Oceans Day 2026 takes place Wednesday, February 18, in Tallahassee. The day’s activities will feature the Florida Institute of Oceanography's Member Exhibits and Fish Fry at the Capitol Plaza, followed by the Mote Legislative Reception at 5:30 p.m. at the Historic Capitol later that evening.

Florida Oceans Day is an annual event focused on convening members, stakeholders, officials, and legislators. The goal is fostering a shared commitment to the preservation of Florida’s marine and coastal resources and recognizing their critical contribution to sustaining a robust blue economy.

This year’s conference, 
From Shoreline to Statehouse: Advancing Florida’s Ocean Prosperity,
emphasizes the ongoing efforts to ensure the long-term health and vitality of the State’s coasts and oceans. Florida Oceans Day is organized and hosted by the Florida Institute of Oceanography, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, and the Florida Ocean Alliance.

For further information about this event please see contacts below

Chris Sharp with Florida Institute of Oceanography at cssharp@usf.edu or (727) 553-3388

Kevin Claridge with MOTE Marine Laboratory & Aquarium at kclaridge@mote.org or (941) 388-4441 ext. 275

To view previous Oceans Day Events, visit this webpage or our photo album.