What Sarasota Bay Estuary Program does

Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) is a nonprofit cooperative partnership among communities, researchers, and governments, federally designated as an Estuary of National Significance under the U.S. EPA's National Estuary Program. Founded in 1986 and headquartered at 111 S. Orange Avenue, Suite 200W in Sarasota, Florida, the organization coordinates multi-jurisdictional bay management across Sarasota and Manatee counties through a formalized Management Conference structure (Policy Board, Management Board, Technical Advisory Committee, Citizens Advisory Committee). SBEP's core programmatic surface comprises four integrated programs: Water Quality (nutrient monitoring and stormwater management), Habitat Restoration (living shorelines, seagrass, oyster reefs, coastal wetlands), Community Engagement (volunteer events, paddle tours, festivals), and Environmental Education (field trips, classroom tech kits, educator workshops), supplemented by citizen science initiatives (Eyes on Seagrass, Vertical Oyster Gardens) and the Bay Partners Grants program (up to $4,000 per project; over $300,000 awarded to 80+ area organizations since 2003).

SBEP's underlying technical platform centers on an annual Ecosystem Health Report Card that tracks nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, macroalgae, and seagrass metrics across five bay segments, with reference conditions anchored in a 2006-2012 drought period and baselines set at roughly half of regulatory impairment thresholds. Core technical capabilities include seagrass and macroalgae field assessment, tidal creek water quality studies (in collaboration with EPA Region 4 Science and Ecosystem Support Division), and living shoreline engineering executed with partners such as Cummins Cederberg Coastal & Marine Engineering. The 100-acre F.I.S.H. Preserve restoration, spanning 23 years, demonstrates long-horizon project execution via restoration contractors (Earthbalance) and academic collaborators (University of South Carolina, Mote Marine Laboratory, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission FIM program).

SBEP is funded entirely through grants and cooperative agreements rather than commercial sales. Revenue sources include federal funding from the U.S. EPA, state funding from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Southwest Florida Water Management District, county funding from Sarasota and Manatee counties, municipal partners (City of Sarasota, City of Bradenton, Town of Longboat Key), Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act pass-through funding, foundation grants (Gulf Coast Community Foundation), and community grants redistributed to local nonprofits. The organization distributed $2.53M in funding across bay science, restoration, and community outreach in 2025, and announced $70,000 in Bay Partners Grants in the Summer 2026 newsletter. Operational scale is small (1-10 employees, including Executive Director Dr. Ryan Gandy, Director of Planning and Communications Darcy Young, Staff Scientist Dr. Jay Leverone, and Science and Outreach Specialist Sophie), with significant technical and volunteer labor delivered through partner organizations and the Bay Guardians volunteer program.

Name

Sarasota Bay Estuary Program

Legal name

Sarasota Bay Estuary Program

Website

https://sarasotabay.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sarasota Bay Estuary Program is a federally designated nonprofit partnership coordinating bay restoration, water quality monitoring, habitat restoration, and environmental education across Sarasota and Manatee counties, Florida, funded primarily through federal, state, county, and municipal government grants and cooperative agreements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Services

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI), Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI), Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK), Breakwaters, Seawalls & Coastal Defense Structures (IMAFAJAC)

Keywords

• Estuary management
• Water quality monitoring
• Habitat restoration
• Environmental education
• Citizen science

Headquarters

HQ city

Sarasota

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Partnerships: SBEP receives funding from federal, state, and local government partners including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Southwest Florida Water Management District, Sarasota County, and Manatee County. The program also manages Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding for restoration projects.
2. Sarasota Bay Partners Grants: Community grant program providing up to $4,000 to local organizations for habitat restoration, water quality improvement, and environmental education projects. Since 2003, over $300,000 awarded to support Bay-friendly projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

SBEP coordinates the science, restoration, and community stewardship of Sarasota Bay through water quality monitoring, habitat restoration (including living shorelines and seagrass recovery), environmental education, and a citizen science network. It also administers the Bay Partners Grants program that funds nonprofit and community projects, and publishes an annual Ecosystem Health Report Card that functions as an early-warning indicator for the five bay systems.

Product overview

Sarasota Bay Estuary Program operates as a unified environmental conservation organization offering multiple interconnected programs rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offerings include Water Quality, Habitat Restoration, Community Engagement, and Environmental Education programs, supported by citizen science initiatives (Eyes on Seagrass, Vertical Oyster Gardens), the Bay Partners Grants funding program, and the Ecosystem Health Report Card monitoring tool. The organization also maintains a Library of technical and educational resources. All programs work together toward the shared mission of improving Sarasota Bay health through science-based restoration, community participation, and environmental education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water Quality Program Monitoring and improving water quality in Sarasota Bay through scientific assessment, nutrient reduction, and stormwater management initiatives for partner government agencies and community stakeholders.
• Habitat Restoration Program Restoring and enhancing wildlife habitats including living shorelines, seagrass beds, oyster reefs, and coastal ecosystems throughout the Sarasota Bay watershed.
• Community Engagement Program Connecting the community to Sarasota Bay through volunteer events, recreation activities, citizen science initiatives, and bay-friendly living education programs.
• Environmental Education Program Educational outreach including field trips, classroom tech kits, and educator workshops that teach students and teachers about bay ecosystems and environmental stewardship.
• Eyes on Seagrass Bi-annual citizen science initiative engaging volunteers to collect data on macroalgae and seagrass coverage throughout Sarasota Bay to inform ecosystem health assessments.
• Vertical Oyster Gardens Volunteer program engaging community members in growing oysters that filter bay water and provide habitat, supporting both water quality improvement and ecological restoration.
• Bay Partners Grants Program Funding program providing up to $4,000 per project to local nonprofits, schools, and civic associations for habitat restoration, water quality improvement, and bay-related environmental education.
• Ecosystem Health Report Card Annual assessment tool tracking four key ecosystem health indicators (nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, macroalgae, and seagrass) across five bay segments with reference baselines set at approximately half of regulatory impairment thresholds.

Quantifiable outcome

• 24% seagrass increase in northern bay segments in 2024, approaching historic highs
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• 14 Regional Organizations (Midnight Pass Workshop)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2026Collaborative research network including researchers, agency representatives, local government officials, and stakeholders convened for Midnight Pass Science Workshop to share ongoing research and identify knowledge gaps.
• Cortez Village Historical SocietymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 January 2026Nonprofit partner for 'It Takes a Village' initiative connecting Cortez working waterfront to healthy bay. Received environmental education grant for bay-friendly practices outreach.
• Cummins Cederberg Coastal & Marine EngineeringmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2025Engineering firm providing coastal and marine engineering expertise for Rose Park Living Shoreline project. Responsible for Phase I design, permitting, and Phase II construction oversight.
• EPA Region 4 Science and Ecosystem Support DivisionmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 July 2017EPA scientists assisted SBEP tidal creek water quality study, sampling South Creek (Sarasota), Frog Creek (Manatee), and Sweetwater Creek (Hillsborough) for sediment nutrient flux and dissolved oxygen dynamics.
• Sarasota CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government partner in cooperative bay management. Provides funding, hosts restoration projects, and participates in Policy Board and Management Board governance structure. Collaborates on stormwater management, watershed planning, and living shoreline implementation.
• Manatee CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government partner providing funding, land management at preserves like Robinson Preserve and Rose Park, and Policy Board representation. Collaborates on stormwater retrofits and habitat restoration across county holdings.
• U.S. Environmental Protection AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal oversight agency designating Sarasota Bay as Estuary of National Significance. Provides Climate Ready Estuaries funding, Wetland Program Development Grants, and regulatory framework for water quality standards.
• Southwest Florida Water Management DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState water management partner providing funding for restoration projects, cooperative funding agreements, and technical expertise. Supports SWIM program seagrass mapping and tidal creek studies.
• Florida Department of Environmental ProtectioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState regulatory partner for pollution response, algae bloom monitoring, and water quality standards. Collaborates on watershed management plans for Sarasota Bay and Little Sarasota Bay.
• City of SarasotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner for bay management, stormwater infrastructure, and living shoreline pilot projects at Bayfront Park. Participates in Management Board governance.
• City of BradentoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner for bay management and GT Bray Park restoration projects totaling $900,000 in stormwater retrofits.
• Town of Longboat KeycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner hosting Bayfront Park Living Seawall project funded through Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Completed ribbon cutting October 2025.
• Mote Marine LaboratorymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScientific research partner for artificial reef monitoring, living seawall studies (two-year comparison research), fish tagging programs, and tidal creek nutrient studies.
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation CommissionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState wildlife agency providing Fisheries Independent Monitoring (FIM) program data since 2009, red tide sampling, and species research. FIM report tracks snook, redfish, and seatrout populations.
• Florida Maritime MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partner supporting Cortez initiative to preserve fishing village heritage and estuary connection.
• Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit championing FISH Preserve protection. Completed 100-acre preserve restoration after 23 years. Pays tribute to grassroots fundraising including commercial fishing festivals.
• Sarasota Bay WatchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for living seawall projects and bay advocacy. Larry Stults noted as area leader in softening seawalls to create marine habitat.
• Reefball FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for living seawall and artificial reef projects using reef ball technology to create aquatic habitat along hardened shorelines.
• Marie Selby Botanical GardenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner collaborating on Gulf Coast Innovation Challenge proposal and living seawall demonstration project at Bayfront Park.
• Science and Environment Council of Southwest FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScientific consortium partner for climate vulnerability assessment workshop and Mobile Phone Tour at Bayfront Park living shoreline.
• Gulf Coast Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided Gulf Coast Innovation Challenge grant as inspiration and startup funding for living seawall pilot project at Bayfront Park.
• EarthbalancecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRestoration contracting firm implementing FISH Preserve restoration including exotic vegetation removal, wetland creation, and native species planting.
• University of South CarolinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution where Science and Outreach Specialist Sophie earned BS in Marine Science. Partnership for marine science education and workforce development.
• Karen Bell / A.P. Bell Fish Company / Star Fish CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommercial fishing business owner preserving Cortez properties for fishermen housing and maintaining working waterfront economy supporting bay-dependent livelihoods.
• Catalina Island Marine InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrior employer of new Science and Outreach Specialist where she gained marine science instruction experience before joining SBEP.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium: Sarasota-based marine research institute partnering with SBEP on living seawall and reef studies. Overlaps on applied science and restoration R&D in the same watershed but is research-driven, not program-driven.

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy - Florida Chapter: A global conservation major doing coastal restoration, oyster reef, and living shoreline work across Florida. Overlaps SBEP's habitat-restoration mission but operates at larger scale across broader geographies and taxa.
• Restore America's Estuaries: National coalition that advocates for and convenes all 28 NEPs including SBEP. Operates broadly across the same federal-designation ecosystem but is policy/advocacy-led rather than a single-bay implementer.

Direct peers

• Tampa Bay Watch: Community-based Tampa Bay nonprofit delivering habitat restoration, oyster reef building, and citizen science. Direct operational overlap with SBEP's volunteer, Eyes on Seagrass, and living-shoreline work, just in a neighboring bay.
• Sarasota Bay Watch: Local nonprofit leading living seawall work and bay advocacy in SBEP's own watershed. Closest operational peer on shoreline softening, oyster gardens, and citizen advocacy in Sarasota Bay.
• Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program: FL-based NEP focused on the Indian River Lagoon. Runs a closely comparable program of water quality, habitat restoration, Report Cards and citizen science in estuarine waters—functionally the same business model as SBEP.
• Tampa Bay Estuary Program: A fellow EPA National Estuary Program serving the neighboring Tampa Bay watershed. Closest comparable: identical NEP funding/designation model, same Florida coastal environmental quality focus, and shared scientific and policy networks with SBEP.
• Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership (CHNEP): Note: same entity as Charlotte Harbor above. Included for emphasis as one of the most directly comparable Florida NEP peers—same governance template, same funding mix, same resident audiences.
• Charlotte Harbor Estuary Program (CHNEP): Another Florida NEP covering Charlotte Harbor. Directly comparable NEP governance, science-based restoration, seagrass and water quality monitoring, and community grant program structure mirroring SBEP.

Others

• NOAA Office of Habitat Conservation: Federal agency that funds and regulates much of the restoration work SBEP supports. Adjacent enabler rather than competitor; useful reference for federal funding architecture and program design.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/sarasotabay
• Facebookfacebook.com/SarasotaBay
• Instagraminstagram.com/sarasotabayestuaryprogram

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sarasota Bay Estuary Program