Tampa Bay Watch, in partnership with Tampa Bay Estuary Program, is inviting volunteer snorkelers to participate in the Great Bay Scallop Search.
The majority of the Scallop Search volunteers are required to have a boat to participate. As a snorkeler without a boat, your participation depends on a boater having room for you aboard their vessel. If you have a friend who's registered as a boater and you'll be on their boat, you do not need to register on this page.The completion of this registration does not guarantee you a spot in the event. We'll be in touch ASAP to let you know if we were able to match you with a boater.
This year, we'll have three meeting locations: Fort De Soto Park, Grandview Park, and Emerson Point in Manatee County where participants will report to each site at 9 AM to receive survey equipment and instructions for the monitoring event. We'll treat everyone to a free lunch and a commemorative t-shirt upon your return to the boat ramp.
The Scallop Search has been held annually since 1993 with a goal to monitor and document the health and status of the bay scallop population. Read more about the Scallop Search. At each site, a weighted transect line of 50 meters in length is laid along seagrass beds. Snorkelers count scallops along each side of the transect line, within one meter of each side, creating a 100 square meter survey area.
Sign up fast for this popular event and help us tally up the bay scallop population in Tampa Bay!
The number that you enter below indicates the total number of snorkelers in your party. Thank you!