“Recently Sarasota Bay Watch partnered with Sarasota County and Bay Shellfish Co. to create scallop sanctuaries in Sarasota Bay. Sarasota County has developed, and loaned to SBW, special cages that protect scallops from predators while also keeping them together to increase the chances of successful of spawning in the Fall. Bay Shellfish Co. has been growing bay scallops for this project since last October! In May SBW volunteers deployed the first of these Scallop Sanctuaries in Sarasota Bay, with each cage receiving 30 young adults. Every 2 weeks volunteers venture out on the water to visit the scallop sanctuaries. They clean marine growth off of the cages and the scallop shells, determine survivability and measure growth rates. It is a time intensive process, but well the effort in the hopes of promoting natural reproductive spawns. Keep your fingers crossed for scallop babies in the bay this Fall!”
Sarasota Bay Watch Happenings by Larry Stults
