Just joined this echo tonight.  Hope to see more activity - looks good
so far.
I have no real knowledge/experience in the field - just a keen interest.
Been in Tampa almost 30 years, and have watched the havoc played on the
environment by rampant development.
When I first got here, the waters just off the beaches were sandy
bottoms with grass flats 50 yards off shore.  Abundant waterlife on both
sand and in the grass flats.  Today, the sand is replaced by mud and
shell life is limited to King's Crowns, oysters, mussels and drills.
I am hypothesizing three causes: 1) The taking of live shells, in vast
numbers, by tourists, 2) The popularity of the beaches with subsequent
trash and garbage being carried into the water, and local politicians
and devlopers allowing "dredge and fill" for home sites.
I also suspicion that "making beaches better" by adding seawalls to keep
the sand in place has added to the destruction of near-shore water life.
Any comments and/or additions?
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