorn corals.

Learning

Successfully hosted summer camps with new, stringent COVID-19 safety protocols allowing over 500 youth to engage in STEM-based summer programming.

2019 FINANCIALS 3%

15%

FY2020

FY2019

Admissions

$8,264,526

$13,745,236

Memberships

$1,449,673

$1,634,859

Contributions

$2,601,744

$2,089,158

Restaurant and Gift Shop

$3,638,607

$6,849,619

$478,469

$694,868

$1,105,372

$1,980,398

$17,538,391

$26,994,138

$6,390,890

$7,434,285

$5,341,137

$5,160,528

Learning

$1,712,435

$1,892,024

Marketing

$2,185,370

$2,438,449

Administration

$2,524,607

$2,608,301

$733,823

$980,644

Restaurant and Gift Shop

$2,376,047

$4,691,621

Total Operating Expenses

$21,264,309

$25,205,852

($3,725,918)

$1,788,286

Total Operating Revenue

21%

47%

2019

Parking Other Turnstile

2019

Total Operating Revenue

11%

Guest Services and Facility Maintenance

30%

2018 12%

Total Operating Expenses

10%

Animal Care, Health and Conservation

Development and Membership 8%

25%

Net Operating Loss Balances do not include 2018 Non-Operating Activity, including:

• Depreciation • Capital

Contributions

2018

• Interest

Income/Expense • Unrealized Gain/Loss on Investments

The Florida Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization whose mission is to entertain, educate and inspire stewardship of the natural environment.

The Florida Aquarium is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA).

C E L E B RAT I N G

YEARS

701 Channelside Drive | Tampa FL 33602