Capt. Planet brings artificial reefs to waterfront businesses in Sarasota County

A Kansas environmental activist is committed to improving water quality, and he's doing it one dock at a time. 

Garrett Stuart, better known as Capt. Planet, is an algae scientist and educator whose plan is to save Earth. Years ago, he visited the Florida Keys to snorkel and decided to stay and help with red tide research in 2018. 

Now in Sarasota County, Stuart is installing artificial reefs at local waterfront businesses. An artificial reef is a manmade structure intentionally placed in waters to create a habitat for a variety of marine life. 

Stuart said the reefs also help with red tide. Because they can filtrate so many gallons of water, the reefs purify water at restaurants and homes.

"It instantly acts as fish and crab habitat," he said. "It's universally proven to house about 300 fish, 200 crabs per year. These homes that live on the reef literally eat algae, so It's a win-win as far as we're giving fish habitat, and we're literally actively cleaning our waters with this." 

Stuart's passion for saving the Earth started in second grade. He says his favorite animal was the golden toad, which was last seen in 1989 in Costa Rica. He asked his teacher why they disappeared, and she answered global warming. Since then, he's dedicated his life to preserving and advocating for nature. 

Capt. Planet has been installing artificial reefs around the world, but his most recent was at the Pelican Alley restaurant in Nokomis. An employee at the restaurant reached out to him on social media after he heard that other waterfront restaurants turned down the opportunity. 

"I thought it would be cool to do it at restaurants, in public places where a family could take their friends out to eat and show them how they're helping the planet," Stuart said. "That way more people can talk about it, get involved, and get interested in ocean science and how we can help."

Pelican Alley owner Tommy Adorna said yes to the Captain, and now he has more than eight artificial reefs under the dock. It's been a little over a week, and Adorna says the reefs already have things growing on them. 

Adorna said clean water is very important to his business. He was all for the idea. 

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"It's very important for us to do whatever it takes to filtrate and clean the water," said Adorna. "People don't want to come down by the water and have dinner and look at the water if it's disgusting or smells." 

Adorna said more than a dozen customers have asked about the reefs, wondering if they can get them installed at their home docks. 

"People are really excited because it's great for the environment, and it filtrates the water," Adorna said. "People want them installed on their waterfront homes." 

Most of the artificial reefs Stuart installs at businesses are funded through donations. People donate to his nonprofit, the Eco Preservation Project, and can adopt a reef to be put anywhere the Captain chooses. Homeowners can purchase personal reefs at their own docks for $297.

"What we need to be doing is always caring," Stuart said, "not just caring when there's fish floating."