Going outdoors

Tampa Bay Watch, located in Pinellas County, is sponsoring the Great Bay Scallop Search on Saturday.

By RODNEY PAGE
Published August 19, 2005

SCALLOPS

VOLUNTARY SEARCH: Tampa Bay Watch, located in Pinellas County, is sponsoring the Great Bay Scallop Search on Saturday. More than 160 volunteers are expected seek bay scallops in Tampa and Boca Ciega bays. The search starts at 9 a.m. in designated areas. The goal is to find live scallops hidden in sea grass beds. The scallop count helps scientists gauge the effectiveness of restocking efforts that are under way. The Red Tide that settled in mid July may have affected the scallop population. During the first event in 1993, 79 live scallops were found. In 2001 none were found. Last year 12 live scallops were found. Call 727 867-8166 or see www.tampabaywatch.org for information.

OCEAN SERIES: The third and final event of the Hobie Treasure Island Ocean Paddling Series starts at 10 a.m. Sunday off the Island Beach Resort at Treasure Island. The course will be determined by the day's weather, and the overall series winner will be awarded after the event. Only paddlers who participated in the previous two events will be eligible for overall awards. The official divisions are sea kayaks, sit-on-top kayaks, outrigger canoe single, outrigger canoe double, surfski and paddleboards. Call (727) 530-5424, ext. 3703.

EATING BUGS: Brooker Creek Preserve in north Pinellas County is hosting a seminar by Debbie Fritz Quincy of the Hope Sound Nature Preserve on entomophagy. That big word means bug eating. Ants, termites, crickets, beetles, bees and wasps are all eaten by humans in parts of the world. This seminar gives people a chance to sample some of these tasty insects. Not only that, but those people paid $6 to do it. Pre-registration was required, but you can go to the preserve to check it out. The seminar begins at 1:30 p.m.

COASTAL CLEANUP: The Ocean Conservancy is sponsoring an international ocean cleanup Sept. 17. The idea is to assemble volunteers from all U.S. states and territories to clean shorelines. According to the conservancy, the cleanup will improve the health of beaches and waterways and give scientists information about the marine debris problem. Locally, there will be a cleanup at Spa Beach in St. Petersburg. For more check out www.oceanconservancy.org

NEW REGULATIONS: Every six months the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission comes out with its recreational saltwater fishing regulations. The July, 2005 version can be accessed at www.marinefisheries.org/lines.htm

[Last modified August 19, 2005, 09:35:50]