VENICE, FL (May 14, 2010) – The Board of Directors of Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice today approved a $60,000 grant to help Mote Marine Laboratory respond to potential impacts from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Following the explosion and sinking last month of the oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, Mote has been mobilizing its scientists to prepare for any adverse effects to our region’s coastal waters and wildlife.  Mote will use the Gulf Coast Community Foundation grant to begin five important activities:

• conduct sampling of water, sediments, bottom dwelling organisms, and sea grass;

• conduct mollusk sampling (primarily clams and oysters);

• activate underwater robots to patrol the coast from south Tampa Bay to the Florida Keys for oil;

• sample the phytoplankton community;

• and create a detailed oil response plan that covers a number of different scenarios so that our area will be well-positioned to receive federal or British Petroleum funds.

“We can’t thank the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice enough for this lead gift,” said Dr. Kumar Mahadevan, president of Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium. “The impact from this spill is going to be tremendous and as the response progresses, the need for funding to understand the impact is going to be great. This grant will help cover the costs associated with doing some initial planning and fact-finding but the scope of work to determine the effects of the spill on our region’s environment is quite enormous.”

Individuals can make donations to Mote’s Oil Spill Emergency Fund online at www.mote.org/oildonation.