Home About Our Estuaries Our Programs Get Involved Library Visit our Facebook page Visit our YouTube channel Visit our Instagram page HomeGet InvolvedRecreationBoating Boating Sarasota Bay is a long, protected lagoon that invites boaters to explore. This enjoyable pastime plays an important role in our local and state economy. In 2013, recreational boating contributed $10.4 billion and 82,752 jobs to Florida's economy. Boating with Seagrass Sarasota Bay is shallow, and about half of it is covered in seagrass. Seagrasses are aquatic flowering plants that grow in meadows teeming with wildlife. These habitats are very important to our economy, fishing industry, and they provide protection from storms. When boaters run too shallow over seagrass beds, they can rip out grasses and cause propeller scars, or prop scars. Scarred areas can take years to grow back. Sometimes they never do. Boaters can help protect seagrasses by following a few simple steps. Tips to Avoid Seagrass Know Your Tides Stay in the Channel Wear Polarized Sunglasses Tilt Your Engine in 2.5ft or Less Look for Water Color Blue = deeper Green = shallower Brown = bad You're stirring up the bottom! If You Get Stuck 1. Stop your engine and tilt it up Expand 2. Use a pole or paddle Expand 3. Get off and push your boat Expand 4. Call for help Expand Sarasota Bay Map & Waterway Guide Click to see a map of seagrass areas, dockside restaurants, and natural points of interest. Interested in distributing maps or installing a Be Seagrass Safe sign at your location? Contact Christine Quigley. Read more about seagrass safe boating at Florida Sea Grant Be Seagrass Safe. Boating Guides Boater's Guide to Manatee County Boating and Angling Guide to North Sarasota County Boating and Angling Guide to South Sarasota County Sarasota Bay Estuary Program 111 S. Orange Avenue, Suite 200W Sarasota, Florida 34236 941-955-8085 941-955-8081 Join Our Mailing List Report Pollution Email SBEP Staff Public Meetings Sitemap Visit our Facebook page Visit our YouTube Channel Visit our Instagram page Search for: The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program is dedicated to restoring the area's greatest natural asset - Sarasota Bay. We offer special thanks to our partners: Sarasota County, Manatee County, City of Sarasota, City of Bradenton, Town of Longboat Key, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Southwest Florida Water Management District. Copyright ©2021 Sarasota Bay Estuary Program. All Rights Reserved. Website Maintenance by WPTechGuru | Report a Problem