Keys Marine Laboratory

06/02/2026

Great video of Minorities in Shark Sciences providing an in-depth explanation of the recent shark 🦈 research at Keys Marine Laboratory!

06/02/2026

Keys Marine Laboratory (KML) Coral Husbandry Specialist, Lou Schlecker, guided two new groups of interns from the Coral Restoration Foundation(CRF) on a tour. As these interns begin their journey into coral restoration, it's essential for them to learn how to effectively use KML's ex-situ water systems and recognize that Lou is a valuable resource for assisting all partners in caring for their corals at KML. Collaboration between KML and our coral practitioners is crucial for success! 🪸

Florida Institute of Oceanography University of South Florida

05/29/2026

📣Exciting news! Keys Marine Laboratory (KML) is deepening its roots in the Florida Keys community. We’ve recently joined several Chambers of Commerce: Key Largo Chamber of Commerce & Florida Keys Visitor Center, Islamorada Chamber of Commerce, Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce, Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce, and Greater Key West Chamber of Commerce. Last Wednesday, as new members, of the Islamorada Chamber at the May luncheon we had the chance to introduce ourselves and share our mission with KML Director Dr. Cindy Lewis highlighting our support for researchers, reef restoration partners, and college student groups. Stay tuned for more updates from KML!

Florida Institute of Oceanography University of South Florida

05/28/2026

Thank you to Keys Talk 96.9, 102.5 and Mike Stapleford for featuring Dr. Cindy Lewis on your show every fourth Wednesday of the month at 8 a.m. She shares exciting updates on the current research and researchers, student groups onsite, and reef restoration efforts Keys Marine Laboratory

What’s happening at Keys Marine Lab? / Good Morning Keys / By Jennifer Vanderau Dr. Cindy Lewis, the director of Keys Marine Laboratory, joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about what’s going on in the lab.  With the warmer weather, there is a workshop coming...

05/27/2026

🌊 Exciting Update! 🌊

Dr. Cindy Lewis, Director of Keys Marine Laboratory (KML), proudly represented both KML and the Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO) at the 2026 Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean (AMLC) Board Meeting. This event, hosted by Dr. Jim Fourqurean at Florida International University's (FIU) Islamorada Aquarius Base, took place from May 18-20. The AMLC hosts a biennial scientific meeting for researchers and students, hosted by institutional members from around the Caribbean and southeastern US.

Key Highlights:

Recap of the 2025 AMLC 41st Scientific Meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico, sponsored by the Sociedad Ambiente Marino (SAM) and hosted by AMLC President Dr. Alex E. Mercado Molina

Planning for the May 2027 Scientific Meeting in Jamaica—theme and sessions to be announced soon!

Save the date announcements coming soon!

Fun Facts:

AMLC was established circa 1983

AMLC has 44 institutional members, plus over 200 individual and student members.

KML/FIO has been a proud member since 2002.

Dr. Cindy Lewis has been the KML/FIO representative since 2008 and has attended several of the science meetings, including the 2017 science meeting in Merida.

For more information, visit: http://amlc-carib.org/

Stay tuned for more updates! 🌐

University of South Florida

05/20/2026

Grateful to Allyson Underhill, a student from University of Florida for sharing her experience Keys Marine Laboratory(KML) and the fantastic photo of her class aboard the KML R/V Didon 🛥️ on those stunning blue Florida Keys waters 🌊!
Florida Institute of Oceanography University of South Florida

05/15/2026

Fantastic photos of the fieldwork at Keys Marine Laboratory(KML), showcasing the important research being conducted by Minorities in Shark Sciences(MISS) on Bonnethead Sharks 🦈.

“In our study, we are investigating the exposure of bonnethead sharks to red tide to identify the location and extent of brevetoxin accumulation in these coastal predators. We collect non-lethal blood samples and small muscle biopsies from the sharks, which are then analyzed for brevetoxin. This helps us understand how this harmful algal toxin accumulates in shark tissues.” - Supawadee Surattanontraphy

Florida Institute of Oceanography University of South Florida

05/14/2026

We love sharing and hearing about the incredible experiences of students and researchers at Keys Marine Laboratory(KML). Here's what Leah Pippen, an undergraduate student of Dr. James G. Douglass at The Water School, Florida Gulf Coast University, had to say:

"I'd love to share; it was an amazing experience. Staying at KML was perfect for my senior research project. We used KML Cove as one of our sites for macroalgae collection. One day, we spent the entire day collecting samples from North Key Largo to Bahia Honda State Park, using mesh bags and taking YSI measurements. The dry lab at KML was incredibly helpful. After returning from the sites, we used the lab to transfer samples to labeled bags and analyze some under the microscope. I'm focusing on the epifauna and small 'bugs' on the macroalgae samples, so having access to the microscopes at KML to identify some of the living epifauna was fantastic." - Leah Pippen

Florida Institute of Oceanography University of South Florida

05/13/2026

KML is thrilled to join and become a member of the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce & Florida Keys Visitor Center!

Let's give a BIG Key Largo Chamber of Commerce welcome to Keys Marine Laboratory (KML) Florida Institute of Oceanography-University of South Florida!
The Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO) traces its roots to the 1960s and Keys Marine Laboratory continues to educate with excellence today! For more information, fio.usf.edu/keys-marine-lab .

05/12/2026

Exciting times at Florida Keys Marine Laboratory(KML)! We welcomed representatives from The Florida Keys & Key West and the Monroe County Tourism Development Council (TDC), Kaire Lindpere, Christina Day, and Yves Vrielynck. Together, we explored KML’s role in supporting researchers, education groups, and reef restoration partners, and discussed future plans.

KML is embarking on a transformative $60 million campaign to modernize and expand our facilities. This initiative will create storm-resistant housing, state-of-the-art teaching and research labs, and classroom and seminar spaces, supporting our mission to tackle environmental challenges facing our oceans. Our goal is to benefit academic, research, and restoration partners locally, nationally and globally, ensuring the preservation of marine resources for future generations.

We’re thrilled to explore a partnership with Visit Florida Keys and the TDC as we build a premier marine field station for tomorrow’s leaders in Marine & Oceanographic Science for a Blue Ocean Economy!

Florida Institute of Oceanography University of South Florida