Project SeaSafe recently had an amazing opportunity to connect with the community at the annual Sebastian Clam Bake Festival! With Captain Alex Gorichky, our newest team member and Florida conservation advocate, representing us, we shared Project SeaSafe’s most impactful restoration initiatives— the Captain Blair Wiggins IRL Clam Restoration and our New Swell Mangrove Restoration.
Bringing Conservation to the Community
The three-day Sebastian Clam Bake Festival brought together hundreds of residents and visitors eager to celebrate local flavors, traditions, and the natural beauty of our coastal region. Project SeaSafe was proud to have a dedicated booth at the event, where Captain Alex set up displays and information on our core conservation projects. Throughout the festival, Alex engaged with attendees, explaining how our clam and mangrove restoration projects work together to support healthier, cleaner waters along Florida’s coastline.
The response from attendees was overwhelmingly positive! Alex reported that the booth stayed busy, with community members not only stopping by to learn but also expressing genuine excitement and support for our efforts. Many were impressed by Star brite’s commitment to hands-on environmental restoration and appreciated the opportunity to discuss conservation directly with someone so knowledgeable and passionate.
Spotlight on our projects: Clams and Mangroves
Our clam and mangrove restoration projects were the stars of the show!
Captain Blair Wiggins IRL Clam Restoration Project
This project aims to repopulate the Indian River Lagoon with native clams. Clams are powerful natural filters that improve water quality by reducing excess nutrients and enhancing clarity, helping to create a more balanced and resilient ecosystem.
New Swell Mangrove Restoration
Mangroves are critical habitats that support coastal resilience. They stabilize shorelines, serve as nurseries for fish, and provide a natural filtration system for the waters they inhabit. Our mangrove restoration work protects these invaluable ecosystems, fostering healthy habitats for marine life and reinforcing natural storm barriers.
The connection between clams and mangroves is essential to our work at Project SeaSafe. These ecosystems support each other, creating a healthier, more balanced environment, and ultimately a cleaner, thriving Indian River Lagoon.
Reflecting on an Amazing Event
As we look back on the Sebastian Clam Bake Festival, we are thrilled to see how engaged and supportive the community was. Events like these are powerful reminders of why Project SeaSafe exists: to protect and restore Florida’s waters, not just for marine life, but for everyone who calls this area home. Hearing directly from residents who share this mission and want to support it reinforces the importance of our work.
This event also highlighted the incredible value that Captain Alex Gorichky brings to the Project SeaSafe team. His ability to connect with people and his passion for conservation helped make our booth a focal point at the festival, and we’re grateful for his hard work and dedication.
We’re excited to keep building on this momentum and look forward to more opportunities to connect with communities, share our mission, and inspire even more support for Florida’s waters. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth at the Sebastian Clam Bake—we can’t wait to see you again!