Posted on July 30, 2025
Hubbs Sea World Research Institute receives funding to repair marina
MELBOURNE BEACH, Fla. – Nearly $1 million in state funding is set to transform an old marina along A1A in Melbourne Beach into a vital hub for Indian River Lagoon restoration projects.
On a sweltering day with heat indexes soaring near 100 degrees, workers from Sea and Shoreline, a commercial seagrass nursery, assembled biodegradable sandbags that form the foundation for seagrass plantings. “Just open it up, slip sand inside, just like so,” explained Michael Suchyna, one of the team members.
John Than, director of marine aquaculture at Sea and Shoreline, described the unique design of the sandbags. “They are biodegradable but also let the roots grow through. So that way, if something comes by and nibbles on it like a turtle or manatee, the roots don’t get uprooted,” he said.
The nursery is carefully sheltered from sun and rain, with water temperature controlled to optimize seagrass growth. Just steps away lies the Indian River Lagoon, a critical ecosystem the team is working to restore.
But despite the proximity, the site’s degraded infrastructure poses challenges.
“It’s funny that we can’t actually go straight down there, put the plants in the boat, and go because it’s unsafe — the concrete is unstable and the ramp is not usable,” Than said.
John Than shows how close his nursery is to the Indian River.
For now, the plants must be loaded onto trucks and driven about miles to where they need to be planted.
That is about to change thanks to the state funding awarded to Hubbs Sea World Research Institute (HSWRI), which owns the property and partners with Sea and Shoreline.
Jeff Ebel of Hubbs SeaWorld Research Institute explained, “With our marine mammal focus, it was, it’s not an obvious tie-in to the seagrasses until you realize that, like any animal that’s out there, these animals are dependent on the health of the ecosystem.”
HSWRI acquired the property through a donation in the early 2000’s. It sat mostly vacant while the nonprofit looked for a way to use it.
The money will be used to rebuild the seawall, boat ramp and access road as well as connect power and water, critical infrastructure that will enable more efficient restoration efforts. “I’m really excited by the potential that we have here. We’re already having and impact,” Eble said. “Just in the last quarter, they produced 22 acres worth of seagrass.”
Collapsed seawall at the Hubbs SeaWorld Research Institute in Melbourne Beach.
It all starts with repairing the seawall.
“It’s silly to think about how a seawall can actually really facilitate conservation,” Ebel said. “The more quickly we can get grass out into the lagoon and restore those habitats, the more quickly we can see relief for the dolphins and restoration for the whole system.”
Plans are also underway for a clam farm on the property, complementing the seagrass restoration with shellfish aquaculture that improves water quality and supports local jobs. The seawall and boat ramp repairs are currently in the design phase, with groundbreaking expected within the year.
This project represents a hopeful step toward reviving the Indian River Lagoon, an ecosystem vital to marine life and the community. As the restoration efforts ramp up, the team looks forward to turning this once-neglected marina into a thriving center for conservation aquaculture.
