Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Harte Research Institute, Educational Research Center, 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.
08/04/2026
Back from the Flower Garden Banks! 🌊
Our researchers collected biological samples and coral fragments to study the reproductive potential of several coral species. This will help us gain valuable insights that can help support the future of these incredible reef ecosystems.
08/04/2026
HRI is excited to announce that Phillips 66 our first corporate sponsor for our Beachcombing program, led by Jace Tunnell, HRI's director of community engagement! From alligator gar skeletons to life rafts that wash up out of nowhere, Beachcombing turns everyday beach walks into a Coastal Bend favorite. Thanks to Phillips 66, you can join in the fun this fall!
Stay tuned for more on our free public Beachcombing event on North Padre Island!
08/03/2026
Click on this post from the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation to find out their latest recapture. 🦈
08/03/2026
Join us for a free public event, "An Honest Conversation About Living Shorelines," where we'll discuss how shoreline property owners can maintain a natural shoreline while protecting their property from erosion.
We're co-hosting this event with the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR), with support from funding provided by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. We hope to see you there!
Registration is required for this event. Scan the QR code on the flyer to register.
Have you ever seen a fish that looks like it belongs in the age of dinosaurs?
While beachcombing along the Texas coast, Jace Tunnell came across an alligator gar washed ashore, one of the largest and most ancient freshwater fish still alive today. With armor-like scales, a mouth full of sharp teeth, and a lineage dating back over 100 million years, these incredible fish are living fossils.
Join Jace as he takes a closer look at this remarkable giant and uncovers what makes the alligator gar one of North America's most fascinating fish.
07/31/2026
This week's Beachcombing survey up and down the Texas coast provided us an assortment of amusing finds, including a horse conch, sea pigs, man o wars, and a possible mermaid. 🤣 Let us know if you have a favorite photo from this week. Have a wonderful weekend!
07/30/2026
We tend to think of sharks as sitting at the top of the food chain, but sharks are a diverse group, and smaller species can be just as vulnerable to fish-eating predators, or “piscivores”, as any other fish. The Osprey is a bird of prey that specializes in catching fish, and small sharks are no exception.
Ospreys typically catch fish weighing less than 4 pounds, though they can carry prey as heavy as 6 pounds. With eyesight keen enough to locate fish from more than 100 feet above the water, they plunge feet-first from great heights to seize their prey. After making a catch, an Osprey turns the fish headfirst into the wind, reducing aerodynamic drag during flight.
While Ospreys occasionally capture small sharks, including dogfish and bonnetheads, their diet along the Texas coast consists primarily of mullet, menhaden, and sea trout.
| Monday | 8am - 5pm |
| Tuesday | 8am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 8am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 8am - 5pm |
| Friday | 8am - 5pm |