Sarasota Bay Watch Inc

What Sarasota Bay Watch Inc does

Sarasota Bay Watch Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2008 and headquartered in Osprey, Florida, that restores and protects coastal ecosystems in the Sarasota Bay region. Its core programs span marine debris cleanup (underwater and shoreline), shellfish restoration focused on the native Southern Hard Shell Clam (Mercenaria campechiensis), and vegetative/island restoration across sites including Jim Neville Marine Preserve (104 acres), Sister Keys, and Big Edwards Island. The organization holds Florida's first underwater restoration lease — a 4.5-acre aquaculture site granted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in 2022 — which supports clam population recovery and scientific research collaboration with Mote Marine Laboratory, New College of Florida, and the Gulf Shellfish Institute. Underlying "technology" is biological rather than digital: volunteer labor, certified divers, kayakers, and topside crews execute hands-on restoration, with monitoring performed via citizen-science protocols (bird counts, scallop transects, dive-based clam surveys). The website runs on WordPress with Google Analytics 4 for visitor analytics; no proprietary software platforms, applications, or AI systems are disclosed.

The organization is governed by an independent Board of Directors and led by Executive Director Ronda Ryan, who has served since its inception. Educational and engagement programs include a Youth Leadership Program operating on the August–May school calendar across six area high schools (Pine View, Booker, Riverview, Venice, Sarasota, Out-of-Door Academy), an after-school marine camp for elementary students taught by Youth Leaders, and citizen science events such as the annual Scallop Search and the Jim Neville Bird Monitoring Project. In March 2024, the Roberts Bay Revitalization Initiative was incorporated as the organization's Southern District, expanding geographic coverage into southern Sarasota County. Recent leadership succession placed Dr. Sam Bedgood (Assistant Professor of Biology, New College of Florida) as the new clam program steward on the board, succeeding Ernesto Lasso de la Vega who stepped down in 2026 after leading the shellfish program since 2019.

Sarasota Bay Watch generates no product or service revenue; all operating funds come from individual donations, fundraising events (e.g., Scallopalooza), foundation grants, and corporate sponsorships from local businesses (Benderson Development, Gold Coast Eagle Distributing, MarVista, CCA, Gecko's Hospitality, Reef Innovations) and regional foundations (Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Mote Scientific Foundation). Volunteer participation is free, and high school students earn community service hours. Distribution is purely regional (Sarasota Bay area, Florida) and direct-to-participant via on-water cleanup and restoration events; marketing is community-led through Facebook, Instagram (@srqbaywatch), the sarasotabaywatch.org website, email, and word-of-mouth across school, dive club, and partner networks.

Name

Sarasota Bay Watch Inc

Legal name

Sarasota Bay Watch Inc

Website

https://sarasotabaywatch.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Sarasota Bay Watch Inc is a Florida-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2008 that restores Sarasota Bay coastal ecosystems through volunteer-driven marine debris cleanup, shellfish restoration, and habitat recovery, serving community volunteers and high school students via its Youth Leadership Program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Habitat Restoration Services

NAICS

Aquaculture (11251), Shellfish Fishing (114112)

SIC

Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

Keywords

• Marine habitat restoration
• Marine debris cleanup
• Shellfish restoration
• Youth environmental education
• Coastal conservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Osprey

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization operates as a nonprofit that raises funds through donations, fundraising events such as Scallopalooza, and community support. Revenue is used to fund restoration projects, youth programs, and operational costs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sarasota Bay Watch is a community-driven nonprofit organization that restores Sarasota Bay coastal habitats, removes marine debris, and operates youth-led marine science and stewardship programs. The organization delivers hands-on environmental restoration through volunteer cleanup events, native clam and vegetative restoration, and a Youth Leadership Program that trains high school students in marine conservation.

Product overview

Sarasota Bay Watch Inc operates as a community-focused nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring and protecting coastal ecosystems through hands-on, volunteer-driven programs. The organization offers a portfolio of environmental restoration services including marine debris cleanup, shellfish restoration, and vegetative/island restoration. Complementing these core programs are educational initiatives such as the Youth Leadership Program, Scallop Search citizen science events, and the Youth Leader Marine Camp. These programs work together to engage community members of all ages in bay stewardship while monitoring ecosystem health through bird surveys and scallop counts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Marine Debris Cleanup Community-driven underwater and shoreline cleanup programs that remove marine debris, trash, fishing line, and plastics from Sarasota Bay, protecting local waterways and wildlife. Free volunteer participation by certified divers, kayakers, and topside crew.
• Shellfish Restoration Restoration of native Southern Hard Shell Clam (Mercenaria campechiensis) populations to create self-sustaining communities that filter water and remove excess nutrients. Operates on the state's first underwater restoration lease, a 4.5-acre aquaculture lease from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
• Vegetative and Island Habitat Restoration Habitat restoration programs at Sister Keys, Big Edwards Island, and the 104-acre Jim Neville Marine Preserve involving removal of invasive species and debris followed by native plantings to attract pollinators and birds and foster biodiversity.
• Youth Leadership Program Youth outreach and environmental education program for high school students running on the school year calendar (August through May). Participants gain hands-on conservation experience through restoration projects, marine debris cleanup, and shellfish restoration, and earn community service hours.
• Scallop Search Annual community science event in which volunteer snorkelers count scallops and record data on shellfish, seagrass, and marine life as indicators of water quality and bay health.
• Youth Leader Marine Camp After-school marine camp at Phillippi Elementary and other locations where Youth Leaders teach elementary students about marine conservation, building leadership skills and environmental awareness in younger generations.
• Jim Neville Bird Monitoring Project Citizen science initiative where Youth Leaders and Audubon Society volunteer birders track bird activity at Jim Neville Marine Preserve to measure the impact of long-term restoration efforts and guide native planting decisions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 18,000+ pounds of debris removed from Sarasota Bay in 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

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

• Mote Marine LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for shellfish restoration and marine ecosystem studies. Collaborated on Whelk Derby event. Ernesto Lasso de la Vega appeared on 'Changing Seas' TV program as partner in research with Mote to evaluate clam restoration.
• New College of FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Sam Bedgood serves as Assistant Professor of Biology and Board member. Research partnership on shellfish restoration, seagrass recovery, and coastal ecosystems. Reagan Dehn is a board member studying marine biology there.
• Mote Scientific FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor of Sarasota Bay Watch restoration and education initiatives.
• Gulf Shellfish InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in shellfish restoration research and aquaculture development. Collaborates on clam restoration program research and data sharing.
• Sarasota CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for Jim Neville Marine Preserve restoration efforts. John Ryan serves as environmental scientist for Sarasota County Government.
• City of SarasotamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner providing dumpster for debris disposal at cleanup events. Collaborates on waterfront cleanup initiatives.
• Audubon SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer birders conduct bird counts to monitor restoration success and guide restoration planning at Jim Neville Marine Preserve.
• Sarasota Police DepartmentmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupplies boats and personnel to maintain safe perimeter for divers during underwater cleanup events.
• Sarasota Bay Estuary ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner in cleanup events and estuary restoration initiatives.
• Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer ServicescoreOthersGranted Sarasota Bay Watch the state's first underwater restoration lease for clam restoration (4.5 acres).
• Scuba QuestminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDive equipment partner and participant in underwater cleanup events.
• Gecko's Hospitality GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner supporting cleanup events.
• Aqua LungminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrian Jung is Regional Sales Manager; company provides dive equipment support.
• Shumaker Loop and Kendrick LLPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrandon serves as business litigation associate; law firm supports organization.
• Bay Shellfish CominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Sam Bedgood previously worked as Director of Microalgae and Research Development; partner in shellfish research.
• Reef InnovationsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting restoration initiatives.
• MarVista Dockside Restaurant & PubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting the organization.
• Bubbles of HopeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Sarasota Bay Watch on Whelk Derby event at clam lease site.
• Coastal Conservation Association (CCA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting conservation initiatives.
• Sun Coast Reef RoversminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDive club partner for cleanup events including Venice South Jetty cleanup.
• Florida Sea GrantcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerErnesto Lasso de la Vega serves on Florida Sea Grant Advisory Board; collaborates on shellfish research.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Save the Sound: A Northeast U.S. estuarine restoration nonprofit with a comparable model of community-driven cleanup, habitat restoration, and citizen-science monitoring in a different geography (Long Island Sound).
• Indian River Lagoon Council / Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program: Public-private estuarine restoration and stewardship body for the Indian River Lagoon in east-central Florida. Comparable mission of community-driven estuary restoration in a different Florida geography.

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy (Florida Chapter): A global conservation nonprofit with active Florida coastal and marine programs. Comparable in marine/coastal habitat restoration focus but operates across a much broader portfolio.
• National Audubon Society: A large national conservation nonprofit; Sarasota Bay Watch's Audubon Society partner runs bird counts at Jim Neville Marine Preserve. Overlaps in habitat-driven conservation and citizen-science but operates across a much broader mission.
• Coastal Conservation Association (CCA): National marine conservation organization focused on coastal habitat and fisheries conservation; existing corporate sponsor of Sarasota Bay Watch. Overlaps in coastal habitat advocacy but serves recreational angler constituency at a much larger scale.
• Chesapeake Bay Foundation: A large, well-established estuarine restoration nonprofit operating across the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Comparable mission model (community-driven bay restoration, youth education, debris cleanup) but at a much larger scale and different geography.

Direct peers

• Gulf Shellfish Institute: A nonprofit specializing in shellfish restoration research and aquaculture development along the Gulf Coast; a current Sarasota Bay Watch partner. Direct peer in the niche shellfish restoration space.
• Tampa Bay Watch: A Tampa-based nonprofit with a nearly identical operating model: community-driven bay restoration, marine debris cleanups, oyster and seagrass restoration, and youth education programs in an adjacent Florida estuary. Most direct functional and geographic peer.
• Mote Marine Laboratory: Sarasota-based marine research institution and active Sarasota Bay Watch partner. Comparable in marine ecosystem research focus and overlapping programs in shellfish restoration, aquaculture science, and coastal ecosystem monitoring in the same geography.
• Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF): A marine conservation nonprofit operating a major volunteer citizen-science program (fish surveys) comparable in structure to Sarasota Bay Watch's Scallop Search and bird monitoring programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/101138610905
• Instagraminstagram.com/srqbaywatch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Watch Inc