Mote Marine Laboratory, located in Sarasota, Fla., is a nonprofit organization and a private, marine research laboratory. Spread over an area of more than 10 acres, the laboratory is funded through a variety of federal, state and local grants and is supported by various individual donors and foundations. Mote Marine Laboratory was established more than 50 years ago, and has several field stations and public exhibits in Key West, Summerland Key and Charlotte Harbor in Florida. The laboratory specializes in conducting a variety of research on sharks. It also conducts researches in various marine science disciplines and has several research centers. Mote Marine Laboratory also operates a public aquarium that serves more than 400,000 visitors every year.