Outdoors
January 16, 2024
FDEP: Mangrove removal requires additional approval
ANNA MARIA – When contractors Mason Martin LLC removed 67 feet of mangroves at a canal-front home on Dec. 12, they did so without all of the required approval, according to the Florida Department of…
January 9, 2024
Reel Time: The making of Perico Preserve
Nestled just off the edge of Perico Bayou, a slender body of water that connects Tampa Bay and Palma Sola Bay, Perico Preserve would appear to the unversed as an extension of the wetlands that rim Pe…
January 9, 2024
Mangrove removal investigated, paused
Recent mangrove removal at 111 Gull Drive in Anna Maria, above, appears to comply with a Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) permit exemption allowing a 116-foot seawall to be built…
January 2, 2024
Beach aliens of Anna Maria Island gallery
Some strange things have been washing up on the beach…
January 1, 2024
Reel Time: New Year’s resolutions
New Year’s resolutions are an annual ritual. It’s a time to look back and reflect on what matters most, how we feel about our lives, and what changes might improve our situation. It’s also a time to…
December 23, 2023
Reel Time: Luck is when opportunity meets preparedness
Whether you’re fishing local water, stalking bonefish in the Bahamas, poling a flat in Charlotte Harbor for tailing redfish, or any number of angling scenarios, we anglers spend the majority of our t…
December 23, 2023
Year in review: Environment
MANGROVE VIOLATIONS
In January, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection levied an $8,500 fine for improper mangrove trimming and debris removal activities that occurred at Carlos Beruff’s…
December 22, 2023
Mangrove removal triggers scrutiny
ANNA MARIA – A company identified by Mayor Dan Murphy in a Dec. 18 email as the contractor at a residential construction site where mangroves were removed was not the responsible party, he told The S…
December 19, 2023
Reel Time: The value of mangroves
Anglers know the value of the mangrove forests to provide habitat, food and protection for the snook, redfish, sheepshead and other species they pursue. For those who don’t fish but enjoy eating fish…
December 19, 2023
New way to report mangrove violations
SARASOTA – Environmental advocacy organization Suncoast Waterkeeper has a new program for citizens to report potential mangrove trimming violations.
Altering mangroves without a permit and excessi…











