Transmenu powered by JoomlArt.com - Mambo Joomla Professional Templates Club

Join The Great Bay Scallop Search

Tampa Bay Watch will hold its annual Great Bay Scallop Search 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26. More than 150 volunteer boaters and snorkelers will search Boca Ciega and lower Tampa Bay for the elusive bay scallop, which hides in seagrass beds. Tampa Bay Watch will partner with the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, Pinellas County Environmental Fund and Crabby Bill’s Seafood Restaurants for this year’s event. All volunteers receive an event t-shirt and boxed lunch from Crabby Bill’s. Volunteer boaters are still needed for the search.

Since the 1960s, the bay scallop population has virtually disappeared from Tampa Bay. Scallops are vulnerable to changes in water quality and polluted water from industrial and municipal wastes and large-scale dredging operations are believed to have contributed to their depletion. Although few scallops have been found in recent years in this part of the bay, volunteers still provide valuable data during this event. Tampa Bay Watch and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute are working to increase the numbers of bay scallops in this area. Scientists use the Scallop Search results to monitor restocking efforts currently underway.

The bay scallop is a member of the shellfish family known as bivalves (for its two halves, or shells), which grows to about two inches in size. It feeds continuously through its open shell by filtering small particles of algae and organic matter in the water. The scallop has many tiny, blue eyes along the outer rim of its shell that detect movement near the animal and function as a warning system. It can swim backwards by clapping its valves and expelling water rapidly.

In Florida, the bay scallop only lives about one year. Its short life span and high sensitivity to changes in water quality and salinity levels contribute to the extreme population fluctuations in Tampa Bay. Salinity levels vary within the estuary, especially with an increase of fresh water (such as heavy rainfall). Other occurrences, such as red tide and excessive nutrient levels in the water, also can negatively impact the scallop population.

The public is invited to help gather information about these marine animals and contribute to the long-term survival of the scallop population. Volunteers must pre-register. To participate, email Alexis Ackman, volunteer coordinator, at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 727-867-8166.