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Oil Spill Response

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico threatens marine and coastal habitats throughout the Gulf. The central Florida Gulf Coast and the Tampa Bay area may be impacted in the future.

The Florida Aquarium Center for Conservation is preparing for response! Aquarium staff and volunteers are getting ready for beach cleanups in case of oil landfall, and for the Rescue & Rehabilitation of:

This is a team effort. The aquarium's Husbandry, Veterinary, and Green Teams have been working in conjunction with our Rescue & Rehabilitation Programs to prepare for response:

We have been collaborating with the established response network of government agencies, academia, rehabilitation facilities, and other zoos and aquaria to coordinate efforts
Our staff and volunteers are training for specialized care of oiled wildlife
We are acquiring supplies needed for response
We are reserving housing areas in our facility for wildlife in need of rehabilitation
Our Green Team and partners are preparing for beach cleanups in advance of oil landfall

The Florida Aquarium Center for Conservation is also actively researching and developing methods for inshore aquaculture and transplantation of Atlantic corals as a strategy to stock emergency populations for restoration of damaged reefs.

The Florida Aquarium Center for Conservation is committed to the health and rehabilitation of our wildlife and environment!

What You Can Do To Help:

If you find an oiled, injured, or dead marine mammal, sea turtle, or bird, please contact:

The Wildlife Hotline: 1-866-557-1401

Oil is a toxic substance and poses health and safety risks. Only trained personnel with appropriate protective gear and the knowledge needed to properly clean and treat oiled animals should handle those affected by the spill.

When calling, please provide the following information:

Type of animal
Location (please be as specific as possible)
Time last seen
Name and phone number

For oil spill volunteer response opportunities, contact:

The Community Information Line: 1-866-448-5816

Residents of the State of Florida can also visit:

www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org

To explore volunteer opportunities at The Florida Aquarium, visit:

http://www.flaquarium.org/volunteer/

To support The Florida Aquarium, visit:

http://www.flaquarium.org/Development/

For More Information about the Oil Spill:

Deepwater Horizon Response: This website details response efforts by the established network of government agencies, academia, wildlife rehabilitation facilities, zoos and aquaria. It provides daily updates of the progression of the oil spill and of the progression of response efforts. Stay updated by linking up on Facebook, Twitter, and RSS newsfeeds.

Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Website: Hosted by the 4 Gulf of Mexico Sea Grant programs, this website provides comprehensive information about this oil spill and oil spills in general, including: Latest Developments; Solutions for Recovery; Volunteer Opportunities; Impacts to Economy, Wildlife, and Human Health; Maps; Tools; and other Background Information.

Related Pages: