As Sarasota and Manatee counties continue to grow, decisions being made today about what gets developed and what gets protected will shape the future of the region’s water. On November 1, Suncoast Waterkeeper will bring that conversation to The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort for Brunch for the Bay 2026, with the theme The Future We Choose: Conservation in a Rapidly Changing Coast.
As the event’s keynote speaker, conservation photographer, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, and National Geographic Explorer Carlton Ward Jr. will bring his perspective on protecting Florida’s natural landscapes to this year’s Brunch for the Bay. With his sharp lens and boots-on-the-ground experience, Ward will present From Forests to Seagrasses: Protecting Land to Heal Our Coasts.
Ward has spent his career using photography and filmmaking to build support for protecting Florida’s wild places. He founded the Florida Wildlife Corridor project in 2010 and later created Wildpath, an organization that uses storytelling to inspire the protection of wildlife corridors.
“I am excited to share my view that protecting and restoring Florida’s last wild places is the most important thing we can do,” said Ward, “not just for wildlife like panthers, but for the health of our coasts.”
The theme of this year’s event reflects real concerns being voiced across the region. According to Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s 2025 Regional Scan, environmental protection was among the top three issues residents identified as most important to improving their communities. Within environmental protection, overdevelopment stood out as the most prominent concern, selected by 83.3% of respondents in that category.
That is because standard development practices put new pressure on our waterways, increasing the load on already strained wastewater and stormwater systems, worsening pollution and runoff, and reducing wetlands and other crucial ecosystems that help protect water quality.
At the same time, the regulatory systems meant to protect clean water are facing their own challenges. Federal protections are being rolled back. State agencies continue to work with small budgets and limited staff to provide environmental oversight, while local governments have been hamstrung, restricting their ability to pass protective laws. Even where environmental protections exist, enforcement can fall short.
“We can’t chase every bad development, one project at a time. We need to change the culture of development itself, to make protecting our waters the expectation, not the exception,” said Dr. Abbey Tyrna, Waterkeeper and Executive Director of Suncoast Waterkeeper. “That means decision-makers asking harder questions, demanding better projects, and protecting the places our communities depend on to survive and thrive.”
These challenges make conserving the natural systems that protect water quality increasingly important. It requires on-the-ground monitoring, reliable information for the public and decision-makers, and action when problems go unanswered. Suncoast Waterkeeper does this work across Sarasota and Manatee counties, engaging at all levels of government using science-driven actions to protect local waters.
As Suncoast Waterkeeper’s premier annual fundraiser, Brunch for the Bay raises critical support for its clean water mission. Event revenue provides operating funds that sustain capacity and give the organization the flexibility to respond when unexpected threats put local waters at risk.
Brunch for the Bay has sold out each year since 2022. This year’s move to The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort will expand capacity by up to 80 guests, allowing more of the community to take part. Tickets are now available for Brunch for the Bay 2026. Advance reservations are encouraged.
Brunch for the Bay 2026
Sunday, November 1, 2026 | 11 am - 2 pm
The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort
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