Harte Research Institute

Harte Research Institute Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Harte Research Institute, 6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5869, Corpus Christi, TX.

The Harte Research Institute, an endowed research component of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, is dedicated to advancing the long-term sustainable use and conservation of the Gulf.

Join Harte Research Institute’s Jace Tunnell for a morning of beachcombing on North Padre Island, this Saturday, October...
10/05/2026

Join Harte Research Institute’s Jace Tunnell for a morning of beachcombing on North Padre Island, this Saturday, October 10 at 10:00 a.m.!

Hear from Jace about his work studying marine debris, the stories behind messages in a bottle, and what items washing ashore can tell us about our coast. Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions before heading to the beach with Jace to explore the shoreline, share interesting finds, and learn more about HRI’s Beachcombing Volunteer Program.

Saturday, October 10
10:00 a.m. to noon
Michael J. Ellis Beach
Winward Parking lot
14926 Windward Dr, Corpus Christi, TX, 78418

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10/05/2026

What would you do if you found a fish on the beach that could shock you?

On this episode of Beachcombing, Jace Tunnell found a lesser electric ray washed ashore. These unusual rays have specialized electric organs that allow them to produce an electric charge, which they can use for defense and possibly to help capture prey.

He will take a closer look at this fascinating ray, talk about how its electric organs work, how strong the shock can be, what lesser electric rays eat, and where they live.

You never know what is going to wash up on the Texas coast!

10/02/2026

My name is Mckenna Reinsch, I am a second year master's student at the Harte Research Institute’s Coastal Conservation and Restoration Ecology Lab!
I presented my research last week at the Restore America's Estuaries conference in San Francisco alongside our collaborators at the University of Central Florida. In our session, we talked about worked, what didn't and why in non-plastic community-based restoration. Stay tuned for project updates and findings!

We found lots of debris washing up this week with a few shells and sea beans mixed in. Our Beachcombing event on October...
10/02/2026

We found lots of debris washing up this week with a few shells and sea beans mixed in. Our Beachcombing event on October 10th is from 10am to noon at the North Padre Island seawall. We are having lots of giveaways, walking the beach, talking Beachcombing, and just having a good time. I hope you all can make it, and thanks to Phillips 66 for supporting the event to get us all together. Let us know if you have a favorite photo from this week's Beachcombing survey along the Texas coast. Have a great weekend!

10/01/2026

Come birding with us!

Liam Wolff, research specialist with the Conservation and Biodiversity Program at Harte Research Institute, is here to tell you about a very special oasis that migratory songbirds rely on to rest and refuel before continuing their incredible journeys right here in Mustang Island!

Make sure to watch until the end to learn why these habitats are so important and what makes them critical stopover sites for migrating birds!

For a Greater Gulf and Beyond! We're currently in Alacranes Reef National Park, Mexico, where researchers from the Harte...
09/30/2026

For a Greater Gulf and Beyond!

We're currently in Alacranes Reef National Park, Mexico, where researchers from the Harte Research Institute are collaborating with Nuno Simões, Ph.D., and colleagues from the UNAM Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México to explore the coral reefs, bird colonies, and coastal ecosystems of this remarkable region.

The teams will dive coral reefs, survey bird colonies, and explore remote beaches in one of the Gulf's most diverse and least-studied regions. What began as an opportunity to learn more about the area's coral communities has grown into a multidisciplinary effort to better understand how coral reefs, seabirds, and coastal ecosystems are connected.

This expedition marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration aimed at establishing multi-year monitoring of these ecosystems while sharing expertise and training local scientists in reef and bird monitoring techniques. By combining knowledge, resources, and new research questions, our teams are working toward a better understanding of the Gulf's interconnected ecosystems and how to protect them for future generations.

09/28/2026

Jace Tunnell has found over 60 messages in a bottles over the years, and in this episode of Beachcombing he'll talk about some of the more interesting stories that go along with them.

As National Estuaries Week comes to a close, we are highlighting the importance of oyster reefs, which serve as a critic...
09/27/2026

As National Estuaries Week comes to a close, we are highlighting the importance of oyster reefs, which serve as a critical foundation for healthy estuaries across the Texas coast.
Harte Research Institute supports the Coastal Conservation and Restoration Ecology Lab and Sink Your Shucks Oyster Recycling Program in their work to monitor and restore oyster reefs in Texas bays. By returning recycled oyster shells to our bays, they are providing the substrate for new oyster to attach onto and grow, thus providing habitat for crabs, fish, and other marine life, while also helping protect shorelines for coastal communities. Oyster reefs are a vital habitat within our bays and play an important role in our estuarine systems.

09/26/2026

Join Harte Research Institute’s Jace Tunnell for a morning of beachcombing on North Padre Island!

Hear from Jace about his work studying marine debris, the stories behind messages in a bottle, and what items washing ashore can tell us about our coast. Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions before heading to the beach with Jace to explore the shoreline, share interesting finds, and learn more about HRI’s Beachcombing Volunteer Program.

Saturday, October 10,
10:00 a.m. to noon
Michael J. Ellis Beach
Winward Parking lot
14926 Windward Dr, Corpus Christi, TX, 78418

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Did you know estuaries are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth? This National Estuaries Week, we're taking you...
09/25/2026

Did you know estuaries are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth? This National Estuaries Week, we're taking you inside the story of Cedar Bayou and why protecting these vital coastal habitats matters.

When we protect estuaries, we protect everything that depends on them.

Address

6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5869
Corpus Christi, TX
78412

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+13618252000

Website

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