Sarasota Bay Watch held its annual scallop search out of the Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant on Saturday Aug. 29. This event grows in popularity each year, and registration closed a record three weeks before the event. Although there were a few less live scallops found this year, 31 versus 40 last year, there were some very encouraging signs.

The live scallops that were found were the largest to date (a later search date this year) and snorkelers found 220 recently dead scallops. The dead ones were also very large and clean, as evidenced by the fact that they had very few barnacles on them. There have also been many reports of very recent sightings of scallops that are now dead. Many of these shells were brought in for viewing and verification by local experts. There is a good chance that these scallops are dead because they recently spawned.

A total of 32 crafts were on the bay with searchers this year deploying forty five transects. The crafts included boats, kayaks, jet skis, canoes, and Sarasota High School’s the Carefree Learner. This year the event was blessed with the largest amount of boat space to take volunteers without boats than ever before. This was truly a community event with lots of students enjoying the search while gaining community service for their efforts.

After the search the volunteers returned to the Mar Vista where they were once again treated to a fabulous lunch by the Mar Vista and staff courtesy of Ed Chiles and the Chiles Group. Sarasota Bay Watch and the community owe a special thanks to Chiles for continuing to support and put a special finishing touch on the Scallop Search!