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Position Available: Public Outreach Coordinator

This is a highly visible position supporting community involvement in Bay restoration. Qualified candidates must flourish in a dynamic work environment, possess exceptional communications skills and have the ablility to multi-task. For more information about this exciting opportunity and instructions for submitting a resume please click here.

New Pooches for the Planet Campaign!

Clean Waters! Clean Yards! Clean Shoes!

Approximately 26 tons of pet waste are deposited in Sarasota and Manatee Counties every day!  Pet waste that is left behind is a significant source of bacteria and nutrients that pollute our waterways. SBEP has partnered with the Tampa Bay Estuary Program to bring the successful pet waste pollution education program Pooches for the Planet to the Sarasota Bay watershed.  Read more.  

Seagrass in Sarasota Bay Makes Big Comeback!

May 17, 2009 front page Herald-Tribune

"A Meadow Beneath the Waves"

Seagrasses in Sarasota Bay greater than 25 percent above 1948 levels. Read more.

Florida Fisheries-Independent Monitoring (FIM) Program Comes To Sarasota Bay. Read more.

WATER SHORTAGE ALERT ! 

The Sarasota Bay area is under a Phase III Extreme Water Shortage Alert. Read more.

Protect Endangered Beach Nesting Wildlife

Sea Turtle nesting season has begun!  From May 1 through October 31, turn off the beach front lights by 9pm and keep beaches clean of debris. Read more.

Beach nesting birds such as snowy plovers, least terns, Wilson's plovers and black skimmers use our local beaches to nest and raise young.  From February to August be aware that these threatened and protected species are sharing the beach with us. Be respectful and keep your distance. Read more.

Experience Nature in Manatee County Preserves

Manatee County's Natural Resources Department offers a wide variety of free educational programs within its preserves.  Come and experience the variety of animals and plants that call the preserves home. For information about upcoming programs visit http://www.mymanatee.org/conservation.html

SBEP Public Meetings

Monday, July 13 - Citizen Advisory Committee from 4:30pm to 7pm at the Dan McClure Auditorium at the Sarasota-Bradenton Airport.  Meeting open to the public.  For more info contact SBEP at 941-955-8085.

No August CAC meeting.

No September CAC meeting.

For Complete Information On All Our Events, Visit Our Calendar Page

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Our Vision

Since 1989 the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program and its partners have had a vision….a vision of a Sarasota Bay with clear waters and abundant habitat supporting a rich diversity of aquatic life…of people experiencing that abundance while soaking in its natural beauty….And a commitment through education to engage the community to become our partner in cultivating this vision of a healthy Sarasota Bay.

The waters of Sarasota Bay are home to a bountiful natural and cultural heritage that define our sense of place   A sense of place is the culture, heritage and diversity of a region. It is finding inspiration in the past, creating meaning for the present and planning for the future.

Connecting partners and creating relationships to preserve Sarasota Bay and its natural and cultural heritage has never been more critical. 

The preservation of Sarasota Bay and its natural resources is inextricably linked to the economic drivers of our community and our quality of life.

What Is an Estuary?

Estuaries are places where freshwater mixes with salty water from the sea. Teeming with life, our nation’s estuaries provide vital habitats for 80 percent of the world’s fish and shellfish species.

Estuaries are one of our nation’s most valuable natural resources, creating more food per acre than the richest farmland. Click here to learn more about the National Estuary Programs.