The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience
Rivers are Life recently premiered their latest film, "The Captain & The Super Clams", that takes you to the Indian River Lagoon on the east coast of Florida alongside River Heroes Dr. Todd Osborne and fishing legend Captain Blair Wiggins, as they work to restore the clam population.
Restoring the Power of Clams
Along the Indian River Lagoon of Florida a tale of destruction and redemption unfolds. Once full of life, the lagoon fell victim to unregulated commercial clamming in the 1990s, leaving its waters stagnant and its ecosystem on the brink of collapse. Enter Dr. Todd Osborne. With his dedicated team of graduate students and the support of fishing legend Captain Blair Wiggins, they have embarked on a mission to revive the lagoon's vitality.
Their journey began with a goal to find surviving clams, a seemingly impossible task that resulted in only 39 found. These "super clams" became the cornerstone of a groundbreaking restoration effort. Through meticulous breeding and care at the University of Florida's Whitney Laboratory, millions of clams have been nurtured into existence, ready to reclaim their rightful place in the lagoon.
Rivers are Life, imagined by BeAlive, brings inspirational, ecosystem-saving stories from River Heroes all around the globe. Film summary and video snapshots: Rivers are Life
Article and Video on WESH 2 - Indian River Lagoon clam restoration sees progress