With summer fast approaching, there’s time on the horizon when we have the freedom from school schedules, extracurricular activities and many of our daily routines and have the time to fish more and to get involved in worthwhile projects.
We’re blessed here to have a community of organizations, anglers and individuals who care for and appreciate this amazing place we call home. If you have some time on your hands and/or are looking for ways to help protect, defend and nourish our local waters and habitat, here are a few of the organizations that have that mission and provide those opportunities. Add these links to a list of your favorites to join and check in regularly to see and get involved in their good works. Getting involved not only provides a sense of “doing the right thing” but can offer an opportunity to meet others with similar interests. Here is a list of a few of the major players in our watershed and a link to their websites.
Suncoast Waterkeeper’s (SCWK) mission is to protect and restore the waters on the Florida Suncoast for the benefit of all through community and stakeholder engagement, environmental monitoring, advocacy, and responsible legal action. Their priorities are to ensure that appropriate laws are being followed and to take corrective action when they are not. SCWK’s work is supported by science, the appropriate statutes and environmental ethics, while always seeking to prevent environmental damage wherever possible. The main focus of the group is scientific environmental monitoring, community engagement, advocacy, and, when necessary, taking responsible legal action.
Sarasota Bay Watch (SBW) is dedicated to restoring coastal ecosystems through citizen participation. You can become an active participant by joining as a member and volunteering in Sarasota Bay Watch’s ongoing effort to protect and restore this valuable natural resource. SBW believes a sustainable ecosystem to be one that most closely resembles its natural state absent human influences, and to the greatest extent possible, one that maintains its balance of species and habitat quality in harmony with human communities. This requires both the education and active stewardship of our human communities. SBW works towards its mission with youth education, cleanups, clam restoration and much more.
Suncoast Aqua Ventures (SAV) stated mission is to keep our coastal and underwater ecosystems free from human trash and debris. They initiate and participate in numerous cleanups throughout the year to promote this cause. In the past SAV hosted the Gene Cloud Memorial Spearfishing Tournament. Those events raised over $82,000 to benefit All Children’s Hospital and Shriners Hospital for Children. Their efforts are now focused entirely on cleanup events. They partner with numerous organizations like Keep Manatee Beautiful, Sarasota Bay Watch, Sarasota Bay Estuary Program and Suncoast Reef Rovers with their planned cleanup events.
Oyster River Ecology (ORE) serves Manatee, Sarasota, Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties on Florida’s Gulf Coast. ORE’s mission is to restore ecosystems and preserve ecological functions while increasing the understanding of the natural systems on which we all rely. ORE is a results-focused 501(c)(3) non-profit organization of ecologists, restoration practitioners, and environmental educators. They are dedicated to habitat (primarily oysters) restoration, stewardship, beautification and understanding the environment to benefit the quality of life for humans and wildlife alike, both now and for generations to come. ORE’s focus is on high quality impactful projects that make a meaningful difference for the future of our area. This can range from multi-million dollar large-scale restoration (such as oyster restoration in the Manatee River) projects to backyard bioswales. ORE provides planning, design and implementation expertise to complete meaningful projects.
This is just a snapshot of the work being done by these organizations and I encourage you to explore their websites for a full picture of their missions, events and ways you can get involved while accomplishing meaningful work, meeting new, like-minded individuals and having some summer fun!
