Thank you SBW Citizen Scientists for your dedicated work in the 8th Annual Scallop Search.
The 2015 Scallop Search Results:
31 large live scallops and 220+ recently dead scallop shells
This year’s event succeeded past searches with:
- The largest number of volunteers – 151 registered citizen scientists
- The largest number of boats – 32: power boats, kayaks, a canoe, a jet ski, a paddleboard, and the Carefree Learner, with enough extra boat seating for all of our volunteers!
- The largest number of transects (45) out on the water collecting data
- The earliest registration closing due to the event filling to capacity
- The first search ever to dodge a threatening weather system
- The largest sized shells recorded
- The greatest number of recently dead scallops (evidenced by lack of barnacles and fouling)
- The most detailed record keeping by volunteers to date
- The largest number of community service hours awarded to students in one event
Wow! We all want to see a record number of scallop sightings but in truth our experts believe that the size and the record number of recently dead scallops could be a very good sign! The large size indicates stellar health and a recently dead scallop may indicate a mature recently spawning scallop that has seeded the bay with millions of babies and ended its life a happy bivalve! It may take a few years to see a jump in the population but Sarasota Bay Watch is very encouraged.