ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. — OCEARCH consists of a group of world-renowned scientists and researchers who are known for tracking great white sharks. The city and other local marine experts believe OCEARCH could be the key to sparking development and tourism in Mayport.
Their team of researchers have been a team of vagabonds living on the sea 11 months out of the year for the past ten years.
Soon they will finally have a place to call home in Mayport.
Dr. Quintin White is the director of the marine science research institute at Jacksonville University. He’s been on the front lines of the project.
He says Mayport has endured a century worth of hurricanes and a decade worth office bad investments.
“The Port Authority bought land down here to turn it into a cruise terminal, that didn’t work.”
So that land sat vacant, until now.
“Mayport has suffered because it’s a shrimping, fishing community that’s gone through hard times.”
This, he believes, could turn that all around.
“We’ll have a flow-through system here that brings in smaller, local sharks, and we’ll put shelter over it so it remains cool,” said Dr. White.
The sharks would of course be released afterward, but they would be part of an interactive exhibit.
One concern remained. According to the Army Corps of Engineers projections, Mayport is expected to see an average estimation of six feet in sea level rise in 80 years. Their high estimation is nine feet of sea level rise there. Trends are starting to show that the higher end estimates are more accurate.
“We’re addressing it as we develop the site," White said.
He says they’ve factored that in.
“We’ll elevate the structure, you see that all along the coast.”
He says that’s why they would most likely builder further out and higher up on the surrounding land later on.
The city says the project will be funded publicly and privately.
City Councilman Bill Gulliford has been leading the charge for OCEARCH.
“You can take the kids out to the marine science center there from the school district, then you take them to OCEARCH,” said Gulliford. “I think that will be a phenomenal draw! Shops, restaurants, residential, what more could you ask for.”
The first step in getting it started is rebuilding the dock, large enough to host events and to be the home port for OCEARCH’s vessel. That is expected to take two years. They believe a boom in development will follow.