18 Months in the Making… and It Finally Happened
- By: Luke Simonds
- on
- Found In: Fishing Tips, Conservation, Conservation, Weekly Newsletter: 09-21-25
This was a BIG day for conservation in Tampa Bay…
Salt Strong Alliance has officially completed its first DRIVE For Clean Water restoration project, placing 20 oyster catcher mats along the Courtney Campbell Causeway!
This project has been 18 months in the making and marks a major milestone for the Alliance’s mission to restore habitat, improve water quality, and keep our coastal waters fishable for years to come.
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Salt Strong Chapters are boots on the ground for conservation. From habitat restoration to shoreline cleanups, our members are making a difference in their local waters every day.
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Salt Strong Alliance partnered with Tampa Bay Estuary Program, Florida DOT, and Faller, Davis & Associates to make this first-of-its-kind project happen — and the results are inspiring:
- Water Filtering Power: Once established, the 20 oyster catcher mats are expected to clean 265,000 gallons of water every single day, improving clarity across Tampa Bay.
- Habitat Restoration: These mats provide prime substrate for oysters to attach, creating new habitat for baitfish, crabs, and gamefish, and helping stabilize the shoreline.
- Future Impact: This is just the first of 18 projects planned for the area, all aimed at restoring habitat, improving water quality, and making Tampa Bay a healthier place to fish, boat, and explore.
This is a perfect example of how smart, forward-thinking projects can protect our coastlines and give back to the environment at the same time. Learn more about Salt Strong Alliance and discover how you can get involved in the conservation projects they’re leading. And don’t miss their Skiff Giveaway, every entry helps fund these efforts!
Tight lines,
Luke Simonds
Chief Fishing Addict
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STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
Great work. Let’s expand into other states!
Great job! When did this happen?
Awesome
Congratulations and a Job Very Well Done …… ! First step into many more exciting projects I hope …. !!
If we get one of the chapters in the Aransas County of Texas to do something like this I would definitely like to participate in it.
Great job guys 👍
I wish your area well fortunately you for my area of northeast fl jacksonville st augustine we have plenty of oysters and our waterways are in pretty good shape except for the fact when both hurricanes mathew then erms came through here back to back it did wipe out certain sections of the st johns river that had a small amount of seagrass but unfortunaly I have talked to numerous fwc officers in the past since the hurricanes and there is no plan on any restoration projects in the future unlike where your location on the gulf coast where hurricanes are more prevalent and numerous marine conservation groups work at your area is constantly being damaged by either red tides or tropical storms or hurricanes and I also believe the gulf coast regions revenue from inshore saltwater fishing is higher thus these marine conservation groups can get more funding anyways in reality the whole state and all the southeast coast needs help with environmental issues and water quality is always a big factor so good on you guys and gals for making a difference because if no one does the futures children will have a pretty sad world to inherit and live in thanks for all you do🤔😉👍
Sounds likeSounds like a great project.Wonderful thing that we can all feel good about.Being involved in would love to see it happen within.We’re all the local chapters are.I know.It’s very important where I live here in the Galveston Bay area.It be great to see.It happens so so thumbs up , keep up the good work folks
It’s really cool. And to hear there are a number of OTHER projects planned? Exciting stiff for Tampa Bay! We need some of those oysters beds over here near Boca Ceiga Millenium Park in Seminole! 🙂
Go Team Salt Strong!
Congratulations to Darlene and the entire team! I’m proud of all you’ve accomplished and excited to see the great work still ahead.
Inspirational!