SARASOTA COUNTY – Sarasota County, the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program and local partners invite the public to attend the third annual Seagrass Survey on Saturday, April 29, at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron next to Ken Thompson Park.
This fun, family-friendly, hands-on event provides the public with an opportunity to learn about seagrass habitat up-close. Registered volunteers will take to the waters in and around Sarasota Bay to count and identify seagrass species, in an effort to collect data for the county’s Seagrass Monitoring Program.
Although the capacity has already been reached to register as a survey volunteer, there will be plenty of free nature-themed activities for the public to enjoy at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., including mini reef ball decorating and scallop shell necklace crafts, dip-netting, a fishing net mending demonstration, games for kids, free stuff and much more. There will also be live music and food for purchase.
The Seagrass Survey celebrates Sarasota County’s commitment to protecting its water resources and focuses on increasing awareness of the economic and environmental value of seagrass habitat.
Seagrasses are vital to maintaining healthy aquatic ecosystems. Seagrasses stabilize shorelines and provide food and shelter to a variety of wildlife. Seventy percent of Florida’s fisheries species, including scallops, crabs, shrimp, mackerel and snapper, spend part or all of their lives in seagrass beds.
Agenda:
- Volunteer sign-in: 7:30-8 a.m.
- On-site volunteer training: 8-9 a.m.
- Data collection: 9 a.m. to noon
- Volunteer lunch: noon to 1 p.m.
- Free nature-themed games, crafts and more: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Sarasota Sailing Squadron is located at 1717 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota.
For more information, call the Sarasota County Contact Center at 941-861-5000, visit www.scgov.net, or email Ashley Melton at amelton@scgov.net.