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Port of Manatee hears company updates; shellfish nonprofit seeks to pair aquaculture with seagrass restoration
Summary
At a quarterly Port of Manatee authority meeting, local shipping agent AR Savage & Son discussed terminal operations and the port27s growing cargo volumes, and Gulf Shellfish Institute detailed a $5 million "All Clams on Deck" pilot to test pairing hard‑clam aquaculture with seagrass restoration.
The Port of Manatee authority heard business updates and two presentations on Wednesday that highlighted expanding cargo activity and an experiment to combine aquaculture with seagrass restoration.
AR Savage & Son: Arthur Savage, representing longtime local shipping agent AR Savage & Son, outlined how ship agents coordinate charters, pilots, tugs, stevedores and customs for shipments calling at Port Manatee. Savage said port tonnage in the region has shifted in recent years — with Manatee27s volumes growing from roughly 2 million tons a decade ago to about 7 million tons today — and stressed that the port has attracted new bulk and break‑bulk business. Savage described the port27s foreign‑trade‑zone capability and how FTZ status can defer duties for certain imports, making the port more attractive to manufacturers and importers considering investment in the region.
Gulf Shellfish Institute: Dr. Steven Hesterberg, executive director of the Gulf Shellfish Institute, described the nonprofit27s research and a $5 million regional project called "All Clams on Deck." The project will test planting hard clams together with seagrass in selected bays from Tampa Bay south to Estero Bay to evaluate whether clams27 filtration and nutrient delivery can improve seagrass recovery. Hesterberg showed pilot videos from Longboat Point and said the group will monitor plots with and without clams to quantify their ecological services, filtration rates and potential benefits for seagrass restoration.
Director27s remarks: Port director Carlos Vakaris reported steady growth in port revenue and cargo mix, highlighted recent calls including an orange‑juice carrier and vessels bunkering and servicing regional needs, and noted interest from foreign companies in port‑area investment. Vakaris also outlined the port27s international‑trade hub and work to market the port27s foreign‑trade‑zone benefits to attract manufacturers.
What27s next: The Gulf Shellfish Institute said it will continue pilot releases and work with local oyster and clam producers; port staff said economic‑development outreach will continue with international trade partners and prospective investors.
No formal votes were taken on these presentations.
