The operation of an otter trawl net is a fairly straightforward endeavor. The net itself is in the shape of a funnel, tied at the small end in order to trap fish and other organisms that might enter.

In the Tampa Bay Estuary the pink shrimp is the most abundant species of shrimp that is collected.

Imagine you’re taking a walk at a nearby park or beach and come across an unfamiliar plant or animal. With a quick snap of a photo on your smartphone, you can not only identify the species but also contribute to important scientific research.

Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees that thrive in tropical and subtropical coastal areas, such as the Tampa Bay Estuary and Biscayne Bay.

Named for its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf toadfish is one of about 80 species of toadfish worldwide and is endemic to the Gulf—meaning it's only found here, with no known sightings in the Caribbean.

Caribbean Hermit Crabs, also known as Purple Pinchers, are one of 600 species of hermit crabs.

One of the most popular fish we find during our eco-tours is the pinfish and even though we can get bored of seeing pinfish they are actually super important!

The mangroves that line much of the shoreline of the Bay create a habitat for marine life, especially fish. Today I want to tell you about a fish that shares its name with the mangroves they call home – Mangrove Snapper.

The Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center educates guests on seahorses, pipefish, and Tampa Bay Watch’s restoration work and research in partnership with Project Seahorse.

Among the many exhibits on display at the Discovery Center, one of the more mysterious animals is located in the touch tank. In the deep section, most likely buried under the sand, is the Gold-Spotted Snake Eel.

Mangroves protect our shorelines from storms by absorbing wind and wave energy. The Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center has a demonstration of this at its living shoreline exhibit.

Be extra careful of where you tread this time of year: there could be hundreds of baby turtles right under your feet!

Whether amateur or professional, any aquarist is familiar with the struggle to maintain water quality in their tanks.

Today we’re going to be learning a little bit more about a special fish, called the Hogfish!

Students at Shorecrest Preparatory School were recently presented with a unique challenge — to produce a short video about the Tampa Bay watershed. Despite poor weather conditions and limited class time, they created excellent work. You can view the results and learn a few interesting facts about our local ecosystem below!

Our fall internships are in full swing! What kinds of things will you learn during an internship with Tampa Bay Watch? It’s best if you hear it straight from the source, so we asked.

Get ready for the goosebumps! Fall means new tours, stories, and fun aboard The Discovery!

In the three years since its opening, the Discovery Center (DC) has grown a staggering amount. Not so much in square footage, in impact. With a mission to foster a healthy Tampa Bay watershed through restoration and education, the DC team is pushing forward each year with new classes, field trips, exhibits, and determination to make marine science accessible to everyone.

Our fall/winter internship program is robust and if you or someone you know is considering a career in marine conservation, environmental science, or biology - we have amazing opportunities for hands-on experiences. The skill sets learned with Tampa Bay Watch could lead to elevated resumes and even jobs!

Why are we scared of sharks? Chances are you’ve seen a shark-related movie and at least some of your feelings about these large ocean predators stem from what you saw. There’s even a term for it; the “Jaws effect”.