Sales of the Tampa Bay Estuary specialty license tag passed the $1 million mark in early June 2008, according to recent revenue reports.

The Tampa Bay Estuary license plate, also known as the “Tarpon Tag,” has been offered since 2000. In just eight years, slightly more than $1 million worth of these tags have been purchased or renewed by Floridians and proudly displayed on their automobiles, boat trailers and recreational vehicles.

The specialty tag costs $27 the first year and $17 per year after that -- with $15 going directly to bay improvement projects.

TBEP returns tag revenues to the community in the form of grants to citizen groups, schools and non-profit organizations. Projects funded through the Bay Mini-Grant program must be directly linked to the goals of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program=s Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. Eligible projects include habitat restoration, pollution prevention and environmental education initiatives.

This year, TBEP awarded $116,000 to 20 community groups for projects that directly involve citizens in restoring and improving Tampa Bay. Grant projects include creation of a digital version of the popular Boater’s and Angler’s Guide to Tampa Bay; production of a video exploring the link between air pollution and water quality; installation of pet waste stations along the Palma Sola Scenic Highway in Manatee County; and several educational projects involving students at schools throughout the Tampa Bay region.

The Tampa Bay Estuary Program wishes to thank everyone who has purchased a Tarpon Tag for helping to restore Florida’s largest open-water estuary!