OUTDOORS

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All Clams on Deck

JANUARY 19, 2022

RUSTY CHINNIS

This past Saturday, Jan. 15, I attended a press conference at the Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant on Longboat Key for the All Clams on Deck clam restoration initiative hosted by restaurateur and Anna Maria environmental leader Ed Chiles.

This initiative aims to support ecosystem sustainability and resilience by attempting to restore imperiled seagrass meadows and planting native clam populations. The pilot project hopes to demonstrate that clams will improve water quality, reduce algal blooms and create healthier habitats while supporting commercial and recreational fisheries along Florida’s Gulf coast. Its focus is two-fold, including a way for clam farmers' products to be used for restoration purposes when water quality events, including red tide, prevent them from selling their products for human consumption.

This project will focus on restoration initiatives that, over the pilot project period of 3-5 years, will provide the research and proof of concept needed to support the use of bivalves for reducing nutrient loading. The innovative approach aims to fund critical science that can be applied to large-scale water quality improvements and inform ongoing efforts to restore and protect estuarine ecosystems.

Supporters point to the sobering note that in 2021, more than 1,100 manatees perished – more than twice the number that typically die annually. A big contributor to this year’s mortality has been starvation from lack of sufficient seagrass. These critical seagrass beds have been declining statewide due to degraded water quality in Florida’s bays and estuaries.

The organization’s website points out that fishing, tourism and recreation on Florida’s Gulf coast supports 304,000 jobs and a $17.5 billion economy. Looking statewide, about 47% of the economy is reliant on coastal tourism, generating significant tax dollars that fund a full continuum of public infrastructure, schools, roads, health and community services that in turn are essential for keeping the region’s economy humming.

The continued health and prosperity of the region are at serious risk from incidents like the release of 215 million gallons of phosphoric acidcontaminated water from Piney Point into the Gulf on April 20, 2021. Unfortunately, that was just one of many insults that create dangerous public health risks and portend an economic crisis that threatens the “golden goose” of tourism on Florida’s shores, and specifically in the Gulf region.

Officials attending the event included Florida State Rep. Will Robinson and Florida Sen. Jim Boyd. Also in attendance were Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes, Longboat Key Mayor Ken Schneider and Vice Mayor Mike Haycock as well as Curt Hemme, owner and managing director of Bay Shellfish Company in Terra Ceia, and other stakeholders. For more information visit www.AllClamsonDeck.com.

Ed Chiles addresses guests at Saturday’s press conference.

RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN

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Cooler weather brings in winter species

CAPTAIN DAVE WHITE

With the extreme drop in temperatures and high winds, conditions have been a bit difficult for inshore fishing around our little Island. But with the large temperature drops, we’ve been seeing our winter species moving in much more significantly. Sheepshead, black drum, pompano and permit are showing up in good numbers.

For our sheepshead and black drum, we like to use whole shrimp on a 1 oz. knocker-style rig and 20- to 30-lb fluorocarbon leader. We fish structure like docks and wrecks in Tampa Bay and surrounding areas. We’re finding black drum, pompano and permit in the passes and on the beaches. Bouncing pompano jigs and live shrimp are the ticket for these guys.

On warmer days, we’re using pilchards for snook, redfish and jack crevalle. But due to the lows this week, we expect that will trickle off a bit. But we can look forward to better fish for the cooler as the temperatures stay low!

CAPTAIN DAVE WHITE | SUBMITTED Longtime client Bill Mills, of Flushing, Mich., shows off a tasty flounder caught last week with Captain David White of Anna Maria Charters.

Parts & Services AvailableRACCOON: Rescued from car engine

FROM PAGE 1 raccoon wrangled its way up into the engine area of a 2013 Nissan Sentra.

Raquel Rangel, Celeste Maldonado and Misha Maldonado were among those who attempted to find the car’s owner. Once located, the car owners expressed genuine concern for the safety of the raccoon, as well as for other motorists. The car owners were concerned about driving to their home an hour north with the raccoon still trapped under the hood of the vehicle. They were also concerned the raccoon might escape in the middle of an intersection or roadway and cause harm to itself and possibly cause an accident.

After several hours of trying to coax the raccoon out of its hiding place using humane means, which included starting the car and gently moving it, using a hose to squirt the raccoon with water and turning on the car alarm to hopefully trigger a flee response, the raccoon was still stuck in the engine compartment and had no way to go forward or turn around and leave the way it came.

According to the press release, Wildlife Inc. President Gail Straight contacted Dr. Bill Bystrom at Island Animal Clinic for help. Upon arrival, Dr. Bystrom administered a small sedative to the raccoon to help it relax. This allowed Straight to safely remove the raccoon from the engine compartment. After being safely removed, the raccoon was taken to the Wildlife Inc. facility for a thorough examination and any needed rehabilitation.

“Wildlife Inc. would like to personally thank the Bridge Street Hotel, its staff, the owner of the Nissan Sentra, Raquel Rangel and Dr. Bill Bystrom of Island Animal Clinic for all their help and understanding in the safe rescuing of this raccoon,” the press release notes.

An email received from Wildlife Inc. on Sunday stated the raccoon was not injured, is doing fine and would soon be released in a suitable natural setting in east Manatee County.

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Beachfront, award-winning rooms

As long as you’re getting married on the beach, why not stay on the beach?

Bungalow Beach Resort, 2000 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach, has won the Top Romance award in the US by tripadvisor.com, and it is located right on the beach – the perfect place to escape between the rehearsal dinner, the ceremony and the reception. With the Gulf of Mexico just steps from your lushly landscaped cedar bungalow, it’s a great place for an extended stay after the bride and groom leave for their honeymoon.

If the bride and groom want to continue their stay, Bungalow Beach Resort, which also won the 2013 Excellence Award from tripadvisor.com, is a very popular honeymoon destination.

Originally a group of beachfront army barracks, each of the Bungalow Beach Resort units retains the old Florida charm that is Anna Maria Island, with modern conveniences inside. And you will stay in luxury with personal touches like baskets of embroidered towels, flowers and candy. Whether you’re getting married or part of the wedding party, pick award-winning Bungalow Beach Resort as your home base where you will cherish those moments when you’re not involved with the ceremony. You’ll want to return when there is nothing to distract you from your stay.

Call Bungalow Beach Resort at 1-800-779-3601 or log onto www.bungalowbeach.com.

DARA CAUDILL | WWW.ISLANDPHOTOGRAPHY.ORG Tina Washington and Hutch Blackstone were married on the beach of the Sandbar restaurant on December 29, 2021. Shawn Rhoton and Molly Powers, of the Sandbar, coordinated the wedding and reception. Reverend Steve Lortz performed the ceremony. Flowers were by Blooms by the Beach, and the cake was by Hometown Desserts. Tina and Hutch honeymooned on Anna Maria Island before returning home to Mansfield, Ohio.

Want your wedding photos to be featured here? Submit them to ads@amisun.com, subject 'Wedding Photos' along with your names, date of wedding and location and phone number for a chance to be featured here*. *Submission of photo not a guarantee for placement. The Sun is not responsible for any copyright infringement.