MarineQuest

man and young child with mother at touch tank

Welcome to MarineQuest, the annual open house of the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. For over 25 years, MarineQuest has welcomed thousands of people through our doors to learn more about Florida’s fish, wildlife, and their habitats, and the cutting-edge research that Institute scientists are leading all around the state. MarineQuest is our chance to share our research with you – our passion, focus, and dedication to our mission to conduct collaborative research and monitoring to provide timely information and guidance to protect, conserve, and manage Florida’s fish and wildlife resources.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our 2024 event. MarineQuest 2025 will be held February 6-8, 2025. Additional information is below.

children and adults standing around a table with two young boys looking into microscopes

Saturday, February 8, 2025
10 am - 4 pm
FREE admission

Information from our 2024 event

From touch tanks with live critters to activities for kids and demonstrations, there is something for everyone! Speak with some of Florida's top researchers, hang with sharks and rays, and learn about manatees, birds, coral, red tide and more!

a man holds a large conch at a touch tank while boys and girls stand around the tank laughing and smiling

Thursday, February 6, 2025
Friday, February 7, 2025

Voyage into science at MarineQuest School Daze. This fun, free, hands-on field trip provides students with an opportunity to become a scientist for the day as they learn about the exciting world of fish and wildlife research in Florida. Open to students in grades 4 through 8 by registration only.

Learn More

young children touch preserved sharks on ice

Event Location
FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
100 8th Avenue SE | St. Petersburg, FL 33701
View on map

Parking
Event parking is downtown at the SouthCore parking garage, located at 101 1st Avenue South. A free shuttle will transport visitors to the event entrance.

There will be a limited number of handicap parking spaces available near the event entrance, on 1st Street South between 6th Avenue South and 8th Avenue South.

a young girl sits in front of a coral sample and takes notes on a datasheet

View photos from past MarineQuest events in our Album Collection on Flickr.

a young girl in a lab coat works with a lab sample in a dish held by a man

Watch our Overview Video to learn more about what you can see and do at MarineQuest.

screenshot showing a smaller window with a woman at a microscope and a larger image of a computer screen with organisms

View content from our events in 2020 and 2021 when MarineQuest was held virtually.

MarineQuest is held in conjunction with the St. Petersburg Science Festival.

This event was designed to provide equal opportunity for enjoyment by all participants. If you would like to request any particular aids or services pursuant to disability laws, please contact the event planner at (727) 896-8626 or City of St Petersburg Community Affairs Division at (727) 893-7345 or (727) 892-5259 TDD/TTY