Mote dives into World Oceans Day

Visitors were able to touch, paint and get up close with marine life for World Oceans Day Saturday at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium. 

Aside from the permanent exhibits, families were able to interact with local marine conservation projects and programs to learn how they can prevent polluting the ocean. 

Students with the Homeschool Advanced Study Program displayed projects to help prevent ocean pollution. Student Mackenna Radunz presented her project "Pop it Don't Drop it" encouraging beachgoers to pop balloons instead of releasing them into the air where they can drop into the ocean. 

"We've seen the effects these balloons have on the environment," Radunz said. "It's something people don't know about."