Oyster Reef Ball Construction
2022-12-16 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-01-11 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-01-13 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-01-17 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-01-19 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-01-23 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-01-25 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-01-31 09:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) and 1 more date | Tampa Bay Watch Marine & Education Center, 3000 Pinellas Bayway South, Tierra Verde, FL, 33715, United States
Join us at the Tampa Bay Watch Marine Education Center, 3000 Pinellas Bayway South in Tierra Verde to help build oyster reef balls!
This task involves pouring marine-friendly concrete into a fiberglass mold to create oyster reef balls, then taking apart the molds when dry. The reef balls will be installed at a future date to stabilize shorelines and prevent erosion while creating habitat similar to natural oyster communities found along shoreline areas throughout Tampa Bay.
Click here to visit our webpage to learn more about reef balls.
Click here to register for this project date.

Rising to the challenge of coral reef restoration
2023-01-09 18:00 - 19:30 | Mote Marine & Aquarium, 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota, FL, 34236, United States
Dr. Jason Spadaro joined Mote in December 2021 as a Postdoctoral Scientist to integrate an ecosystem approach into Mote’s premier science-based Coral Reef Restoration Program. His research focuses on manipulating ecological processes to support the restoration and recovery of Florida’s Coral Reef and other coral reef ecosystems.
In this lecture, on Jan. 9, Spadaro will explain how coral reefs are in trouble, and how Mote Marine Laboratory scientists are pioneers in coral reef restoration. Mote’s team actively propagates and restores corals to degraded reef structures, while actively selecting the most resilient and robust corals with the goal of creating a strong and resilient community of restored corals.
Recently, Mote has also invested in the restoration of critical ecosystem functions, such as grazing by herbivores such as Caribbean king crabs. Led by Spadaro, Mote scientists are engaged in the aquaculture of this large crab species that consumes many of the algae that otherwise would compete with corals for space on the reef. Tying all of these intricate and complex components together is nothing short of challenging. However, Spadaro, his team, and everyone at Mote are more than up to the challenge with cutting-edge science guiding the way.
Tickets are on sale now at mote.org/lecture.

Red Tide Demise: Mitigation Initiative Update
2023-01-23 18:00 - 19:30 | Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy., Sarasota, FL, 34236, United States
Mote Associate Vice President for Research, Dr. Richard Pierce, also serving as the Program Manager for Ecotoxicology Research, joined Mote in 1981 as a Senior Scientist, developing a research program focusing on the source, fate and effects of toxic chemicals in the marine environment. With more than 75 published manuscripts and lectures nationally and internationally on his research, Pierce and Dr. Cynthia Heil, a Senior Scientist and Director of Mote’s Red Tide Institute will lead a lecture on Jan. 23. Heil, who has more than 25 years of experience with the science and management of marine and freshwater harmful algae bloom species, focuses on monitoring and mitigating Florida red tide along with the ecology and management of marine and freshwater HABs, nutrients and water quality.
Their lecture on Florida red tide will explain its severe negative impacts on the environment, economies and human health along Florida’s west coast, along with the Florida Red Tide Mitigation & Technology Development Initiative put in place to combat it. The Initiative, a result of the severe 2017-2019 red tide, provides funding for Mote scientists to partner with other institutions and companies to conduct extensive laboratory and field research on the efficacy of a variety of potential products and technologies to mitigate the adverse effects of red tide.
Mote Members also receive discounted admission to the event.
Tickets are on sale now at mote.org/lecture.

Lower Green Swamp Invasive Plant Removal
2023-03-03 08:00 - 22:00 | Lower Green Swamp Nature Preserve, 3540 East Knights Griffin Road, Plant City, FL, 33567, United States
We are hosting a volunteer event to pull invasive plant species in honor of National Invasive Species Awareness Week (Feb. 28-March 4).
When: March 3rd, 8 AM – 10 PM
Where: Lower Green Swamp Nature Preserve
3540 E Knights Griffin Rd, Plant City, FL 33565
Volunteers should plan on light maintenance to pull and cut invasive species from around the park. Dress to get messy and stay comfortable in the weather.
Park staff will be available on site to provide supplies and direction on how to detect and remove the invasive plants!
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<

Great American Cleanup
2023-03-18 09:00 - 12:00 | FL
Tampa Bay Watch is recruiting volunteers to participate in the Great American Cleanup at three cleanup sites (Grandview Park, Coquina Key Park, and Maximo Park) in partnership with Keep Pinellas Beautiful on Saturday, March 18 from 9 AM – 12 PM. The Keep America Beautiful Great American Cleanup is the nation’s largest community improvement program which takes place annually during spring in an estimated 15,000 communities nationwide.
Register for Grandview Park
Register for Coquina Key Park
Register for Maximo Park

Oyster Reef Ball Construction
2023-03-22 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-03-24 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-03-28 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-03-30 09:00 - 12:00 | Tampa Bay Watch Marine Center, 3000 Pinellas Bayway S., Tierra Verde, FL, 33715, United States
Join us at the Tampa Bay Watch Marine Education Center, 3000 Pinellas Bayway South in Tierra Verde to help build oyster reef balls!
This task involves taking apart the molds that were previously made and pouring marine-friendly concrete into a fiberglass mold to create oyster reef balls. The reef balls will be installed at a future date to stabilize shorelines and prevent erosion while creating habitat similar to natural oyster communities found along shoreline areas throughout Tampa Bay.
Click here to visit our webpage to learn more about reef balls.
Click here to register for this project date.

Oyster shell project to restore 2D Island
2023-03-31 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-04-01 09:00 - 12:00 | Williams Park Boat Ramp
The project meeting location is Williams Park boat ramp, 9425 U.S. 41, Riverview, FL 33578, which is next to the U.S. 41 bridge over the Alafia River. We will be installing an oyster shell bar which involves shoveling fossilized shell into mesh bags and transporting the bags via boat to lay on the shoreline of 2D Island. The goal of our efforts is to restore lost habitat by promoting new oyster growth, ultimately improving water quality and providing food sources and habitat for many species.
Click here to register for this project.

Plant Harvest
2023-04-17 09:00 - 12:00 | Suncoast Youth Conservation Center, 6650 Dickman Road, Apollo Beach, FL, 33572, United States
Tampa Bay Watch is recruiting volunteers for a native grass harvest project at Suncoast Youth Conservation Center, 6650 Dickman Rd, Apollo Beach, FL 33572. We will be pulling the plugs of plants from the ground of the marsh (it’s tough work!) which will be planted at an upcoming Earth Day event at Lassing Park.
Click here to register to volunteer

Earth Day Living Shoreline Project
2023-04-22 09:00 - 12:00 | Lassing Park, 2042 Beach Dr SE, St. Petersburg, FL, 33705, United States
Celebrate Earth Day by restoring the bay with us! We’ll be installing an oyster shell bar, planting native grasses and picking up trash from the shoreline of Lassing Park.
Register for this project.

Great American Cleanup
2023-05-20 08:00 - 11:00 | FL
Tampa Bay Watch is recruiting volunteers to participate in the Great American Cleanup at Grandview Park and Maximo Park in St. Pete in partnership with Keep Pinellas Beautiful on Saturday, May 20 from 9 AM – 12 PM. Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup is the nation’s largest community improvement program which takes place annually during spring in an estimated 15,000 communities nationwide. A big thank you to the SeaWorld Conservation Fund and Surfing’s Evolution & Preservation Foundation for supporting us in our marine debris efforts and our partnerships with the City of St. Petersburg and Keep Pinellas Beautiful!
Click your preferred site to register:
Grandview Park
Maximo Park

Summer Service Program
2023-06-07 08:00 - 11:00, 2023-06-28 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-07-05 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-07-12 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-07-19 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-07-26 09:00 - 12:00 | Tampa Bay Watch Marine Center, 3000 Pinellas Bayway S., Tierra Verde, FL, 33715, United States
Tampa Bay Watch is offering high school students an opportunity to earn community service hours this summer. The program is scheduled to take place on Wednesday mornings 9 AM – 12 PM from June 7 – July 19 at our facility in Tierra Verde with a maximum of fifteen volunteers per project. The minimum age to participate is 15 years old. Examples of projects include assisting with native plantings, oyster shell recycling, cleaning fishing line, and coastal cleanups.
Interested students should email rarndt@tampabaywatch.org with a cell phone number and the dates they’d like to participate.

Mid Summer Coastal Cleanup
2023-07-08 09:00 - 12:00 | FL
Tampa Bay Watch is recruiting volunteers to participate in the Summer Coastal Cleanup on Saturday, July 8 from 9 am-noon at Walter Fuller Park, Clam Bayou Nature Preserve, and the southwest Pinellas side of Gandy Beach. This event is an effort to clean up after Fourth of July celebrations.
Register to volunteer at your preferred site:
Gandy Beach | Clam Bayou Nature Preserve | Walter Fuller Park

Crab Trap Removal
2023-07-15 08:00 - 12:00 | Fort DeSoto Park, 8250 Desoto Memorial Highway, Bradenton, FL, 34209, United States
Tampa Bay Watch, Ocean Aid 360, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and Coastal Impact Fund are coordinating volunteers to participate in a crab trap removal effort at Fort De Soto Park and Belleair Causeway Boat Ramp due to the 10-day regional closure of blue crab fishing. We are recruiting volunteer boaters to remove debris from the water in addition to traps as well as volunteers for a shoreline cleanup.
Click here to register to volunteer.
