PET Method Youth Marine Science Program .

Learning Goals

Understand types of marine debris (plastics, metals, fishing gear, hurricane debris)

Learn how debris impacts seagrass, fish, birds, and manatees

Hands-On Activities

Transect surveys: Divide bay into mapped grids, assign student teams to visually survey from vessel

Use debris collection nets for floating trash

Record GPS location, type, and approximate weight of debris (tablet or paper datasheets)

Discussion: Where does this debris come from? (stormwater runoff, boating, improper disposal)

Scientific Skill

Data recording & categorization using NOAA Marine Debris Monitoring standards

Learning Goals

How water chemistry affects life (nutrients, oxygen, salinity, pH, turbidity)

Why scientists monitor estuaries to predict algal blooms and red tide impacts

Hands-On Activities

Water sampling stations: Students use YSI meters or simple kits for dissolved oxygen, salinity, pH, turbidity

Secchi disk readings for water clarity

Compare data between different bay zones (near marina, near seagrass, open water)

Scientific Skill

Collect, graph, and interpret real-time data

Learn how long-term monitoring supports legislation & policy

Learning Goals

Recognize native bivalves (southern hard clams, oysters, scallops)

Understand filter feeding and its role in water quality

Observe seagrass beds and their connection to clam populations

Hands-On Activities

Deploy small benthic grab samplers or clam rakes at marked sites

Identify organisms in trays: clams, small crabs, worms, seagrass fragments

Compare “healthy” vs “impacted” sites (clarity, salinity, diversity)

Scientific Skill

Species identification & relative abundance recording

Hypothesis building: “What does the presence of clams indicate about water quality?”