Funds still needed for Wildflower tarpon project

The Island School’s Karoline Bellamy created this T-shirt logo. She is a fourth grade at the school.

Lemon Bay Conservancy is working closely with the Boca Grande Chamber and Capt. Sandy Melvin as a “conservation partner” for the big four-day set of tarpon tournaments and the festival from May 17-20. The Lemon Bay Conservancy will be selling children’s tarpon tournament T-shirts on Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20, at the street festival.

These kid’s tarpon tournament T-shirts are very unique and special, as they were designed by a child attending The Island School, fourth grader Karoline Bellamy. The shirts were donated by Capt. Sandy Melvin to help fund the Wildflower Tarpon Project Student Intern Scholarship program.  

Lemon Bay Conservancy’s logo is on the front and a tarpon design is on the back.  

The first major step in the implementation of Lemon Bay Conservancy’s newest project has taken place, toward a goal of conservation and improvement of tarpon and snook habitat. Scientists will be able to begin on-site scientific tagging and tracking of the existing natural juvenile tarpon populations at Wildflower beginning late this summer, with the goal of gradually improving their habitat in our three saltwater Lemon Creek ponds.  

“We are still actively seeking more donations for this unique University of Florida Mote biology student scholarship program study that will be taking place right here in our backyard, with a goal of improving our area’s Lemon Bay and Boca Grande tarpon population over the next 50-plus years,” said Jim Cooper, Lemon Bay Conservancy president. “It is a true legacy project.”

By continuing the program after restoration, they will provide the first data on the effects of juvenile tarpon habitat restoration on juvenile tarpon.

Of the $120,000 needed to support the monitoring and tagging program, the Conservancy has raised $64,000.