Two specialty license plates have helped raise more than $1 million for Florida animals and their ecosystems.
Money from the 'Protect Wild Dolphins' and 'Protect Florida Whales' plates are going to the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University.
The Florida State Specialty License Plate Program lets vehicle owners pay an extra $25 for a plate that supports a specific organization — either a university or a nonprofit.
The funds raised will be spent on various projects.
Revenues from the 'Protect Wild Dolphins' campaign will be broken down accordingly:
- $500,000: Photo identification for dolphin census and spatiotemporal trends
- $197,000: Wild dolphin stranding response, care and research
- $90,000: Study on how dolphins are sentinels for harmful algal bloom toxins in the Indian River Lagoon
- $65,500: Marine mammal reserve funds
Revenues from the 'Protect Florida Whales' campaign will be broken down accordingly:
- $221,415: Florida whale stranding response, care and research
- $33,000: Marine mammal reserve funds