2009 Great Bay Scallop Search

Tampa Bay Watch and the Tampa Bay Estuary Program have teamed up again to sponsor the Great Bay Scallop Search. This event has been conducted since 1993 and is a resource-monitoring program where volunteers snorkel and search for scallops in select areas within Boca Ciega and Lower Tampa Bays. The search will take place on August 22nd at Ft De Soto park in Tierra Verde.

The purpose of the program is to monitor and document the health and status of the bay scallop population. Volunteers documented a record-setting 624 scallops in 2008.

Participants will search selected sites in Boca Ciega & Lower Tampa Bays for the elusive bay scallop. Bay scallops disappeared from Tampa Bay in the early 1960s when the bay water was highly-polluted from dredging operations and industrial and municipal wastes. Tampa Bay’s water quality and seagrass beds have since improved to levels that will once again support the scallop population.

The event is currently bull but if you would like to be added to the waiting list for boaters, please click here. To be notified of other upcoming volunteer events, please visit the Volunteer Opportunities/Become a Volunteer link!

Treasure Island Mooring Zone May Close

The anchoring zone near Caddy’s beachfront bar on Sunset Beach could be removed by resolution at the July 7th commission meeting. The mooring zone was stablished in September 2008 giving boaters access to the beach by allowing them to moor their vessels 125 feet away from the beach and wade back and forth to shore. The density of boats in the 200-foot wide area has caused problems for swimmers and boaters due to congestion.

Caddy’s owner, Tony Amico, told the commission in 2008 that he wanted the space to be used primarily as a drop-off point, perhaps even with a no-mooring policy.

Other areas near Caddy’s that allow boaters to approach the shoreline include are an unrestricted zone at 100th Ave, an idle speed zone at 77th Ave and a public boat ramp at 84th Avenue.