Phillippi Creek Residents Asked to Help Spy on 'Neighbors'

SARASOTA, FL – The Mote Marine Laboratory is hoping to get some help from residents along Phillippi Creek by keeping tabs on their neighbors – their underwater neighbors, that is.

Mote scientists are seeking waterfront access and logistical support as they study the habitats that juvenile snook of the Sarasota Bay fishery prefer. They will release hatchery-raised common snook to document whether the fish prefer natural shorelines (marsh, mangroves, etc.), clear areas of human made seawall, seawall with aquatic plants or a mosaic or all three types.

The results will help scientists discover how well the creek supports native fish and how resource managers could enhance its benefits.

Within the next 30 days, with the permission and assistance of waterfront property owners, Mote scientists look to investigate the following questions:

• Do snook disperse more rapidly when released along seawall?
• Does survival differ among release habitats?
• When snook are in a given stretch of creek, what proportion of time do they spend along these habitat types?

Phillippi Creek is an estuarine tidal creek system that drains approximately 60 square miles within the Sarasota Bay watershed. Along its 7-mile length are parks, businesses and residences offering diverse habitats for young snook.

“We want to make tidal creeks more fish-friendly to support healthy populations of snook and preserve the economic and ecological benefits of fisheries in the Sarasota Bay region,” said Dr. Ryan Schloesser, postdoctoral scientist at Mote. “Tidal creeks provide habitat for juvenile and adult snook and other sport fishes. However, Sarasota County is above average in its proportion of harden shorelines, which have the potential to negatively affect fish and invertebrates. The community has shown interest in making sure that local shorelines are wildlife-friendly, so we want to work with local residents to study how fish use these habitats.”

How Phillippi Creek residents can help

Mote is seeking waterfront access and assistance from residents in the following locations along Phillippi Creek:

• Upper creek sites, Location 1: Area around Mineola Drive, including Jaffa Drive, Valencia Drive and Orchid Oaks Drive.
• Upper creek sites, Location 2: Area around River Ridge Drive, including Brink Avenue, Hyde Park Street and Tanglewood Drive.
• Lower creek sites, Location 1: Area around Admiral Place and Way, Riverwood Avenue and the waterfront portions of Riverbluff Parkway, Ashton Road, Burlington Lane, Portland Street and Marblehead Drive.
• Lower creek sites, Location 2: Palos Verdes Drive, Watson Road, Michele Drive, Montclair Place and America Drive.

Creekside residents not listed in these areas can also contact Mote in case the project expands to other areas of Phillippi Creek.

Mote will monitor how released snook move through the environment by tagging the fish with passive integrated transponders, similar to the microchips used for cats and dogs. At selected sites onshore, Mote researchers will place special antenna arrays that detect any tagged snook passing within range.

If a residence is selected, the homeowner can expect:

• The placement of an attenna/antenna array near the water, requiring several square feet of space onshore for the duration of the study. The study is expected to last one year, but it can extend as long as homeowners are willing to cooperate.
• Temporary acclimation cage in the water to hold released fish for about three days.
• Mote scientists will visit the site briefly about once a month to download data and maintain antennas.
• Scientists will need water or land access to the antenna.
• Residents will be asked to record any large disturbances (storms, etc.) on a datasheet provided by Mote, and dissuade anyone from tampering with the equipment.

The South Gate Community Association was an early supporter of Mote’s efforts.

“Our board was excited about the prospect of Mote research occurring in our neighborhood,” said Virginia Miller, a member of the association’s board and a 19-year volunteer at Mote. “We are pleased that the creek in our community is receiving this positive attention as an important place for research that aims to keep Sarasota Bay fisheries healthy.”

Mote scientists plan to share their results with residents who participate and ultimately with the broader community. They will communicate with organizations such as Sarasota County’s Stormwater Environmental Utility and the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, which carry out related efforts designed to improve conditions in Phillippi Creek and other local bodies of water.

“We want the community to interested and involved because the findings of this research apply to the community as a whole,” Schloesser said.

The research is funded through Mote’s Fisheries Conservation and Enhancement Initiative, which has received support from Carol and Barney Barnett, leadership donors to Mote’s Oceans of Opportunity campaign.

For homeowners interested in participating in the study, e-mail Schloesser at rschloesser@mote.org.

Images courtesy of Mote Marine Laboratory

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