Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP)

941-955-8085
Fax: 941-955-8081

Sarasota Bay Estuary Program
111 S. Orange Avenue, Suite 200W
Sarasota, Florida 34236
info@sarasotabay.org

Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) is one of 28 National Estuary Programs (NEP) in the United States. SBEP began in June 1989 when Sarasota Bay was designated by the U.S. Congress as an "estuary of national significance " in the Water Quality Act of 1987.

SBEP was initially tasked with characterizing the environmental conditions of Sarasota Bay and formulating a comprehensive restoration and protection plan based upon this analysis. This plan, called the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP), was formally approved by the Governor of Florida and Administrator of the U.S. EPA in 1995. The CCMP recommends specific actions be taken by local governments, state and federal agencies to restore and protect Sarasota Bay.

The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program is a member of the Association of National Estuary Programs (ANEP).