Congressman Mike Haridopolos Announces $1.75 Million for Sea Turtle Care Complex at Brevard Zoo’s Bowen Aquarium

Federal funding will support expanded rehabilitation, research, and conservation efforts on Florida’s Space Coast

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA — Congressman Mike Haridopolos announced $1.75 million in federal funding Wednesday afternoon for the Scaife Family Sea Turtle Care Complex at Brevard Zoo, marking a major investment in marine wildlife rehabilitation and conservation on Florida’s Space Coast.

Haridopolos announced it during a visit to the zoo and was joined by Keith Winsten, chief executive officer of the East Coast Zoological Foundation, the nonprofit organization that operates Brevard Zoo.

The $1.75 million was secured through Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) appropriations and will be awarded to the East Coast Zoological Foundation to support development of the Scaife Family Sea Turtle Care Complex at the zoo’s Bowen Aquarium.

“Florida’s Space Coast is home to some of the most important marine ecosystems in the country,” Haridopolos said.

“This $1.75 million investment will strengthen sea turtle rehabilitation efforts, expand critical research, and ensure that injured and sick turtles receive the specialized care they need. I’m proud to support the outstanding conservation work being done at Brevard Zoo and to deliver federal resources that protect our coastal environment for future generations.”

The new Scaife Family Sea Turtle Care Complex will be a 12,873-square-foot facility featuring approximately 10,000 square feet of indoor exhibition, rehabilitation, and veterinary space.

The complex is designed to provide lifesaving care for stranded, washback, sick, and injured sea turtles, offering both short-term rehabilitation and long-term sanctuary before animals are released back into the wild.

For more than a decade, the East Coast Zoological Foundation has operated the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center at Brevard Zoo, caring for hundreds of sea turtles from Florida’s coastal waters.

Over the past two years, the center has treated an average of 131 sea turtles annually — a 157% increase from previous years.

Zoo officials attribute much of the surge to a growing number of turtles affected by fibropapillomatosis (FP), a complex viral disease that causes tumors and often requires specialized, resource-intensive treatment.

The Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center at Brevard Zoo is one of only seven facilities in Florida equipped to treat turtles suffering from the virus, making it a critical regional resource for marine wildlife care.

In addition to expanding medical and rehabilitation capacity, the new complex will serve an educational role, allowing visitors to observe conservation efforts firsthand and learn about threats facing sea turtles and other marine life.

Zoo leaders say the facility will help inspire community engagement and long-term stewardship of Florida’s coastal ecosystems.

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