FISH Partnership Award

      Sarasota Bay Estuary Program received a FISH Partnership Award at the recent Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival. The award acknowledged SBEP for its ongoing support of the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH). Dianne Rosensweig with Scheda Ecological Associates was also honored with a FISH Partnership Award at the popular festival in Manatee County.

FISH is a non-profit organization that purchased a 95-acre parcel adjacent to Sarasota Bay within the Village of Cortez in 1999. Its mission is to help restore and protect the upland and wetland habitats and adjacent waters. SBEP is supporting the ongoing restoration at FISH Preserve.

The photo shows students from Martha B. King Middle School on a volunteer outing with the SBEP Bay Guardian volunteer program held in November. The next Bay Guardian event is set for March 10 at Quick Point Preserve on Longboat Key. 

Greta Man with Around the Bend Nature Tours pointing out various tree species to Bay Guardian volunteers at FISH Preserve. The Bay Guardians removed debris and invasive plants at the preserve in November 2011.

Sarasota Sailing Squadron

 Sarasota Sailing Squadron is located on Sarasota Bay at New Pass (north of downtown Lido Key).  It is dedicated to the promotion of recreational sailing, racing, cruising, sailing instruction, boating safety and youth sailing instruction.   See http://sarasotasailingsquadron.org/

Amphipods

There are at least 50 species in Sarasota Bay.  Young differ from adults only in size, i.e. they have no free-living larval stages.  Most are herbivorous, living on macro algae.  Fish are a major predator.  These species are under an inch in length.  -- Dave Bulloch

BAY GUARDIAN VOLUNTEERS TO RALLY AT QUICK POINT PRESERVE MARCH 10

 SARASOTA, FL – Bay Guardian volunteers with the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) and guides with Around the Bend Nature Tours will remove debris and invasive plants at Quick Point Preserve Saturday, March 10. Quick Point Preserve is located at 100 Gulf of Mexico Drive on Longboat Key. The 34-acre preserve with 3,000 feet of shoreline features scenic vistas and opportunities for viewing birds and other wildlife. Paved trails and boardwalks provide convenient access to the man-made tidal lagoons.

Students from Martha B. King Middle School in Bradenton and the Future Leaders Academy in Sarasota will be participating at the volunteer event. Guides with Around the Bend Nature Tours will provide educational insights and lunch will be provided to the volunteers. King Middle School was recently selected to receive a SBEP Blue Dolphin Award to acknowledge the school’s ongoing support of Bay Guardian volunteer events.

The next Bay Guardian event is the annual Air Potato Roundup April 14 at North Water Tower Park in Sarasota. Air potatoes are an invasive species and prior Bay Guardian events at the park have focused on removing the plant. The April event is supported by area disc golfers including members of the Sarasota Sky Pilot Disc Golf Club. North Water Tower Park has one of the most popular disc golf courses in the region.

The Sarasota Bay Guardians is a family-friendly volunteer program that SBEP manages in partnership with Around the Bend Nature Tours. The program was established to attract volunteers interested in helping restore Sarasota Bay. New volunteers receive a blue tee shirt featuring the Bay Guardians logo. Learn more about the program online at sarasotabay.org. Local school and church groups interested in volunteering can also contact Sara Kane at sara@sarasotabay.org.