All options are on the table for Mote Marine Laboratory’s proposed educational outreach center at the Anna Maria City Pier.
Mayor Dan Murphy said March 10 that Sarasota-based Infrastructure Solutions Services finished its inspection of the pier and found it fit to house live display tanks that previously came into question.
Mote agreed in September 2021 to lease the empty 1,800-square-foot empty space on the pier and has been planning the interior.
Mote’s options include one with four marine live display tanks featuring fish and crustaceans on view and a second option that replaces the live tanks with interactive media displays, such as a livestream underwater video at the pier.
Mote first proposed the live tank option but added a second option due to concerns about whether the pier structure could support the weight of live tanks.
Murphy said the inspection concluded that the pier’s design and condition were satisfactory for the live tank option. He said inspectors found small issues, such as spalling — when concrete peels or chips away from the surface — but nothing that would impact its structural integrity.
Murphy said he was set to meet with Mote representatives to review the inspection results and discuss the project.
He added that Mote may present its plans for the outreach center at the city’s next regular meeting on March 24.
Clam project
Murphy said commissioners also would revisit a proposed clam-seeding project at their next meeting.
The city earmarked $50,000 of $740,432 received from the U.S. American Rescue Plan to address environmental issues, including red tide.
A collection of four contractors, supported by Palmetto-based Gulf Shellfish Institute, a nonprofit that would provide collaborative oversight, proposed using the money to seed 1 million-2 million southern hard clams along the city’s northern shoreline on Tampa Bay and Bimini Bay.
Proponents believe seeding filter feeders such as clams could improve water quality, while detractors say they would make minimal impact.
The commission has explored the project at several meetings, invited guest speakers to discuss its scientific standing and directed staff to explore other options to remove nutrients from local water, such as adding stormwater infiltration trenches.
Murphy said local businessman/Sandbar Restaurant owner Ed Chiles, a GSI founding board member, would make his “last pitch” for the project at the commission’s next meeting.
“We’ve been talking about this for quite some time, and it’s time to come to a conclusion,” Murphy said.
The commission’s next regular meeting is at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 24, at city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive N. The meeting will be open to the public. Directions to attend via Zoom can be found at cityofannamaria.com.
