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Every September, we celebrate National Estuaries Week, a nationwide reminder of just how vital estuaries are. These places where rivers meet the sea don’t just make for great fishing or kayaking spots, they are engines of biodiversity, natural water filters, buffers against storms, and economic drivers that support billions of dollars in tourism and fisheries. In short, when estuaries thrive, so do we.
Protecting them takes more than science (though we love our science). It also takes people who show their support in everyday ways. If you’ve already done the composting, the native planting, the reusable water bottle, here’s one more powerful step: get a Tampa Bay Estuary Specialty License Plate. It’s an easy, visible way to show you care, and every plate helps fund restoration right here in Tampa Bay!
And while you’re at it, don’t forget the other crucial piece: letting your elected officials know that estuaries matter. National Estuaries Week is a perfect time to remind decision-makers that protecting these waters isn’t optional; it’s essential. The health of Tampa Bay, and estuaries across the country, depends on it.
Join us at our National Estuaries Week events and share your love of estuaries!
A Toast to the Bay - September 25
Join us in celebrating the Tampa Bay estuary with a complimentary happy hour, plus a special announcement about the 2025 Tampa Bay Debris Derby!
The Great Egmont Cleanup - September 27
Join us for a community cleanup at Egmont Key! After the 2024 hurricane season left the island strewn with debris, volunteers will help clear beaches and trails in the state park.
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Scallop Seekers
On August 2, hundreds of volunteers gathered at Fort De Soto, Grandview Park, and Emerson Point Preserve for the 30th Annual Great Bay Scallop Search, one of Tampa Bay’s longest-running participatory science initiatives. This volunteer-driven survey helps track bay scallop populations in the pursuit of attaining a healthy scallop population in Tampa Bay. Scallops are sensitive to water quality, so provide an important measure of the bay’s overall health.
Volunteers snorkeled designated sites by boat, kayak, or paddleboard, documenting scallop sightings while enjoying a day on the water. Bay scallops swim freely, possess dozens of bright blue eyes, and can produce millions of eggs, though only a tiny fraction survive to adulthood.
This year, 46 boats counted 48 scallops, down from 263 in 2024 but still contributing valuable long-term data. Factors like storms, predation, and water quality all influence annual counts, and these surveys help scientists monitor trends and guide restoration efforts.
Curious to see how scallop population counts have fluctuated over time? Check out the Great Bay Scallop Search Dashboard.
Mark your calendars for next August, spots fill up quickly!
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Blue Tech Pitch Competition
The BlueTech Pitch Competition will highlight innovative solutions for the “Blue Economy” during Black in Marine Science Week. Students, early-career professionals, and researchers are invited to pitch new ideas for products, services, and research that support ocean restoration and sustainability.
The competition takes place Tuesday, September 16, 2025, from 10:00 AM–1:00 PM PT in San Diego and virtually. Participants will have 10 minutes to present their ideas, followed by a live Q&A. Cash prizes, mentorship, and networking opportunities await the top three winners.
Applications close September 5, 2025.
Learn more
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Stormwater Made Simple
The City of Tampa just launched a new stormwater maintenance dashboard that lets residents see where crews are clearing ditches, repairing pipes, and improving drainage across the city. It’s a great example of open data in action, making stormwater management more transparent while helping communities understand how these efforts protect water quality in Tampa Bay. Check it out and see how your neighborhood is keeping runoff in check!
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Songs of the Sea
Project Breathless has given us not one, but two ways to hear the resilience of fish. First, the Survivor’s Shanty, a rousing sea shanty celebrating the tenacity of fish through history. Turn it up, sing along, and honor the survivors of Earth’s waters!
But the music doesn’t stop there. Using the chemical “growth rings” in fish ear stones (otoliths), scientists and artists teamed up to translate data into sound, creating fish songs that reveal entire lifetimes, from migration patterns to moments of stress. Each haunting melody ends abruptly, marking the fish’s death, while telling its story along the way.
Listen here
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Call for Abstracts
The call for abstracts to present at the People and Nature Symposium is now open! Does your work center around the human dimensions of natural resources in Florida? Maybe you have a new study to promote, a useful tool to share, or an impactful story to tell about social science in action. Whatever the case may be, we want to hear about your work!
Submit an abstract by September 30th for your chance to showcase your work to conservation social scientists across the region. Presenting not your thing? General registration opens October 20th. Space is limited to 100 attendees - so mark your calendars now and act fast to secure your spot. We hope to see you in Gainesville February 10-11, 2026!
Learn more
Submit an abstract
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Staff Media Recommendation
This month we recommend The Nature Conservancy’s waste(d)water podcast, where host Kassie Morton dives into how wastewater pollution impacts coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and coastal habitats, and how recovery is possible. Featuring our very own Dr. Marcus Beck alongside Dr. Amy Zimmer-Faust, the episode highlights success stories from Tampa Bay to Honduras that prove ecosystems can bounce back with the right science, partnerships, and policy. A must-listen for anyone interested in water quality, conservation, and climate resilience.
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Tidal Creek Connections | Sep 13
This workshop will focus on tidal creeks- from the importance of preserving these unique ecosystems to how you can contribute to their conservation.
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Native Plant Open House | Sep 13
Learn from expert talks, purchase native plants to support conservation, and tour the USF Botanical Gardens' native plant collections.
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2025 FNPS Photo Contest | Sep 15
Celebrate the beauty and importance of Florida’s native plants by sharing your best photos in Florida Native Plant Society’s inaugural photo contest.
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A Toast to the Bay | Sep 25
Join us in celebrating the Tampa Bay estuary with a complimentary happy hour, plus a special announcement about the 2025 Tampa Bay Debris Derby!
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The Great Egmont Cleanup | Sep 27
Join us for a community cleanup at Egmont Key! After the 2024 hurricane season left the island strewn with debris, volunteers will help clear beaches and trails in the state park.
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We Run These Streets 5K | Oct 4
Celebrate South St. Pete with Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg’s 5K. Options to walk, run, volunteer, or just cheer from the sidelines.
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The mission of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program is to build partnerships to restore and protect Tampa Bay through implementation of a scientifically sound, community-based management plan.
TBEP is a partnership of Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco and Pinellas counties; the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater; the Southwest Florida Water Management District; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
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