Connecting You to SCCF: High Counts of Red Tide on Sanibel

Jan. 29, 2025

Marine Lab Finds High Concentrations of Red Tide

With reports of fish kills increasing, SCCF scientists found very high concentrations of red tide at two Sanibel beaches this week as a bloom that has been offshore for months reached the islands. Also, health alerts have been issued by Lee County for two beaches on Captiva and one on Sanibel. Satellite imagery and aerial photography indicate the bloom stretches south from the islands to Naples.

Please Be Patient as We Restore our Preserves

Habitat restoration is a top priority at SCCF. Please be patient as we continue to fund and work with private contractors to remove dead vegetation from our 1,800 acres of preserves on Sanibel. We're also seeking volunteers for habitat restoration plantings in cleared preserves. Thanks for understanding!

Help Improve Understanding of Red Tide's Health Impacts

The Roskamp Institute is looking for volunteers to participate in a study examining the health effects of aerosolized brevetoxin exposure. In partnership with SCCF, they will be bringing their mobile lab to Sanibel in February.

SCCF CEO Leads Stormwater Panel at State of the Islands

Our island communities came together on Jan. 22 at the SanCap Chamber's 2025 State of the Islands, which included a panel that was moderated by SCCF CEO James Evans. The goal of the panel was to address some of the frequently asked questions about storm surge and stormwater management issues on our islands and to discuss some of the ways we can be better prepared for future storm events.

12.1K Birds Spotted During Christmas Bird Count!

SCCF volunteers and staff recorded 12,104 individual birds from 100 different species on Sanibel and Captiva during our islands’ local contribution to Audubon's 125th Christmas Bird Count. The count included some unexpected sightings — including a burrowing owl on Captiva!

Celebrating Arbor Day with Mangrove Adoptions!

This Florida Arbor Day, SCCF's Coastal Watch team celebrated in partnership with the City of Sanibel at a ceremonial tree-planting event. This Arbor Day marked the final Adopt-a-Mangrove opportunity for the season. Coastal Watch Director Kealy Pfau spoke about the importance of mangroves in our ecosystem and our increasingly popular Adopt-a-Mangrove program!

Can Insects Help Eradicate the Invasive Air Potato?

In partnership with the USDA-Agricultural Research Service Invasive Plant Research Lab in Fort Lauderdale, SCCF released the insect Lilioceris egena, a.k.a the air potato beetle, to help deal with the troublesome exotic plant.

Sanibel Sea School Milestone:

20 Years of Summer Camp!

Make a splash with Sanibel Sea School this summer! Summer Camp 2025 information is now available! This summer marks a monumental milestone — 20 years of unforgettable memories, adventures, and friendships at Sanibel Sea School! To celebrate this incredible journey, we’re bringing back some of our most beloved themes and traditions from the past two decades.

We can’t wait for a summer filled with laughter, learning, and unforgettable memories! Priority registration opens on Feb. 22 at 10 a.m. General registration begins one hour later, at 11 a.m. Click the button below to see all camp offerings this year.

SUMMER CAMP 2025

Volunteers Needed Friday at Woodring Road!

For one of the final stages of our shoreline restoration project along Woodring Road — which included the installation of a living shoreline in 2022 — the City of Sanibel and Coastal Watch are looking for volunteers from 9 a.m. to noon this Friday, Jan. 31 to help fill the concrete structures with sand so they can later be planted with mangroves. Please be aware that this is a labor-intensive event.

Thanks to CFI for Hosting Volunteer Expo!

SCCF joined over 40 organizations at this year’s Volunteer Expo, hosted by the Charitable Foundation of the Islands. The Coastal Watch team attended the event to help create connections among community members, spread information about how to get involved, and promote future volunteer opportunities!

VOLUNTEER WITH US

Meet the Natives:

Sweet Acacia

Sweet acacia (Vachellia farnesiana) is a landscape favorite in South Florida with its poofy, sweet-smelling yellow flowers that bloom for much of the year (and are a common perfume ingredient!). Sweet acacia can be grown as a specimen tree or a barrier shrub, and it grows best in full sun and dry soils.

Purchase or learn more about sweet acacia at SCCF’s Native Landscapes & Garden Center, 1300 Periwinkle Way.

Sanibel Sea School offers multiple free Community Camps throughout the academic year on select school holidays. Community Camp Days are open to campers ages 6-13 and Counselors In Training (CITs) ages 13-17. Our next camp will be held on Feb. 17. Registration opens on Feb. 3 at 10 a.m. Spots fill up fast, so mark your calendars!

LEARN MORE

New Program at Children's Center of the Islands

Sanibel Sea School started classes at the Children's Education Center of the Islands (CECI) this month. This week, students learned all about shells and even got to meet a few periwinkle snails that made a special appearance before they were returned to the wild later that day.

Check out all our upcoming events and program offerings on our website calendar!

SCCF is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) founded

in 1967 on Sanibel Island, Florida

EIN 59-1205087

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