PREFACE 
The following are the proceedings of a seminar on Tampa and 
Sarasota Bays held on December 10, 1987 at the Herbert C. Hoover Building 
of the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C. The Estuarine 
Programs Office (EPO) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration sponsored this seminar as part of a continuing series of 
"Estuary-of-the-Month" Seminars, held with the objective of bringing to 
public attention the important research and management issues of our 
Nation’s estuaries. To this end, participants first presented historical 
and scientific overviews of the bay area, followed by an examination of 
management issues by scientists and resource managers involved in Tampa 
and Sarasota Bays. 
We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Dr. Ernest D. Estevez 
of the Mote Marine Laboratory, who had principal responsibility for 
assembling the speakers and whose familiarity with the bay area and its 
people was invaluable. Dr. Estevez would like to express his 
appreciation for the dedicated efforts of Linda Franklin, Laurie Fraser, 
Judy Jones, Greg Blanchard, New College Library and the County of 
Sarasota. The seminar was coordinated in Washington by Catherine L. 
Mills, EPO Regional Coordinator, with the help of other members of the 
EPO staff. 
Questions concerning these proceedings may be directed to the NOAA 
Estuarine Programs Office by writing to Room 625 Universal South, 1825 
Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20235, or by calling (202) 
673-5243. 
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