Join Marine Resource Specialist Paul Christian to discover the intricacies of life in a Georgia estuary. Stock assessment, fisheries-independent and fisheries dependent information, creel and bag limits, and general biological information about the fish will be presented. Georgia's coastal zone includes nearly 500,000 acres of salt marsh wetlands which provide habitat for countless invertebrate and vertebrate organisms. Join photographer and naturalist Robert Overman for a look at the wading birds which live in, and utilize, these rich resources. Join a fisheries biologist to learn about the animals that follow commercial shrimp boats for food and play.
Manatees are the gentle giants of the coast.
These slow moving large marine mammals spend their days grazing marine and aquatic vegetation belying there relationship to their closest land relative the elephant. This program taught by Cathy Sakas, Marine Educator at Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, presents the life history of this docile creature through video footage, stories of personal encounters and Manatee bones and skull. Cathy will also discuss the reasons these floating mega Idaho potato-like creatures have become endangered and what students can do to help them survive. The North Atlantic Right Whale is the most endangered whale in the world with approximately 350 members left in its population. Cathy Sakas, Marine Educator at Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, will present the life history of the Right Whale through video footage, slides, bones, skulls, personal encounters and preserved specimens.