Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s latest expansion hopes to help fight Florida’s manatee crisis

Ten years ago, Clearwater Marine Aquarium was overwhelmed by visitors after being thrust into the spotlight by the international stardom of its rescue dolphin Winter.

As attendance and awareness of the Gulf Coast aquarium rose, so did the need to update many of the habitats at the facility. An $80 million upgrade and expansion to the waterfront aquarium was launched. Now, as the aquarium celebrates the tenth anniversary of the Hollywood film that made it famous and as it readies for its 50th anniversary next year, it’s approaching the culmination of those plans.…