Sarasota Bay Watch’s Fifth Annual Scallop Search took place on August 11th.  Over 150 volunteers aged 2 – 82, took part in this event on boats ranging from kayaks and motor boats to sail boats.  Ninety–three scallops were counted this year, twelve times the number counted in 2011.  The event was sponsored by the Guy [...]

Common Name: Drift Algae Scientific Name: There is a wide variety of Drift Algae in Florida Bays Fun Facts: This alga is floating in a bed of Manatee Grass. Drift Algae is found in a dizzying array of shapes, colors and structures. A common problem in this area in that red rift algae washes ashore [...]

Current testing by FWRI: Southwest Region: Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, was not detected in water samples collected this week alongshore between Pinellas and Collier counties or offshore of the Florida Keys (Monroe County).

The South Florida Aquarium hosted a birthday party this month for Snooty, the oldest manatee in captivity.  He was brought to Manatee County in 1949 to Bradenton’s DeSoto celebration.  He is 9-foot, 8-inches and weighs 1,205 pounds and has greeted more than 2 million visitors.  The Aquarium believes Snooty is the oldest manatee to live [...]