Trails and bridges to connect the east and west sides of the FISH (Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage) Preserve are nearing completion. Landscape architect Allen Garner, who completed much of the work at the preserve, showed off the work on Oct. 4 highlighting the features of the 98-acre space.
Some bridges at the FISH Preserve span waterways that connect to Sarasota Bay. - Leslie Lake | Sun
Some bridges at the FISH Preserve span waterways designed to be kayaked. - Leslie Lake | Sun
A picnic pavilion under construction features hand-carved finials. - Leslie Lake | Sun
Allen Garner, who designed many of the upgrades at the FISH Preserve, gives an Oct. 4 tour. - Leslie Lake | Sun
Sarasota Bay is visible at the south end of the preserve. - Leslie Lake | Sun
A future trail will be lined with shell at the FISH Preserve. - Leslie Lake | Sun
An old bottle found at the FISH Preserve. The 98-acre site was formerly a dumping ground. - Leslie Lake | Sun
CORTEZ – It’s been a year filled with successes and a few challenges for the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) as the board laid out plans for enhancements to the FISH Preserve at its annual membership meeting on May 13.
“We’ve been truly blessed from a financial standpoint,” FISH Treasurer Jane von Hahmann reported at the meeting.
Despite being rained out on the second day of the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival in February, the non-profit netted $43,000, which supports the FISH Preserve. Von Hahmann also reported a $50,000 anonymous donation designated to help pay down the mortgage on Fisherman’s Hall and a portion of the preserve.
“We have some big projects coming up,” she said.
With a $165,000 grant from the Barancik Foundation, the preserve will have trails, two bridges and a picnic area installed. The funds must be used within 18 months. FISH is contributing an additional $15,000 to that initiative.
A donation from Kiwanis of $16,000 will possibly be used toward the cost of a third bridge.
“Phase IV of the preserve is finished; that’s the last and final phase of digging dirt. Now we have the job of connecting everything up with walkable trails,” she said. “Father and son Alan and Alex Garner have been doing work on planning improvements for the preserve for about a year, which includes signage at the preserve, an additional entrance sign and a kiosk where visitors can sign in and obtain educational materials. We are discussing the grand plan with a tower and possibly a canopy walk. We have some big ideas.”
Von Hahmann also noted the November 2023 donation of $50,000 for trails and bridges at the preserve from Dr. Terry Bert, the wife of the late John Stevely. Stevely was one of the original FISH board members.
FISH’s goal for the recent Giving Challenge of $15,000 was exceeded; the organization received nearly $20,000.
Board member Karen Bell gave a festival report.
“It was a good festival, as good as it could be considering the rains,” Bell said.
Bell said FISH donated $4,000 to the Organized Fisherman of Florida for their help in setting up the festival.
Bell also gave an update on the progress of the refurbishment of the old volunteer fire station.
“The fire station used to be Cortez’s only fire station,” she said. “I remember they used to have in the fall, maybe two or three or maybe four mullet fries. It was so cool, the ladies used to bring pies or cakes and big pots of coffee.”
The volunteer fire department had been owned by Anna Maria Fire District and in their deed the building had to go to another non-profit, according to Bell.
“It was deeded to the Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage,” Bell said. “By fall we should be ready to use it. It’s nice to see it come back to life.”
CORTEZ COMMERCIAL FISHING FESTIVAL CELEBRATES VILLAGE
The 41st Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival took place on Feb. 18-19 in the historic fishing village. The festival, which celebrated 100 years of Star Fish Company, was organized by a volunteer committee from the non-profit Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH). “The money raised at the festival will support the continued restoration of the FISH Preserve,” FISH board member Jane von Hahmann said. The preserve covers over 98 acres of environmentally sensitive land immediately east of the village. It is the last stretch of undeveloped waterfront property left on North Sarasota Bay.
CANAL DISPUTES
In 2023, Hunters Point developer Marshall Gobuty, his Cortez Road Investments and Finance ownership group, and his legal team prevailed in two rulings pertaining to multiple canal-related disputes that remain ongoing. In March, Administrative Law Judge Bruce Culpepper recommended the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s governing board issue a final order granting the developer’s application to construct 49 boat slips/docks in the privately-owned Hunters Point canal. In May, the governing board issued that order. The owners of the nearby Cortez Village Marina are appealing the final order as part of their ongoing opposition to the Hunters Point docks. In late October, as part of another canal-related dispute, 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Edward Nicholas denied motions seeking to dissolve the lis pendens claims Cortez Road Investments filed against canal-side property owners Wendy and George Kokolis and Jonathan and Sheila Graham. A lis pendens claim notifies potential buyers of a lawsuit involving the property and can impact the ability to sell a property, obtain financing or obtain title insurance.
The FISH Preserve in Cortez, which opened on Nov. 3, provides a natural buffer between the Cortez commercial fishing village and development to the east. – Submitted
FISH PRESERVE DAMAGED BY FIRE
Despite a May 10 fire that the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said was intentionally set at the 98-acre Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) Preserve, work continued on the final phase of a restoration project. The fire had minimal impact on the restoration efforts.
SEAFOOD SHACK/ANNIE’S BAIT AND TACKLE FOR SALE
Annie’s Bait and Tackle is part of a parcel including the Seafood Shack that went up for sale in May with a starting price of $15 million. Annie’s, which has been in operation since the 1950s, has been owned by Bruce Shearer and Kim Shepherd for more than 20 years. The Seafood Shack went under contract for sale in August, but the listing agent remained tight-lipped about the potential buyer. Realtor Dave Neff said, “The property has not sold yet, but it is under contract. I am not able to disclose who the buyer is. Much of the speculation on the internet centers around the potential buyers as the current owners of a waterfront restaurant in Venice. There are rumors going around about who the buyer is, but those rumors are premature in nature and inaccurate,” Neff said.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND PRINCESS FOR SALE
The Anna Maria Island Princess paddleboat went up for sale in 2023. Listed at $499,999 on the Boat Trader website, the 99-foot paddleboat has caught the attention of potential buyers. “It hasn’t sold yet but we’ve had a lot of interest,” said Mia Still, Bradenton Beach Marina executive assistant for tours and operations on Sept. 26. The boat is owned by Bradenton Beach Marina, which was purchased in January by local developer Shawn Kaleta.
HURRICANE IDALIA CAUSES SHORT-LIVED DAMAGE
As residents and businesses cleaned up following the Aug. 30 storm surge from Hurricane Idalia, which flooded local roads, the recurring consensus was, “We got lucky.” “There was no boat damage (to the fleet of fishing boats). We lost a few boards on the dock,” A.P. Bell Fish Company owner Karen Bell said. “We were very lucky.” On Wednesday morning, roads in Cortez were underwater. By that evening the waters receded and roads were passable. In advance of the storm, local fish houses secured their fleets of fishing boats. Tide Tables was flooded from the storm surge but cleaned and dried by the following day.
CORTEZ ROAD CONSTRUCTION STUDY BEGINS
In August, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) launched a Cortez Road corridor study that extended from 121st Street Court West in Cortez to U.S. 301 in Bradenton/West Samoset. The corridor study project is a partnership between FDOT, Manatee County and the Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization, with the Renaissance Planning consulting firm tasked with gathering input from the public and other stakeholders. The primary goals were to identify ways to make the Cortez Road corridor safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and others and to address the relationship between the roadway and future growth along the corridor. More than 8,500 new homes and residential units are expected to be constructed near Cortez and Anna Maria Island in the coming years. In April/May, the Woodruff and Sons construction company began clearing trees and other landscaping along the north side of Cortez Road as part of a Manatee County sewer line project. The utilities easement agreement the county entered into with property owner Whiting Preston stipulates the new sewer line must provide the capacity to handle the sewage produced by the 2,000 residential units planned as part of Preston’s Peninsula Bay development.
CORTEZIAN GROWS RECORD-SETTING PUMPKIN
What started out as a casual pastime for Cortez resident Tim Caniff turned into a statewide record-sized pumpkin. At 1,039 pounds, the pumpkin, grown in Caniff’s backyard, blew the previous state record out of the water by more than 400 pounds. “This started off as a fun beer-drinking hobby,” Caniff said.
CORTEZ STONE CRAB FESTIVAL CELEBRATED
The kickoff to the stone crab harvest season was celebrated on Nov. 11-12 at the 11th Annual Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival. The festival typically draws more than 5,000 attendees and more than 2,000 pounds of stone crab is consumed. “The festival celebrates the heritage of Cortez and the kickoff to stone crab season,” Adam Sears, Swordfish Grill General Manager said. This year’s theme was “Crack a Cold One,” since stone crab is served cracked and cold.
FISH PRESERVE RIBBON-CUTTING HELD
In the culmination of more than two decades of planning and hard work, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the FISH (Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage) Preserve on Nov. 3.
At nearly 100 acres, the preserve is on the south side of Cortez Road, an oasis of natural beauty among multiple construction projects nearby. The preservation and non-development of the preserve land, adjacent to the Cortez fishing village and bordering the waters of Sarasota Bay, was precisely the goal of FISH members in 2000 when they began fundraising to purchase the property. The invitation-only ribbon cutting featured speakers Dr. Dave Tomasko, Director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program; Dr. Jay Leverone, staff scientist with SBEP; FISH Treasurer Jane von Hahmann; EPA Region 4 Regional Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle and Manatee County Commissioner and SBEP policy board member Kevin Van Ostenbridge.
PASSINGS
On Feb. 22, former Swordfish Grill Manager Greg “Grego” Koeper passed away from melanoma at 67.
– Sun Correspondent Joe Hendricks contributed to this story
CORTEZ – In the culmination of more than two decades of planning, fundraising and hard work, the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the FISH Preserve on Nov. 3.
At nearly 100 acres, the preserve is on the south side of Cortez Road, an oasis of natural beauty in stark contrast to the multiple construction projects nearby. The preservation and non-development of the preserve, adjacent to the Cortez fishing village and bordering the waters of Sarasota Bay, was precisely the goal of FISH members in 2000 when they began fundraising to purchase the property.
“The FISH Preserve came close to getting paved over by developers, however, the community came together to purchase the property in the nick of time,” according to the FISH website.
The invitation-only ribbon-cutting featured speakers Dr. Dave Tomasko, director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP); Dr. Jay Leverone, staff scientist with SBEP; FISH Treasurer Jane von Hahmann; EPA Region 4 Regional Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle and Manatee County Commissioner and SBEP policy board member Kevin Van Ostenbridge.
A special guest at the ribbon cutting was Dr. Theresa Bert, the widow of John Stevely, who was instrumental in the planning and purchase of the preserve’s parcels, and of the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival that funded it.
Tomasko applauded what he said was the perseverance and resilience of the FISH board in making the preserve a reality.
“That’s what it takes to succeed,” he said. “This is the light at the end of the tunnel to keep what they had.”
“This is a celebration,” Leverone said. “It’s really moving to have this actually done.”
His participation with the project goes back 10 years.
“We paid for the plans and the permits and we were shovel-ready,” he said. “We were just waiting for the money for the shovels to start. That was the last hurdle we had to overcome. I guess I was the conductor, but I had a great orchestra behind me.”
Leverone said the Biden Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding of $700,000 was critical in the completion of Phase IV.
“We talked about preserving this; what it looked like before I’m not sure we wanted to preserve it,” he said. “Over time, it really needed a facelift. The goals of what we wanted this property to look like have finally become realized.”
Leverone said 10,000 native plants have been planted recently.
Dr. Jay Leverone leads a tour of the FISH Preserve. – Leslie Lake | Sun
“We have committed the estuary program to one year of maintenance of the plants,” Leverone said.
“Finally, we’re not quite done. We have and we continue to look to foundation or public funding for bridges, trails, signage, kiosks,” he said. “We want to make this publicly friendly, publicly usable. We want people to come and enjoy this.”
Gettle said that the preserve is “an inspiring story for us all.”
Van Ostenbridge recalled his youth when the preserve land was a hangout for teens.
“I never thought at the time we’d ultimately be turning this into a wetland mitigation project; it was essentially a dump site and a hangout site in what we all assumed was going to a subdivision – a waterfront subdivision,” Van Ostenbridge said. “It’s thanks to the foresight of (former Manatee County) Commissioner von Hahmann and the FISH board that we ended up here and when EPA came up with the money, that we were shovel-ready.”
Plaques were presented to Leverone and Bert in recognition of their contributions to the preserve.
“In recognition of your outstanding dedication to the restoration of Sarasota Bay and the FISH Preserve and the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program and the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage,” Tomasko read from Leverone’s plaque.
“There’s one person that could not be with us today,” von Hahmann said. “This is a gentleman who was part of the original purchase of this program, who was part of the original board that was FISH in 1992, he was part of Sea Grants and sat on the board. And we lost him last year to a battle with cancer.”
Von Hahmann then asked Theresa Bert to come to the podium to accept a plaque on behalf of her late husband.
“In memory of John Stevely, without his dedication to, and passion for, the FISH Preserve and the village of Cortez, the FISH Preserve restoration project never would have been accomplished. Gone but not forgotten,” von Hahmann read from the plaque.
“This is indeed a momentous day, because our only son’s wife is at this moment in the hospital having our first grandchild,” Bert said.
“I think I have a surprise for you guys perhaps,” Bert said. “In John’s and our will, we put $50,000 to be willed to the FISH Preserve. What I would like to do is donate that $50,000 to the FISH Preserve now, specifically for trails and bridges. So this will help build those.”
The preserve is fully restored, but public recreation is currently limited to a few foot trails.
“When you build things to make them more natural, you make the divisions. Water is so important,” von Hahmann said. “Because you can’t access the west side from the east side so now we have to do these bridges and connective trails, so people can use the entire property.”
CORTEZ – The vision that FISH (Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage) members had more than 20 years ago to preserve the environmental integrity of coastal land on Sarasota Bay has come to fruition.
The preserve, on 100 acres of coastal wetland between Cortez Road and Sarasota Bay, will open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Nov. 3 at 10 a.m.
The sold-out event will feature speeches from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle and Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge.
The FISH Preserve borders the historically significant Cortez commercial fishing village and the waters of Sarasota Bay. It is one of the only untouched waterfront properties on the bay.
The preserve underwent years of environmental restoration which removed exotic vegetation and added waterways to connect to Sarasota Bay and restore aquatic habitats.
“The FISH Preserve came close to getting paved over by developers, however, the community came together to purchase the property in the nick of time,” according to the FISH website. FISH raised the initial funds for the protection of the land in 2000, buying parcels one at a time ever since.
Funding for the first $60,000 mortgage payment on the land was raised from donations from citizens and conservation-minded companies. Years of proceeds from the annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival each February and donations from members and friends allowed FISH to pay off their original mortgage.
A major grant was provided by the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership, which led to the creation of a tidal stream system. That grant allowed for the creation of new wetland areas and the removal of invasive plants.
“The water quality in Sarasota Bay is improving. Large-scale restoration projects like the FISH Preserve build on that progress to help restore our fish and wildlife populations,” said Dave Tomasko, executive director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program.
The preserve is fully restored, but public recreation is currently limited to a few foot trails. FISH and its partners are looking at adding boardwalks, trails and signage.
Restoration of the preserve was a collaborative effort between FISH, the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the EPA, the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
CORTEZ – With a new round of imminent funding, long-awaited enhancements are coming to the 100-acre FISH Preserve in Cortez.
After what Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage board members characterized as a long and tedious road, beginning with their purchase of the first parcel in 2000, they discussed a tentative timeline at an Aug. 1 meeting, with permitting for the Phase IV project anticipated in October or November, followed by a release of funds.
New funding will pay for land contouring, drainage and earth moving and opens the door for the addition of loop trails and footbridges.
“We are committed to finish Phase IV with trails and bridges for connectivity,” FISH Treasurer Jane von Hahmann said.
As in 2016, when the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) completed the restoration of nearly half of the preserve through a cooperative funding agreement with the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) and FISH, the Phase IV funds will be managed by SBEP.
“We are blessed to be the recipients of this program,” von Hahmann said. “The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program are the ones that will get the funding and manage the funds and we’re OK with that. We will reap the benefits.”
She said Phase IV will cost roughly over $300,000.
“Originally we thought $250,000 but everything has gone up,” she said.
The preserve is the only undisturbed parcel of land on north Sarasota Bay, von Hahmann noted. It was conceived as a barrier between encroaching development and the historic commercial fishing village of Cortez.
“We have owned the property since 2000 but we’ve been working on this project since 2009-2010,” she said.
The environmentally sensitive land immediately east of Cortez has served as an important fisheries habitat for the section of Sarasota Bay south of Cortez fondly referred to as “the kitchen,” with its bounty of fresh seafood.
“Sold in the 50s and long slated for development, in later decades the property, sadly, was also used as a dumping site for construction debris,” according to the FISH website.
In 2000, the organization and community members came together to raise the money to purchase the land immediately east of the village. The first $60,000 mortgage payment was raised from donations made by citizens and conservation-minded companies.
“The annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festivals, held in February of each year, and donations from our more than 700 members and a host of friends all over the country enabled FISH to pay off the mortgage in 2005. No federal or state funds were used in the effort,” according to the website.
“This parcel of land is one of the only untouched waterfront properties on Sarasota Bay and one of the last true working waterfronts in the state of Florida. The preserve came close to getting paved over by developers, however, the community came together to purchase the property just in the nick of time,” according to the website. “This initial land purchase has been paid off! Since 2005, FISH has been able to purchase several additional parcels of land within the FISH Preserve’s boundaries that remained in private hands.”
Restoration was done by the firm Earthbalance, which resulted in more wetland acreage, improved tidal circulation and the re-establishment of natural hydro-periods, according to the organization’s website.
“The restoration also achieved the removal of exotic vegetation, such as Brazilian pepper and Australian pine, which were a major concern particularly in the transitional wetlands and coastal islands,” according to the website. “In place of problematic exotics, the project planted native species, which will contribute to the recovery of natural habitats. In addition to removing piles of refuse at the site, the contractor created saltwater wetlands in a 2-acre area recently prepared by clearing Australian pines and other exotic trees.”
A major grant was provided by the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership (SARP) which has led to the creation of a new tidal stream system in the southeastern corner of the FISH Preserve. The SARP grant allowed for the creation of new wetlands areas with a limited bit of exotic and invasive plant removal in uplands areas as well. Replanting of native species was primarily a volunteer effort with participation from the Manateens and Baybuddies organization of the Sarasota Bay Estuaries program.
CORTEZ – The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) held its monthly meeting on Jan. 3 at Fishermen’s Hall in Cortez, and on the agenda was a vote to hold a campout weekend at the FISH Preserve for the Bradenton Kiwanis Club.
“The Kiwanis Club has been working with us on a project out here, but it’s a small portion of the Kiwanis Club,” said Allen Garner, who has worked hundreds of hours on improvements to the FISH Preserve in Cortez. “Those of us that have been working on the project wanted to get more of the club members out here to see it.”
Garner says the purpose of having a campout is to get Kiwanis members who were not able to participate in the project to have a chance to see all the good work that has been done. They are welcome to bring tents, motorhomes or whatever they may choose to camp in and enjoy a weekend of fun at the Preserve.
“We also want to make it a kayaking day so they can see the extent of the preserve,” said Garner. “We want to get more members out to see the place, and maybe that will help with funding in the future.”
The FISH board of directors voted unanimously to approve the camping weekend, which will be Feb. 11-13.
CORTEZ – Besides enjoying fresh seafood, live music and everything else that the 38th Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival will offer this weekend, you could win a handmade kayak.
The kayak, paddle and two wooden oars were donated in an unfinished condition in 2010, but the volunteers at the FISH Boatworks, particularly Joe Egolf, Bill Curto and Charlie Bailey, finished the watercraft and presented it to the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) to raise money at the festival, the weekend of Feb. 15-16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. along 119th Street West in Cortez.
If you go
Who: Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH)
What: The 38th Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival
When: The weekend of Feb. 15-16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days
Where: Enter at the Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez or the FISH Preserve one block east on Cortez Road
Why: Support the FISH Preserve
Cost: $5 for adults, kids 12 and under free
Raffle tickets, available at the festival, are $5 each or 5 for $20. The drawing will be held Sunday, Feb. 16 between 4 -5 p.m. The winner need not be present to win.
The festival is famous for serving fresh seafood in one of Florida’s last working commercial fishing villages. Listen to live local music, browse nautical and environmental art, and learn about the fishing industry at the Cortez Bait and Seafood docks. Kids’ activities include pony rides and a bounce house.
Road work will not impact festival
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will suspend construction activities on Cortez Road during the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival on Saturday, Feb. 15 and Sunday, Feb. 16. Road work on and along Cortez Road from 123rd Street West to 86th Street West and on and along 119th Street West is expected to resume Tuesday, Feb. 18, according to the FDOT RoadWatch Advisory issued last week.
This year for the first time, the festival will present NOAA’s Voices from the Fisheries, part of the federal agency’s Vanishing Culture Project. The interactive display will include recordings from Cortez fishermen and musicians talking about a way of life fading from the Florida landscape.
Cortez has been a fishing village for more than 1,000 years, beginning with Native Americans, Spanish fishermen who established fishing ranchos, and, in the 1880s, settlers from Carteret County, N.C.
The village survived a devastating hurricane in 1921, a severe red tide in 1947 and increasing regulations limiting commercial fishing, including a constitutional amendment to ban gill nets passed by Florida voters in 1994, which put much of Cortez out of work and severely impacts the industry to this day.
Proceeds from the $5 admission (kids 12 and under are free) go to restoring the 100-acre FISH Preserve, as they have for nearly four decades. FISH is clearing the land of invasive, non-native vegetation like Brazilian peppers and Australian pines, and is planting mangroves and other native plants, creating hiking and kayak trails and building footbridges with help from local Boy Scout troops.
Music schedule
Saturday, Feb. 15
10-11 a.m. – Shanty Singers
11:30-1 p.m. – Doug Demming
1-1:30 p.m. – Awards and introductions
2-4 p.m. – Eric Von Band
4:30-6 p.m.- Jason Haram
Sunday, Feb. 16
10:30-noon – Soupy Davis and his Band
12.30-2 p.m. – Koko Ray Show
2:30-4 p.m. – Karen and Jimmy Band
4:30-6 p.m. – Ted Stevens & the Doo Shots
1-5 p.m. – Eric Von on the Bratton store porch
Bordered by Sarasota Bay to the south, Cortez Road to the north, mobile homes to the east and the fishing village of Cortez to the west, the restored mangrove wetland habitat was once an unofficial trash dump, with old tires, large appliances and even boats that FISH has removed.
Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival T-shirts. – Cindy Lane | Sun
Festivalgoers who park at the FISH Preserve parking area will get a glimpse of the habitat restoration in progress.
The Boy Scouts will offer on-site parking for $5 at the preserve, located one block east of the village off Cortez Road. A park-and-ride shuttle is available on an MCAT shuttle bus for $3 round trip from two locations, G.T. Bray Park, 5502 33rd Ave. Drive W., Bradenton (turn east off 59th Street onto 33rd Avenue Drive) or at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island. The shuttles will pick up and drop off festival passengers from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Discounts are available to anyone at least 60 years old, active duty and military veterans and students with a valid ID. As always, anyone 80 years and older ride the MCAT for free.
On Saturday only, a free park-and-ride shuttle will be available from the Cortez Baptist Church, 4411 100th St. W. on Cortez Road, about 1.5 miles east of the festival.
CORTEZ – A dream fueled by the true grit of Cortez commercial fishing families has grown to 100 acres of prime Sarasota bayfront land that can never be developed.
The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) has spent 20 years piecing together the FISH Preserve, and the quilt is now complete, funded largely by the $4 admission fee to the annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival.
Second Place
Artist Illustration
2019
Three decades of Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival logos recount the fishing-related themes. – Cindy Lane | Sun
The preserve is the answer to two questions that weigh heavily on FISH members.
How can Cortez fishermen keep “The Kitchen” – the part of Sarasota Bay that laps at Cortez shores – a productive nursery area for the Cortez staple, mullet?
And how can the fishing village, a federal historic district, shield itself from neighbors peering down from high-rise condos and complaining that their backyards are filled with stone crab traps and old boats?
The preserve is a buffer against development encroaching on the historic village, and its mangrove-lined shore ensures that juvenile fish, including mullet, will have a protected place to grow, safeguarding the fishery for the future, said John Stevely, FISH board member and one of the fishing festival’s original organizers.
“Your FISH Preserve is very impressive. Its economic value cannot be judged in terms of dollars alone. I have seen from many places around the world, communities like the fishing village of Cortez, suffering from the demise of the natural resources base on which they depend. Your project is an important reminder of the vital connections between nature and humanity.” – Ocean explorer Jean-Michelle Cousteau, founder of the Oceans Future Society
The first project in the preserve was removing decades of dumped trash, followed by escorting homeless residents out, securing the perimeter, building foot bridges across wet areas, beginning to clear future hiking and kayak trails, recreating wetland habitat and taking out invasive species and planting native trees and plants.
Next month, heavy equipment will come in and continue the removal of Australian pines and Brazilian peppers in the newest – and most costly – section of the preserve.
The half-acre is in the center of the preserve, where the previous owners advertised the residentially-zoned property for $1.2 million with the tag, “surrounded by your own private preserve.”
FISH purchased the land for $180,000 after prospective buyers learned they would have to run electrical and water lines and a curbed road into the preserve before building a dream home, Stevely said, but even that discounted amount was far more than the not-for-profit organization had ever spent on a parcel in the preserve.
Grants have helped keep the restoration work progressing, with the help of partners including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership and the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program.
But the biggest contributors to the preserve are the tens of thousands of people who have attended the past 36 years of the fishing festival – and don’t let a Cortezian catch you calling it a “seafood festival!”
FISH Preserve wetlands draw white ibis and other shorebirds. - Cindy Lane | Sun
Mangroves have been planted at the FISH Preserve, part of many efforts to restore the bayfront land to a natural state. - Cindy Lane | Sun
The eastern boundary of the FISH Preserve. - Cindy Lane | Sun
Juvenile fish are protected in the FISH Preserve wetlands. - Cindy Lane | Sun
A turkey vulture at the FISH Preserve. - Cindy Lane | Sun
The FISH Preserve in Cortez is about 100 acres on Sarasota Bay.
Wetlands at the FISH Preserve - Cindy Lane | Sun
Wetlands at the FISH Preserve - Cindy Lane | Sun
New mangrove - Cindy Lane | Sun
Native plants are replacing invasive species. - Cindy Lane | Sun
Festival celebrates “Changing Tides”
The 37th Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival is the weekend of Feb. 16-17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days, celebrating the village’s enduring heritage in the face of “Changing Tides.”
From the gill net ban 25 years ago, which drastically reduced mullet fishing in Florida, to runaway development, overpopulation, pollution, mangrove destruction, foreign seafood imports and this year’s ongoing red tide, the Cortez commercial fishing tradition has survived, said festival organizer and artist Rose Lipke, who designed this year’s festival logo, an octopus juggling all the issues.
The festival will kick off on Saturday at 10 a.m. with live music, nautical arts and crafts, Dock Talks about different types of fishing vessels, a marine touch tank, and, of course, fresh seafood.
The main admission gate is at the Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St. W. with another gate at the FISH Preserve parking lot east of 119th Street West. The cost is $4, with kids under 12 free.
MCAT shuttles are available from G. T. Bray Park, 5502 33rd Ave. Drive W., Bradenton. The shuttle will pick up passengers from G.T. Bray Park’s west entrance off 59th Street West, and from the Coquina Beach bus turn-around in Bradenton Beach. Shuttles will pick up and drop off festival passengers from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
The cash fare is $1.50 each way. Discounts are available to anyone at least 60 years old and military veterans. As always, everyone 80 years and older rides MCAT for free.
Paid parking for various prices is available on private property in the fishing village.
Cortez docks - Cindy Lane | Sun
The Pillsbury boat works at the Florida Maritime Museum was relocated from Snead Island in Palmetto. - Cindy Lane | Sun
The FISH Boat Shop at the FISH Preserve is staffed by volunteers who build and restore wooden boats. - Cindy Lane | Sun
The Burton/Bratton store at the Florida Maritime Museum in Cortez was moved from the west end of the fishing village and restored. - Cindy Lane | Sun
The Florida Maritime Museum is in the former Cortez Rural Graded School building on 119th Street West and Cortez Road West. - Cindy Lane | Sun
The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) built this restored net camp off the Cortez fishing village. - Cindy Lane | Sun
Cortez Cultural Center - Cindy Lane | Sun
Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival music lineup
Soupy Davis – Cindy Lane | Sun
Saturday, Feb. 16
10-11 a.m. Shanty Singers
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Doug Deming
1-1:30 p.m. Blessing of the fleet; awards
2-4 p.m. Eric Von Band
4:30-6 p.m. Koko Ray Show
Sunday, Feb. 17
10:30 a.m.-noon Soupy Davis and his Band
12:30-2 p.m. Ted Stevens & the Doo Shots
1-5 p.m. Eric Von (on the Bratton Store Porch)
2:30-4 p.m. Jason Haram
4:30-6 p.m. Karen and Jimmy Band
Boat raffle
The Atavistic (meaning “relating to or characterized by reversion to something ancient or ancestral), is a restored Leeboard sloop with a spritsail designed after the 1850s Florida bay work boats. Capt. Jimmy Hendon of St. Petersburg donated the boat to FISH last August, and FISH Boat Shop volunteers (from left) Dave Curto, Tom Buckland, Bob Buckland and Joe Egolf restored it to be raffled at the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival the weekend of Feb. 16-17. Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20.
CORTEZ – Boy Scout Matthew Kurutz wants to earn the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest accomplishment in the organization, and he plans to build bridges to do it.
Three bridges, in fact – all of them foot bridges over water in the FISH Preserve in Cortez. He also plans to remove some non-native Brazilian pepper trees.
Foot bridges in the FISH Preserve in Cortez are in need of replacement. – Matthew Kurutz | Submitted
The FISH Preserve is a 95-acre preserve on Sarasota Bay at the east end of the historic fishing village of Cortez. Proceeds from Cortez Commercial Fishing Festivals since 1981 have funded purchase of the land, bit by bit, and volunteers with the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage are responsible for overseeing its restoration to a native state.
Matt, a Bayshore High School 10th grader, set up a table at the last fishing festival in February to raise funds for materials to build the bridges, including Trex decking, a low maintenance, composite wood alternative.
He also has worked to raise funds at the Cortez Cultural Center, mentored by Kaye Bell and Bob Landry, and at the Cortez Nautical Flea Market last month. He is planning more fundraising activities at other local venues.
In addition to fundraising, Matt is responsible for planning the project, recruiting two groups of six to eight helpers each and executing the plan. A contractor will supervise the project, said his dad, Steve Kurutz.
A scout for seven years, including Cub Scouts, Matt is a violinist with the Bayshore High School orchestra and is a Junior ROTC member. His interests include agriculture and working as a fish and wildlife officer.
