Yamaha Rightwaters recently expanded its partnership with Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute (HSWRI) through a renewed three-year agreement, which provides HSWRI with two new outboards that will help the organization fulfill research and marine mammal rescue work in Florida and California. A Yamaha 115-horsepower outboard will power the primary response vessel for HSWRI’s Marine Mammal Stranding Team and a 50-horsepower Yamaha outboard will power the HSWRI skiff that services offshore white seabass net pens. Yamaha Rightwaters became the official outboard of HSWRI in June of 2023.

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A Yamaha 115-horsepower outboard will power the primary response vessel for Hubbs-SeaWorld Reach Institute's (SWRI’s) Marine Mammal Stranding Team and a 50-horsepower Yamaha outboard will power the HSWRI skiff that services offshore white seabass net pens. Yamaha Rightwaters became the official outboard of HSWRI in June of 2023.

HSWRI is a non-profit scientific research organization committed to conserving and renewing marine life to ensure a healthier planet. HSWRI’s team of experts provide innovative and objective scientific solutions to challenges threatening ocean health and marine life in a rapidly changing world.

“Our partnership with Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute goes beyond providing outboards, it’s about aiding in critical work that restores marine ecosystems and protects vulnerable wildlife,” said Joshua Grier, Sustainability Program Manager, U.S. Marine Business Unit. “By extending this relationship, we’re not only providing the tools they need to succeed, but also investing in long-term solutions that protect marine life and support thriving waterways for years to come.”

The 115-horsepower outboard will serve as the primary response engine for HSWRI’s Marine Mammal Stranding Team, which operate along 140 miles of Florida’s East Coast. This team is among the busiest in the region, where shallow-water access and rapid, reliable response are critical to rescue success. The engine’s dependable starts, strong torque, and quick acceleration enable fast deployment during rescue missions while ensuring a smooth ride essential for photo-identification and population health surveys.

The 50-horsepower outboard will power HSWRI’s work skiff in Carlsbad, California, supporting the Ocean Resources Enhancement and Hatchery Program, which has helped rebuild coastal fisheries for nearly 30 years by releasing almost 3 million juvenile white seabass. The engine allows daily runs to feed, monitor and transfer fish between pens along the Southern California coast, the final stage before the fish are released. Quiet, reliable performance and precise maneuverability make it possible to safely operate in nearshore waters while carrying heavy loads of feed, gear and fish.

“Our partnership with Yamaha Rightwaters is critical to advancing the conservation work we do every day,” said Jeff Eble, Florida Program Director, Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute. “The reliability and performance of these outboards allow our teams to respond quickly to marine mammal strandings and maintain vital aquaculture projects that restore marine fish populations and essential habitats. With Yamaha Rightwaters’ continued support, we can strengthen our efforts to protect ocean health and ensure the resilience of marine ecosystems for future generations.”

In July, HSWRI released 5,000 juvenile halibut in San Diego, a milestone in the effort to restore Southern California’s marine fish populations through the Ocean Resources Enhancement and Hatchery Program. Recently, the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute’s Florida Marine Mammal Stranding Team responded to a distress call involving a mother dolphin entangled in multiple crab trap lines in the Indian River Lagoon. Their expert team successfully disentangled her, saving her life and allowing her to safely reunite with her calf nearby. HSWRI is also working on multiple critical infrastructure improvements at their Indian River Lagoon Restorative Aquaculture Station in Melbourne Beach, Florida, including boat ramp reconstruction for safer access to restoration sites and enhanced infrastructure to support seagrass, shellfish and coral nurseries. Together, these infrastructure upgrades and the reliability of Yamaha Rightwaters-powered vessels expand the Institute’s capacity to enhance fisheries, restore essential habitats, and rapidly respond to marine mammal emergencies.

Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute (HSWRI) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1963 “to return to the sea some measure of the benefits derived from it.” For more than six decades, HSWRI has advanced marine science that deepens understanding of ocean life and its ecosystems. The Institute’s research spans marine ecology, physiology, bioacoustics, and aquaculture, providing science-based solutions to understand and conserve essential marine resources. With headquarters in San Diego and facilities in Carlsbad, CA, and Melbourne Beach, FL, HSWRI’s work is strengthened by collaborations with SeaWorld^®, leading universities, and a world-class team of scientists. Learn more at www.hswri.org.

Yamaha Rightwaters is a national sustainability program that encompasses all of Yamaha Marine’s conservation and water quality efforts. Program initiatives include habitat restoration, support for scientific research, mitigation of invasive species, the reduction of marine debris and environmental stewardship education. Yamaha Rightwaters reinforces Yamaha’s long-standing history of natural resource conservation, support of sustainable recreational fishing and water resources and Angler Code of Ethics, which requires pro anglers to adhere to principles of stewardship for all marine resources.

Yamaha’s U.S. Marine Business Unit, based in Kennesaw, Ga., is responsible for the sales, marketing, and distribution of Yamaha Marine products in the U.S. including Yamaha Outboards, Yamaha WaveRunners^®, Yamaha Boats, G3^® Boats and Skeeter^® Boats. Supporting 2,400 dealers and boat builders nationwide, Yamaha is the industry leader in reliability, performance, technology and customer service.

REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal floatation device and protective gear.

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