SARASOTA COUNTY – Sarasota County, the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program and local partners invite the public to attend the fourth annual seagrass survey on Saturday, May 5, at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron next to Ken Thompson Park.
This fun, family-friendly and free event provides the public with a hands-on 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 Sarasota County’s Seagrass Monitoring Program. No previous experience is necessary, but registration is required.
After the survey, there will be a free festival with nature-themed games, crafts and educational booths to enjoy until 2 p.m.; there will also be live music and food trucks.
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. Seagrass beds play a vital role in keeping our bay alive and healthy and our waters clean and clear. Sea turtles and manatees depend on them for food and 70 percent of Florida’s fisheries species 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 festival with nature-themed games, crafts and more: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Sarasota Sailing Squadron is located at 1717 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota.
MEDIA MEMBERS are invited to visit the following link for staff interview and b-roll footage.
To register, or for more information, call the Sarasota County Contact Center at 941-861-5000 or visit scgov.net.