Rivers are Life Premieres 'The Captain & the Super Clams'

Today, Rivers are Life premieres its newest film, "The Captain & The Super Clams." The documentary journeys to the east coast of Florida, focusing on Indian River Lagoon. It highlights the efforts of Captain Blair Wiggins and Dr. Todd Osbourne, who aim to restore the local clam population, devastated by unregulated commercial clamming in the 1990s.

Captain Blair noticed a significant decline in the clam population, which serve as natural water filters. The absence of clams led to deteriorating water quality and massive algae blooms. In 2019, he partnered with Dr. Osbourne and the Indian River Clam Restoration Project to address the issue.

After finding only 39 surviving clams in an area that once hosted over 9 billion, they bred these "super clams" at the University of Florida's Whitney Laboratory. The project continues to monitor the ecosystem and employs innovative techniques such as using drones to spread new clams.

Dr. Osbourne emphasized the importance of combining scientific approaches with local knowledge. The film illustrates the community’s vital role in restoring their natural environment.

"The Captain & The Super Clams" premieres on June 5, 2024. Watch the film here.