Houston Area Hatchery-Aquarium Hosts Free Anniversary Bash Feb. 23

Media Contact: Connie Stolte, (979) 292-0100, icle__media__contact">Media Contact: Connie Stolte, (979) 292-0100, ext 23, or David Abrego, ext 22, connie.stolte@tpwd.texas.gov, david.abrego@tpwd.texas.gov

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Sea Center Texas in Lake Jackson Offers Family-Oriented Nature Day

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LAKE JACKSON — Sea Center Texas will host its 8th annual Nature Day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Feb. 23, and the public is invited to join in the free festivities and help celebrate the 50th anniversary of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the 30th anniversary of TPWD Coastal Fish Hatcheries, and Sea Center’s 17th anniversary.

Nature Day is a family educational event geared to introduce children to the wonders of the outdoors and to teach families about being wise stewards of our natural resources. Walk-through exhibits, activities, and crafts will be offered by participating nature-based organizations.

In addition to the indoor exhibits, weather permitting, two outdoor activities will be offered. First, families can participate in a nature scavenger hunt at the wetland walkway from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to enjoy viewing of plants, birds, snakes, turtles, dragonflies, and hummingbirds. Secondly, a catch-and-release youth fishing event for youngsters 16 years old and younger will be held from 1-3 p.m. Fishing participants need to provide their own rods, reels and bait. Please, no artificial bait and only barbless hooks, since captured fish are released back into the water. Good bait choices would be dead shrimp or cut squid.

Sea Center Texas is a marine aquarium, hatchery and education center operated by TPWD in partnership with The Dow Chemical Company/Texas Operations, Coastal Conservation Association, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Sport Fish Restoration Program. The free Visitor Center has one of the best aquarium exhibits of native saltwater fish in Texas. Besides hosting more than 1 million visitors and providing education programs for tens of thousands of youth, the hatchery has raised millions of juvenile finfish for stocking in Texas bays.

This is one of three marine hatcheries operated by TPWD. Since 1983, 711 million hatchery-reared red drum fingerlings have been released from these hatcheries into Texas waters. Since 1997, Sea Center has produced approximately 50 percent of the 24 million fingerlings released annually along the coast.

Sea Center Texas is located at 300 Medical Drive. From Houston take Hwy 288 south to Lake Jackson. Turn right on Plantation Drive then right onto Medical. For more information, visit the Sea Center Texas website or call (979) 292-0100.