Please follow the guidelines below when referring to Mote, its programs or its facilities.

Our organization's legal name is Mote Marine Laboratory, Inc.

In everyday context, use Mote Marine Laboratory (to refer to the research enterprise and/or the entire organization) or Mote Aquarium (to refer only to the public aquarium) on first reference. The two can also be referenced together as Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium. 

On second reference, Mote may be used in any context.

Although commonly used by the media and the public, this is NOT an acceptable reference to Mote because it severs our name from the research and/or aquarium component of our organization, and contributes to confusion about the nature of our mission. 

Example of incorrect usage: Families can visit Mote Marine every day of the year.

Say this instead: Families can visit Mote Aquarium every day of the year.

Another common — but incorrect — reference to Mote that contributes to the misconception that our name is an acronym. Mote Marine Laboratory is named after its benefactor, William R. Mote, and should be treated as a proper noun, not an acronym.

Example of incorrect usage: Scientists at MOTE have restored more than 100,000 corals to Florida's Coral Reef.

Say this instead: Scientists at Mote have restored more than 100,000 corals to Florida's Coral Reef.

Our organization may be referred to as "Mote" upon second reference, but preceding that with "the" is unnecessary and incorrect.

Example of incorrect usage: The Mote announced plans to establish a Center of Excellence for increased minority participation in marine science.

Say this instead: Mote announced plans to establish a Center of Excellence for increased minority participation in marine science.

We prefer the use of an ampersand (&) to the use of the word "and" in all official Mote names.

Mote Science Education Aquarium is the official name of Mote's new public aquarium, which will be located at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Florida. Mote SEA is acceptable only on second reference (after the full name has been spelled out). 

To learn more about Mote SEA and to view updates on its construction, visit moteoceansforall.org.  

Including 'Aquarium' after the Mote SEA name is redundant and incorrect. 

The SEA acronym should be separated from the Mote name with a space. 

Mote's Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research & Restoration is the official name of the Mote facility located on Summerland Key in the Florida Keys. IC2R3 is acceptable on second reference. 

Note the use of an ampersand (&) in the full name; using the word "and" adds unnecessary length to the name. Also, "Mote" in this case is possessive, unlike the other official Mote facility names.

This former name of the facility was retired after the facility's reconstruction in 2017, and is not an acceptable reference for the current facility.

Mote Aquaculture Research Park is the official name of Mote's in-land research park campus in Sarasota, Florida. MAP is acceptable on second reference. 

The word "Research" was added to the facility's official name in 2016, although it was decided that the acronym for this original name of the facility (MAP) would rename the same.