THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS COMING UP, MAINTAINING THE SPIRIT OF SANIBEL THROUGH ITS SMALL BUSINESS PRACTICES.

DESPITE HURRICANE RECOVERY STILL TAKING PLACE, THE ISLAND COMMUNITY IS STANDING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT ITS LOCAL ESTABLISHMENTS BUILDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF AUTOMOBILES ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ROADWAYS.

WE SPEAK WITH A MAJOR AUTOMAKER THAT IS ROLLING OUT VEHICLES TO COLLECT DATA FOR SELF-DRIVING VEHICLES AND GETTING A JUMP START ON THE SANIBEL STOOP.

ENVIRONMENTALIST ARE LEADING GROUPS ONTO THE SHORES AT THE CRACK OF DAWN.

ALL IN SEARCH OF THE PRIME SHELLS THAT ATTRACTS TOURISTS TO THE BEACHES.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

IT HAS BEEN NEARLY 4 YEARS SINCE HURRICANE IAN DEVASTATED SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA ISLANDS.

DESPITE THE CAUSEWAY AND INFRASTRUCTURE BEING REBUILT, MANY BUSINESSES ARE STILL RECOVERING.

SANIBEL IS BUILT ON SMALL BUSINESS WITH ALMOST NO CHAIN STORES AND NOTHING OVER 3 STORIES TALL SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS CATER TO TOURISTS AND RESIDENTS ALL LOOKING FOR THOSE ISLAND VIBES.

WGCU REPORTER TOM HALL TAKES US OUT TO THE ISLAND TO SEE HOW BUSINESSES ARE REBOUNDING.

SEVERAL YEARS POST HURRICANE DESTRUCTION.

>> THE DAY BEFORE HURRICANE IAN, THERE ARE WELL OVER 150 BUSINESSES ON SANIBEL, CAPTIVA ISLAND, NOT ONE WAS OPEN THE DAY AFTER THE STORM.

INDEPENDENT FILMMAKER AND SANIBEL CITY COUNCIL MEMBER LORD TO BRUCE DESCRIBES THE CALAMITIES AFTERMATH.

SOME WERE TOTAL LOSSES.

>> AND SADLY, SOME OF THE OLD STALWARTS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE NOT COMING BACK ANYMORE.

YOU KNOW, FEEL DAIRY QUEEN TOOK A HARD HIT.

THE ANTIQUE STORE THAT HAD BEEN HERE FOREVER.

IT SEEMS GEORGIAN WINDIES A VERY BELOVED POPULAR, A LOCAL PLAY.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF PLACES THAT ARE COMING BACK.

>> IN 2022 GIFT SHOPS AND CATCHERS DREAM ON ISLAND, CLOTHING STORE.

JAY WRITES, SIR, FISSION STYLE AND THE OVER EASY CAFE WERE LOCATED IN A SHOPPING CENTER WHERE PERRY WINKLE WAY EMPTIES INTO TARPON BAY ROAD.

THE INFIELD EACH STORE WITH 7 FEET OF SURGE OVER EASY.

CO-OWNER TRACI SHARPE DESCRIBES THE SCOPE OF THEIR LOSS.

>> I MEAN, WE LOST THE CEILING.

WE LOST THE WALLS.

WE LOST ALL THE ELECTRICAL, ALL THE PLUMBING, EVERYTHING GAS LIES, THE GAS TANK ONTO THE GROUND HAD TO BE PULLED OUT.

EVERYTHING HAD TO BE NEEDED FROM OVENS AND KITCHEN EQUIPMENT TO TABLES AND CHAIRS.

>> EVERYTHING HAD TO BE REPLACED.

ALL THEY RECEIVE FROM THEIR INSURANCE WAS $8,000 SHARP AND HER PARTNER LISA KLAUS ALSO LOST HER HOUSE CARS AND A SECOND BUSINESS.

SO THE DECISION TO REOPEN THE 20 YEAR-OLD BREAKFAST LUNCH MECCA WAS NOT AUTOMATIC.

WE TOOK THE LEAD AND DECIDE IT.

>> TO REBUILD AND TO STAY OUT HERE BECAUSE WE I THOUGHT ABOUT WHERE ELSE WE GO.

AND HONESTLY, THERE'S NOT MANY PLACES LIKE SANIBEL ISLAND AND THE COMMUNITY IS.

A PLACE THAT I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

I'D NEVER FELT BEFORE.

AND EVERYBODY WAS INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE.

AND WE JUST DECIDED FOR EVERYBODY HERE.

WE NEED TO REBUILD THE RESTAURANT.

KATE SERGEANT ENLARGED BRUCE, AN ISLAND, DAN THOMPSON.

IT'S AN CATCHERS DREAM.

AND JARED AND BRANDY EDGING TENANT.

JAY ROSS CAME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION.

>> WITH HELP FROM THEIR LANDLORD BEFORE SOME REBUILT AND REOPENED 18 MONTHS LATER ON SAINT PATRICK'S DAY 2024.

>> AT AND WE RECEIVED ABOUT A FOOT OF WATER.

WE STILL NEED TO NOT WALLS AND THE LAST MONTH WITH MEN BUT REALLY CLOSE LIKE A WEEK.

AND WE GOT BACK OPEN AND THEN 10 DAYS LATER, MILTON HIT.

THAT WAS.

PROBABLY MENTALLY THE HARDEST ONE FOR US BECAUSE WE WORK SO HARD AND THEN 3 HAVE FEET OF MUD CAME IN WE LOST AGAIN.

PRETTY MUCH ALL OUR EQUIPMENT AND THE WALLS AND ALL THAT SHARP IN CLOUDS TOLD THEIR LANDLORD THEY WERE DONE.

WE ALL DECIDED BECAUSE THROUGH THIS AGAIN OR WORRY ABOUT IT, IT'S JUST INCREDIBLY STRESSFUL THAT JUST KEEP WAITING FOR YOUR BUSINESS TO BE DESTROYED.

>> THE OTHERS WERE IN A SIMILAR DILEMMA.

>> TO BRUCE SYMPATHIZED, IT WAS A REALLY DIFFICULT DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO REOPEN BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES IT'S A COMBINATION OF YOU NEED THE ENERGY.

YOU NEED THE MORAL SUPPORT.

YOU NEED THE MONEY.

I THINK FOR ALL THE SMALL BUSINESSES, THOSE ARE KIND OF THE VARIOUS QUESTIONS WE ARE ASKING OURSELVES.

>> AFTER A LOT OF TAX TALKS AND SLEEPLESS NIGHTS, SHARP CLOUDS AND THE OTHERS ACCEPTED THEIR LANDLORDS OFFER TO MOVE TO HIS OTHER PROPERTY.

THE VILLAGE SHOPS ON PERRY WINKLE WAY.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'LL DID IT.

EVERYBODY JUST >> PICKED UP THEIR STUFF AND WE LEFT AND WE LIVE DOWN HERE.

>> AND THAT'S A CELEBRATION.

EVERY TIME AN OLD BUSINESS RECOVERS.

OR A NEW ENTERPRISE ARRIVES ON SANIBEL.

WE HAVE WITH BETTY.

WE HAVE.

>> THE NEWS PEOPLE OUT.

EVERYBODY JOINS IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

A POLICE DEPARTMENT CAME UP.

IT'S PRETTY SPECIAL.

SO EVERYBODY'S VERY EXCITED.

AND THOSE OF US THAT LIVE OUT HERE, WE'RE THRILLED THAT WE HAVE A BUSINESS IS OUT HERE.

LIKE CLEAR STELLA AND CELEBRATE STIVERS A DESIGN STUDIO.

>> SO WE DESIGN SPACES AND BRANDS AND NICOLE, THIS PHYSICAL SPACE, A LOVE LETTER BACK TO THE ISLAND BECAUSE FOR ME, IT WAS HARD SEEN THEY CAN.

THEY GET SPOTS ON THE ISLAND IN THESE YOU REALLY BELOVED COMMUNITIES.

THERE'S TUITION GUARDIANS OR VILLAGE SHOPS AND MY GOAL WAS TO REALLY, YOU KNOW, OPEN A SPACE THAT HONORS THE LEGACY SAID ABOUT.

SO SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY ROOTED IN SUSTAINABILITY, ROOTED IN BRINGING IN UNIQUE ARTISTRY, UNIQUE PIECES, THINGS THAT REALLY TELL THE STORY.

>> IT'S A COMMON REFRAIN FOR EVERY BUSINESS ON THE BARRIER ISLAND.

THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO BE ON SEVERAL FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE IS IT'S SO RUDE AND COMMUNITY BUILDING AND FUN TOPIC, COMMUNITY BUILDING.

BUT >> ALSO >> WE COULD TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.

WE HAD SO MANY BUSINESS OWNERS THAT SAID, YES, IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE THAT EXTRA REVENUE.

BUT TO HAVE THE RESIDENTS COMING ALL SUMMER LONG AND SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK.

YOU'RE WHAT MAKES THE ISLAND SOMEPLACE.

WE WANT TO STAY AT SUDAN.

HASTA DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR SAINT MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS CHURCH AGREES WHOLEHEARTEDLY.

IT'S THAT SMALL TOWN VIBE.

>> THAT THAT PEOPLE I THINK ARE CRAVING FOR EVEN MORE IN A IN A WORLD WHERE THERE'S SO MUCH DIVISION AND NEGATIVITY.

YOU JUST COME ACROSS THE CAUSEWAY AND PEOPLE JUST BREATHE A PHYSICAL.

BACK ON SANIBEL.

>> WE ARE NOW JOINED BY WGCU REPORTER TOM HALL.

TOM, WHAT CAN PEOPLE BOTH ON AND OFF THE ISLAND DUE TO SUPPORT THE RESTAURANTS AND THE SHOPS.

>> JENNIFER, GLAD YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION.

PUTTING A STORE OR RESTAURANT BACK IN WORKING ORDER FOLLOWING HURRICANES IAN HELENE AND MILTON, HE'S ONLY THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS, HELPING THEM FRIED THROUGH THE SUMMER IS AN ALTOGETHER DIFFERENT MATTER.

SO TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS AND OFF ISLAND TRAFFIC TO PATRONIZE SANIBEL BUSINESSES, SAINT MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS CHURCH AND ITS DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS TO VAN OS ESTABLISHED LOVES ANNABELLE BACK 3 YEARS AGO.

THIS YEAR'S PROGRAM RUNS THROUGH AUGUST 9TH AND INVOLVE DISCOUNTS AT LOCAL BUSINESSES ALONG WITH WEEKLY THEMES AND ACTIVITIES.

NOW AFTER COMPLETING THE ACTIVITY, THE PARTICIPANTS SHARES A PICTURE ON FACEBOOK OR INSTAGRAM WITH THE HASHTAG LOVE SAMPLE BACK THE IDEA IS TO FLOOD SOCIAL MEDIA WITH POSITIVE IMAGES OF SANIBEL SAYS VAN OS, WE REALLY WANT PEOPLE THROUGHOUT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AND BEYOND TO COME AND EXPERIENCE THE TRUE LOVE OF SANIBEL.

THAT IS AN AWESOME PROGRAM.

>> IT REALLY IS.

THANK YOU, TOM.

I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> COMING UP NEXT.

>> CLEANING FLORIDA'S WATERWAYS THROUGH SHELL POWER, THE ROLE IN 2004, THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HELD A COMPETITION IN THE MOJAVE DESERT.

THE COMPETITION BUILT RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN TECH COMPANIES AND THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY IN THE EFFORT TO BUILD A FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE AFTER THE INTRODUCTION OF GOOGLE'S SELF-DRIVING CAR WAYMO IN 2016, NEARLY EVERY OTHER MAJOR AUTOMAKER NOW OFFERS CARS WITH HANDS, FREE DRIVING SYSTEMS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

GENERAL MOTORS HAS ROLLED OUT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SENSORS COLLECTING DATA THAT WILL BE USED FOR THEIR NEXT GENERATION OF AUTOMOBILES.

GM SAYS THE GOAL IS TO CREATE A FLEET THAT WILL INTRODUCE EYES OFF, DRIVING TO CONSUMERS.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SELF-DRIVING CAR TECHNOLOGY.

I'M JOINED BY RYAN FOWLER, THE DIRECTOR OF 80 DATA AT GENERAL MOTORS.

RYAN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY FROM MICHIGAN.

>> GOOD MORNING.

NICE TO BE HERE.

THANKS.

>> WHAT DO YOU DO AS A THE DATA DIRECTOR AT GM?

>> YEAH.

HAS A V DATA.

DIRECTOR I'M TRYING TO HELP BUILD THE FUTURE OF WHAT GENERAL MOTORS IS GOING TO BE BRINGING TO THE ROAD.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS COLLECTING AND CURATING ALL THE DATA THAT WE NEED TO BUILD THE NEXT GENERATION OF OUR SAFETY FEATURES, AN ADVANCED DRIVING FEATURES THAT WE'RE GONNA BRING TO THE PUBLIC.

>> NOW, SOME PEOPLE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA MAY HAVE NOTICED VEHICLES THAT LOOK DIFFERENT.

THEY HAVE VISIBLE CENTS OR REX AND THERE ON THE ROADWAYS.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT THESE ARE AND THE TRAIN DRIVERS THAT ARE IN THE CARS.

WHAT IS THIS A WHAT IS THIS DOING IN OUR AREA?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

SO AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, TO BUILD THESE NEXT GENERATION PRODUCTS, WE HAVE TO COLLECT A LOT OF DATA FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THAT REALLY REPRESENTS THE MILES THAT OUR CUSTOMERS ARE DRIVING IN THE KINDS OF PLACES THAT THEY WANT TO GO.

AND ONE OF THOSE PLACES BECAUSE, OF COURSE, FLORIDA.

AND SO WE'VE HAD A TEAM OF OPERATORS AND VEHICLES IN THE FLORIDA AREA RECENTLY OPERATING ON YOUR HIGHWAYS AND IN AREAS THAT YOU'LL YOU'LL SEE THEM BY.

AND THEIR GOAL IS TO COLLECT THE DATA THAT WE NEED TO BUILD THE NEXT GENERATION SYSTEMS.

SO WHAT THEY LOOKED LIKE HIS STANDARD, UCONN'S AND ESCALADES WITH A ROOF RACK.

BUT INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, FISHING GEAR CAMPING GEAR ON TOP OF THEM, YOU'LL SEE SOME ADDITIONAL SENSORS.

AND WHAT THOSE CENTERS ARE DOING IS RECORDING THE ROAD ENVIRONMENT AS THEY DRIVE TO HELP BUILD AND TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF THESE FEATURES.

>> AND WHAT IS THE NEXT GENERATION OF AUTOMATED TECHNOLOGY?

TALK ABOUT THAT.

PLEASE.

>> YEAH, THAT'S GREAT.

I'M GLAD YOU ASKED.

SO TODAY, GENERAL MOTORS OFFERS A FEATURE CALLED SUPER CRUISE AND SOME OF YOUR CUSTOMERS ARE PROBABLY FAMILIAR.

GOT TO TRY THIS OUT.

AND REALLY, IT'S LIKE CRUISE CONTROL ACCEPTED.

ALSO STEERS FOR YOU.

BUT JUST LIKE CRUISE CONTROL, YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD AND DEAL WITH ANYTHING THAT MIGHT HAPPEN.

THAT'S UNEXPECTED.

BUT THE NEXT GENERATION OF WHAT WE'RE BUILDING NOW, IT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY SPECIAL AND INTERESTING, RIGHT.

SO INSTEAD OF JUST HAVING TOO CONSTANTLY BE VIGILANT WHILE YOU'RE IN THE ON THE ROAD AND WATCHING WHAT'S GOING ON IN FRONT OF YOU, THE NEXT GENERATION OF SUPER CRUISE IS GOING TO ACTUALLY TAKE OVER MORE OF THAT DRIVING PAST FOR YOU AND ALLOW YOU TO JUST RELAX.

LOOK AT YOUR PHONE.

TALK TO YOUR PARTNER AND THE OTHERS, OTHER SEATS, YOUR CAR, AND AND REALLY GET SOME OF THAT TIME BACK.

AND SO THIS SYSTEM IS GOING TO BE FAR MORE PERFORMANCE AND FAR MORE ADVANCED THAN WHAT WE HAVE ON THE ROAD TODAY AND GIVE YOU A LOT OF TIME AND COMFORT BACK IN YOUR DAILY DRIVE.

>> YOU SAY THIS REAL WORLD TESTING IS ESSENTIAL TO BUILD A TRUST WHERE THE SYSTEM, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THIS?

>> YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT POINT.

SO A LOT OF WHAT WE DO IS, OF COURSE, DRIVING ON THE ROADS AND VALIDATING THE SYSTEMS BEFORE THEY'RE READY TO BE USED BY THE PUBLIC AND BUT WE ALSO DO YOU KNOW, MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF SIMULATIONS ON ALL THE STATE AS WELL TO TEST OUR SOFTWARE CONSTANTLY AS WE'RE MAKING CHANGES AND TWEAKING AND MAKING IMPROVEMENTS.

BUT THERE'S NO SUBSTITUTE FOR REAL WORLD DRIVING EVEN IN THAT ENVIRONMENT.

RIGHT?

SO DOING ALL THIS DRIVING CONTROL WITH SAFETY DRIVERS HELP TO BUILD THAT DATA THAT WE'VE BEEN USED FOR TESTING AS WELL AS VALIDATION AND HELPS BUILD THE CASE.

NOT ONLY THAT, WE KNOW THE SYSTEM'S GOING TO PERFORM AS WELL AS WE WANTED TO AS WELL AS WE NEEDED TO FOR CUSTOMERS.

BUT WE CAN ALSO MAKE THAT CASE TO OUR CUSTOMERS THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THEY SHOULD TRY BECAUSE THEY THEY'VE SEEN IT IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT.

THEY SEEN IN PLACES WHERE THEY DRIVE AND THEY KNOW AND THEY HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT GENERAL MOTORS IS GONNA PROVIDE A SAFE PRODUCT.

>> AND THERE ARE A LOT OF DRIVERS THAT WOULD HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY WITH DRIVERLESS TECH, ESPECIALLY LET'S SAY ITS EYES OFF TECHNOLOGY.

HOW DO YOU MAKE THESE VEHICLES SAFE?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, THAT'S A GREAT POINT THAT GENERAL MOTORS, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTAND SAFETY IS ABSOLUTELY NUMBER ONE.

AND WE CAN'T BUILD A SHIP ANY PRODUCT THAT DOESN'T MEET OUR HIGHEST EXPECTATIONS FOR A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE.

ALL OF THE DRIVING WE'RE DOING IS IN FACT, TO SUPPORT THAT SAFETY CASE.

RIGHT?

WE WE NEED TO COLLECT MILLIONS OF MILES OF REAL WORLD DRIVING DATA TO MAKE THAT CASE.

WE NEED TO VALIDATE IT BOTH ON THE ROAD.

ENCLOSED COURSE AND IN SIMULATION ENVIRONMENTS TO MAKE THAT CASE AND THAT BY COMBINING ALL OF THESE SIGNALS AND BUT MONEY, ALL OF THIS QUALITY, WE CAN ACTUALLY SHIP THIS PRODUCT AND DELIVER SOMETHING THAT OUR CUSTOMERS ARE GOING TO REALLY ENJOY.

AND SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S REALLY AN ALL THE ABOVE KIND OF APPROACHING.

MY GENERAL MOTORS IS INVESTING SO MUCH RESOURCES AND TIME INTO THIS PROJECT IS TO MAKE THIS REALITY.

>> HOW COMMON DO YOU THINK THESE CARS WILL BECOME WITH THIS LATEST TECHNOLOGY?

AND WHEN MIGHT THEY BE AVAILABLE?

>> YEAH, SO I THINK IT WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY COMMON.

YOU KNOW, GENERAL MOTORS UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS IS REALLY INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF OUR PRODUCTS OVERALL.

SO IT'LL START WITH SOME OF OUR PREMIUM ESCALATE IQ VEHICLES.

WE HAVE A LAUNCH SCHEDULED FOR 2028 ON THAT PRODUCT.

AND THEN BEYOND THAT, WE EXPECT IT WILL GO TO MORE AND MORE PRODUCTS ON OUR OUR PORTFOLIO.

SO THIS ISN'T JUST GOING TO BE A ONE AND DONE.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO JUST BE A PREMIUM PRODUCT.

IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING WE WANT TO MAKE AVAILABLE TO EVERYBODY BECAUSE WE EXPECT CUSTOMERS ARE REALLY GOING TO ENJOY THIS LIKE THE IDEA THAT THEY CAN GET BACK TIME IN THEIR DAILY COMMUTE THROUGH A TRUST.

THE CART HANDLE THERE DRY FOR THEM IS A REALLY BIG DEAL.

AND IT'S A BIG CHANGE IN HOW YOU EXPERIENCE YOU'RE YOU'RE DRIVING TO EVERY DAY.

>> MR.

FOWLER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY AND TELLING US ALL ABOUT THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> FOR MORE STORIES ON THE ADVANCEMENT OF TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER SITES FEATURES.

>> BE SURE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WGCU DOT ORG.

MOLLUSKS ARE VITAL TO THE FLORIDA ECOSYSTEM PLAYING A MAJOR ROLE IN THE RESTORATION OF LOCAL WATERWAYS.

THAT INCLUDES NEAR SANIBEL ISLAND, WHERE OYSTER SHELLS ARE CONTRIBUTING TO MAJOR CHANGES ALONG SAN CARLOS BAY IN 2025.

A MASSIVE 3 ACRE OYSTER REEF WAS COMPLETED.

IT.

IT'S PART OF A PROJECT LED BY THE SANIBEL CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION.

IT IS THE LARGEST OF SIMILAR REEFS IN THE ENTIRE AREA TO PROVIDE SANCTUARY FOR OYSTER LARVAE AND DEVELOP A SELF-SUSTAINING ECOSYSTEM.

THE OYSTER REEF IS THE LATEST EXAMPLE OF HOW MOLLUSKS ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE OVERALL HEALTH OF FLORIDA'S WATER.

>> JOINING ME NOW IS DOCTOR JOE STALEY.

ALL HE IS THE SCIENCE DIRECTOR.

>> AND THEY CURATOR FOR THE BAILEY MATTHEWS, NATIONAL SHELL MUSEUM AND AQUARIUM ON SANIBEL ISLAND.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GREAT TO BE HERE.

JENNIFER.

YOU ARE AN EXPERT IN MOLLUSKS.

YOU HAVE STUDIED THEM FOR 50 YEARS.

5, 0, >> YES, >> AND WE ARE TALKING TODAY ABOUT WHAT IS A MOLLUSK AND SUSTAINABLE FARMING.

SO CAN YOU FIRST SORT OF GIVE US AN UMBRELLA VIEW OF WHAT THE MOLLUSK IS.

SURE.

>> WELL, MOST BECAUSE A GROUP OF ANIMALS THAT INCLUDE SQUID.

OCTOPUS, CLAMS, OYSTERS, MUSSELS SNAILS, AND THEY ALL SHARE SOME FEATURES IN COMMON.

YOU NEVER GET TO SOME GENETICS AND CALM.

SO, YES, IT'S A VERY LARGE GROUP OF ANIMALS THAT INCLUDES RIGHT?

NO MORE THAN 100,000 KNOWN SPECIES AND PROBABLY AS MANY YES TO BE, YOU KNOW, JUST COVERED BY.

BUT HUMANS.

>> AND MOLLUSKS ARE BEING FARMED FOR SEAFOOD.

YES, WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

>> WELL, I THINK THE MAIN REASON WHY FARMING MOST FOR SEAFOOD IS IMPORTANT IS THAT YOU BY DOING THAT?

YOU GET THE FOOD TO PROVIDE THE FOOD WITHOUT ENCROACHING ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

WITH ALL, YOU KNOW, GOING OUT AND FISHING FROM ALL THOSE IN IN HAVING A PROBLEM GETTING BY CATCH WITH THAT.

SO IT IS A VERY ELEGANT SOLUTION IN AND FARM ANIMALS CAN USE A VERY SMALL FOOTPRINT ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

AND ACTUALLY, IT IS IN SOME CASES IT COULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

WHEN YOU THINK OF OYSTERS, FOR INSTANCE, WHICH ARE ONE OF THE MAINS ALL OF THEIR FARM ON COURSE TO HELP CLEAN THE WATER BECAUSE THEY FILTER FOR FEEDING IT PT BYFIELD 3.

AND IN DOING THAT, THEY REMOVE, YOU KNOW, PARTICLES THERE IN THE WATER.

THEY REMOVE EXCESS CARBON.

THEY REMOVE EXCESS NITROGEN AND AND MAKE THE WATER BETTER FOR OTHER FORMS OF LIFE.

>> HOW DOES SOMEONE FARM THEM?

WHAT'S THE PROCESS?

WELL, THERE ARE MANY, MANY DIFFERENT PROCESSES ARE JUST MISSION OYSTERS FROM.

>> WITH OYSTERS, THEY'RE SIMPLE PROCESS IS WHERE YOU CAN PICK UP EMPTY OYSTER SHELLS.

YOU DRILL TO THEM AND RUN A REAL STREAM.

DEPLOYED THAT INTO YOUR BAY WATERS AND THE NATURALLY THE WATCH THIS PAT, WHICH ARE THE BABY OYSTERS.

NEW WILL FLOCK TO COUNT 2 FADEL ALL TO THOSE WEST THERE SHOW.

AND THEN THE THING WILL GROW.

I MEAN, THE NEW WATCHED IT WILL GROW ON TO THAT STRUCTURE.

AND THIS IS ONE JUST ONE WAY OF DOING IT.

AND IN SOME CLAIMS, FOR INSTANCE, THEY WILL GROW THE LITTLE YOUNG IN THE IN THE LAB ENCLOSED FACILITY AND AND THEN AT SOME POINT THAT SOME SIZE THEY WILL BAN BRING THAT INTO NASH BACKS, PUT THEM BACK IN THE NATURAL WATER AND AND LEAVING THEM THERE TO GROW.

>> AND WHY IS THIS SUSTAINABLE ABILITY SO IMPORTANT >> WELL, I BELIEVE THAT IF YOU YOU'RE NOT MEDDLING WITH THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IN THE SENSE THAT NO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A STOCK.

YOU KNOW HOW MANY ARE STILL DOUBT THAT WE CAN FISH.

WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SAID IT LIMITS.

NUMBERS OF NOTE MOSCA WHO CAN GET.

>> I THINK IT'S PRETTY IMPORTANT.

SO WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR CONSUMERS TO CHOOSE?

SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD WHEN THEY'RE IN THE GROCERY STORE.

>> WELL, WE KNOW SUSTAIN A BEACH MEANS.

>> PROTECTING THE NATURAL STALKS PROTECTIONS AND NOT INTO THAT ROLE.

>> POPULATIONS OF MALLS IF YOU BOUGHT 2.

WHO'S DOING YOUR YOUR SHOPPING IF YOU OPT TO CHOOSE A PRODUCT THAT IS BENIN, SUSTAINABLY, HARVESTED OR CULTURE OR FARMED.

YOU ARE HELPING PROTECT THE NATURAL POPULATIONS OF THE SPECIES.

>> HOW CAN SOMEONE LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS SUSTAINABILITY?

YOU KNOW THE RISKS.

THERE ARE SEVERAL RESOURCES ONLINE THAT THAT ONE CAN VISIT.

ONE OF THEM IS THE MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM.

>> THEY HAVE YOU KNOW.

COAST OF ITALY UPDATED LIST OF SUSTAINABLE MOLLUSKS AND FISH.

ALSO AND I ACTUALLY CARRY A LITTLE CARD WITH ME.

SO IF I GO TO A RESTAURANT, YOU CAN OPEN THAT AND CHECK TO SEE IF THAT SPECIES THEY'RE OFFERING THAT POINT.

IT'S A SUSTAINABLE.

>> SPECIES FOR CONSUMPTION AND YOUR MUSEUM RECENTLY HOSTED AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ALL ABOUT THIS.

WHY IS IT SO SIGNIFICANT TO GET THIS INFORMATION OUT?

WELL, WE HAVE VISITORS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, ACTUALLY, FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

>> AND ACTUALLY RUN THE PROGRAM YESTERDAY GIVEN BY A INTERN JAMES GRUBER WHO ACTUALLY IS A STUDENT HERE WITH THE FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY.

AND THE EVENT WAS YES TO COME UP THE TOPIC AND I HAVEN'T I HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE MUSEUM YET, BUT I WANT TO CHECK AND SEE, YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ATTENDED THE PROGRAM.

AND I BET IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.

>> AND IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO SEE WHAT MOLLUSK LOOK LIKE THERE, THERE IS A BEAUTIFUL DISPLAY AT YOUR MUSEUM.

TELL YOU ABOUT IT.

>> YES, WE'RE JUST IN OCTOBER 2025.

WE REOPEN OUR GREAT HALL SHELLS, WHICH IS THE FOCAL POINT OF THE MUSEUM OR HAVE A LARGE NUMBER EXHIBITS AND IN THE HURRICANE, IAN WAS ACTUALLY THE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE LAST STRAW TO MAKE MADE U.S.

ACT VERY FAST AND REDESIGN THE GREAT HALL AND HAVE ALL THESE NEW INFORMATION IN AND AROUND A COUPLE OF CALLS AND SHELVES THERE FOR PUBLIC VIEW.

SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO VISIT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR.

RIGHT.

>> AFTER THE BREAK, SHELLS AREN'T JUST HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> THEY'RE ALSO BOOSTING LOCAL TOURISM.

SANIBEL ISLAND IS KNOWN AS THE SEASHELL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.

ACCORDING TO VISIT FORT MYERS, SHELLING IS BIG BUSINESS.

AND CHELSEA KING TOURISTS HELP SUPPORT OVER 31,000 LOCAL, HOSPITALITY AND RETAIL JOBS.

BUT WITH HOT SUMMER TIME TEMPERATURES, THE BAILEY MATTHEWS, NATIONAL SHELL MUSEUM AND AQUARIUM CAME UP WITH A CREATIVE SOLUTION TO ENJOY THE COLLECTING AWAY FROM THE HEAT.

WGCUS JESSICA BOWLBY HAS MORE.

>> WE'RE HERE ON SANIBEL SEARCHING FOR SEASHELLS ON THE BEAT.

THE HEAT BEACH WALKS LED BY A BIOLOGIST FROM THE BAILEY MATTHEWS, NATIONAL SHELL MUSEUM AND AQUARIUM.

>> HOPEFULLY WE CAN SEE SOME COOL THINGS THAT ARE OUT HERE TODAY.

I'D LOVE TO SEE SOME LIKE SEA, HARES OR ANY ANY LIVE MOLLUSK.

TYPICALLY THIS TIME OF DAY IS A GOOD TIME TO SEE THE LIVE ANIMALS.

>> CHRIS, WHEN A COLLECTION ASSISTANT AND MARINE BIOLOGIST FOR THE MUSEUM LEADS THE SHELLING TOUR AROUND SUNRISE WHEN WATERS ARE CALM AND TEMPERATURES ARE LOW, HE SAYS THE IDEAL CONDITIONS MAKE IT WORTH THE EARLY WAKE-UP CALL.

>> THIS IS MY HAPPY PLACE.

THIS IS WHERE I LIKE TO GO SPEND ANY TIME THAT I CAN.

I LOVE FINDING SHELLS.

I LOVE BEING OUT BY THE WATER >> FOR THE PEOPLE WHO JOIN WIT.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEARCH FOR SHELLS WILL LEARNING FACTS FROM AN A CLAIM LIKE THIS.

THAT'S NICE AND SMOOTH CAN LIVE THROUGH THIS AND A LOT EASIER.

BUT FLORIDA'S BODY JEWEL BOXES, OYSTERS.

>> THEY SUBMIT THEMSELVES TO OTHER SURFACES AND JUST STATE ARE SHOWING ENTHUSIAST.

NIKKI MEYER CONVINCED HER FRIEND LISA HAS BEEN SHE'D TO JOIN THE EARLY MORNING TORE.

>> SHE'S A NERDY FRIEND.

I KNOW THAT WE BOTH ENJOY THIS AND STILL DO IT WITH ME.

IT'S A TREASURE HUNT, BUT IT'S RELAXING.

I MEAN, HOURS WILL PASS.

AND I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S BEEN THAT LONG THAT I'VE BEEN OUT LOOKING FOR SHELLS.

BUT THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE IS JUST >> KIND OF GLORIOUS.

I THINK THE SHOW'S DON'T SHOW UP BY CHANCE.

>> SANIBEL IS A SHELL GRAVEYARD BECAUSE IT'S IT'S EAST TO WEST ON THE GULF OF MEXICO.

>> ACCORDING TO WIT THE GULF STATES SHALLOW FOR NEARLY 100 MILES OFFSHORE, WHICH CREATES A STEADY INCLINE THAT ROLLS SHELLS ONTO THE BEACH.

THIS MEANS THAT S BEEN SHE HAS AN UNLIMITED SUPPLY FOR HER MANY SHOW DIY IS.

>> I PUT THEM ON MIR'S AND USE THEM IN DIFFERENT CRAFT PROJECTS LIKE DRILLED HOLES AND MADE EARRINGS OUT OF THEM BEFORE.

AND OF COURSE, I HAVE LOTS OF OF SHELLS NOW THAT I'VE DONE THIS WALK THIS MORNING, I UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HIM.

AND WHEN I SEE HIM, I WILL KNOW WHAT KIND OF HISTORY THE SHOWERS COME THROUGH.

>> MANY PEOPLE COME TO SANIBEL FOR ITS OCEAN TREASURES.

>> AND THEN IT GOES AROUND AND AROUND THE SAME SHELF THAT THE BABY.

>> WITH HOPES THAT VISITORS CAN MOVE THE BEACH WALKS WITH MORE THAN A BAG OF SHELLS.

>> WHEN I CAN MAKE THAT CONNECTION FOR PEOPLE WHERE THEY CAN UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHERE SHELVES ARE COMING FROM.

HOW WE HAVE SO MANY THEY GO.

IT'S LIKE A LIGHT GOES OFF IN THEIR HEAD AND THEY HAVE A NEW APPRECIATION FOR SHELLS THE REST OF THEIR LIFE.

THEY KNOW THAT IT'S NOT JUST THIS PRETTY THING WASHING UP ON THE BEACH.

IT IS A ROUGH GALA.

>> THE BAILEY MATTHEWS, NATIONAL SHELL MUSEUM AND AQUARIUMS NEXT BEAT THE HEAT BEACH WALK TAKES PLACE ON AUGUST.

4TH WITH MORE TOURS PLANNED THROUGH OCTOBER.

FOR WGCU NEWS.

I'M JESSICA BOWLBY.

AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> MAKE SURE YOU VISIT WGCU DOT ORG WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.