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Exploring Oysters & Seagrass with Preserving Paradise Program
On Sept. 3, SCCF and our partners at Captains for Clean Water, the Everglades Foundation, and the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce hosted the third day of Preserving Paradise.
A new initiative that aims to empower local business leaders for economic and ecological success by immersing them in water quality science and advocacy, the 20+ leaders in the program were selected through an application process.
Following a tour of SCCF’s Marine Lab at Tarpon Bay, the cohort got out into the field! Aboard an Adventures in Paradise vessel, program participants enjoyed the morning on the water learning about SCCF’s River, Estuary, and Coastal Observing Network (RECON), visiting a restored oyster reef, and trawling for fish within seagrass habitats. SCCF Marine Lab Director Eric Milbrandt, Ph.D. was alongside guiding the group on the R/V Norma Campbell.
Participants then spent the afternoon at Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille discussing legislative advocacy as it pertains to Everglades restoration and water quality in our region.
They heard presentations from Keely Weyker, director of engagement & outreach at the Everglades Foundation, James Evans, CEO of SCCF, Allie Pecenka, policy associate at SCCF, and Jessica Pinsky, director of policy at Captains for Clean Water.
Weyker discussed the ongoing need to advocate for federal funding for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, the multi-billion dollar Everglades restoration plan first passed by Congress in 2000. Evans and Pecenka focused on agency advocacy for the Everglades and regional water quality, while Pinsky explored how businesses can be instrumental players in getting legislators to support environmental causes.
Next on the Preserving Paradise agenda — a fishing day and further exploration of water quality and biodiversity in the Caloosahatchee Estuary on Sept. 17, followed by a tour of the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir on Oct. 1.