Clearwater Aquarium Plans $12 Million Expansion

 

Winter, the dolphin // (c) 2011 Clearwater Tourism

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA), the location of the upcoming film "Dolphin Tale," will break ground today on a $12 million dollar expansion, providing more space for the multitude of sea life in their care.

The new facility is set to become a major attraction in the Gulf Coast city of Clearwater, an outstanding beach destination catering to national and international visitors alike. The expansion comes at a very opportune time, before the debut of the upcoming 3-D family blockbuster, "Dolphin Tale," scheduled for release on September 23, 2011.

Based on true events, the movie is a family film about “Winter,” a young dolphin who loses her tail in a crab trap. Winter was found and rehabilitated by staff at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Winter the dolphin plays herself in the movie, and can be visited on a daily basis at the facility in Clearwater.

The CMA is a nonprofit marine rehabilitation center, housing dolphins, sea turtles, river otters, stingrays, nurse sharks and more. The current facility, which was donated by the city of Clearwater in 1978, is an abandoned water treatment plant which was converted to suit the needs of the Clearwater Marine Science Center, as it was known then.

The CMA strives to educate and inspire the world’s population to maintain and preserve the waters and marine life for future generations. Their vision is to build a world-class facility that will enable them to care for thousands of marine animals and provide environmental education to millions. The growth will provide CMA the opportunity to host thousands of visitors.

Visit www.seewinter.com or www.visitclearwaterflorida.com.