Festival participants hunt for mud crabs among oysters at the National Estuaries Day festival and the Mission-Aransas Reserve's 10-year anniversary. This past Saturday, the Mission-Aransas Reserve celebrated its 10th anniversary on National Estuaries Day. The event was commemorated with a festival focused on the wonders of our estuaries. We had a great turn-out with lots of hands-on activities, educational booths and seminars. Visitors learned about the wonders of the oyster, protecting our beaches, and much more. This festival was a partnership from many local organizations focused on our coasts and estuaries.
The festival is sponsored by The University of Texas Marine Science Institute, Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve, Animal Rehabilitation Keep, Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Surfrider Foundation, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi Center for Coastal Studies, Texas State Aquarium, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the National Park Service.
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| Speaker presentations occurred throughout the afternoon to discuss projects that are helping us understand the importance of stories and what's being done to conserve them. | Several local partner organizations provided educational booths and fun activities. |
The festival concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony. Reserve Director, Jace Tunnell, and NOAA liaison, Matt Chasse, cut the first slice.
