What a day out on the water! Despite a soggy forecast, 16 boats and 105 snorkelers joined us for this year’s Scallop Search—and together we found 20 scallops!
Why does that matter? Scallops are more than just fun to spot—they’re a key indicator of water quality. Because they’re so sensitive to pollution and excess nutrients, their presence gives us a snapshot of how Sarasota Bay is doing. Think of them as the bay’s “canary in the coal mine.”
Our volunteers did more than count scallops, too. Teams set up observation areas, swam transects, and recorded everything from shellfish to seagrass to other marine life. All of that data helps us—and researchers across Florida’s west coast—get a better picture of the bay’s health…