Charlotte Harbor commercial crabbing featured in new TV episode

Episode 3 of the Series Highlights Commercial Crabbing and Native Wildlife Rehabilitation

PUNTA GORDA/ENGLEWOOD BEACH – Commercial crabbing is a family tradition for the Santini Family. Five generations have pulled crab pots from Florida’s waters to make a living. Today, father and son Gene and Nick Santini of Punta Gorda continue the family’s commercial fishing legacy by harvesting blue crabs from Charlotte Harbor.

The latest episode of Adventure & Wildlife – Hosted by the Shark Brothers highlights a morning of crabbing with the Santinis then follows the blue crabs to Peace River Seafood where owner Kelly Beall and general manager Larry Corbin discuss more of the seafood industry. The harvested crabs are either distributed to local restaurants and markets, sold in the seafood market, steamed for 13 minutes and served to Peace River Seafood diners, or shipped out of state such as to Maryland or California,

Peace River Wildlife Center in Punta Gorda is featured in the episode’s conservation spotlight segment. Dr. Robin Jenkins, who is the facility’s Director of Veterinary Services, and Executive Director Callie Stahl share what the non-profit facility does to rehabilitate and care for abandoned, injured or orphaned native wildlife.

“Episode 3 of Adventure and Wildlife – Hosted by the Shark Brothers shows how Charlotte Harbor and our environment are intertwined with the local economy. Charlotte County’s economic health is dependent on Charlotte Harbor’s health and through the series, our goal is to raise awareness of the County’s natural product so it is protected for future generations to enjoy,” said Lorah Steiner, Director of Tourism for the Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau. The 25-minute video is part of an original series hosted and produced by Sean Paxton and Brooks Paxton II, otherwise known as the Shark Brothers, and a component of the Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau marketing program.

The series invites those interested in exploring Florida’s wild outdoors, nature-based activities and soft-adventure to visit the Charlotte Harbor Gulf Island Coast in Southwest Florida. The series is available online at AdventureAndWildlife.com and viewers can stay up-to-date with the show hosts including participating in Facebook Live events at Facebook.com/adventureandwildlifeseries

Additional episodes of Adventure and Wildlife – Hosted by the Shark Brothers will be released at later dates featuring the abundant outdoor recreation opportunities the area offers.

Users are encouraged to share the videos on social media and use the hashtags #bestsideoutside, #ecologinomical, #thesharkbrothers and #adventureandwildlife

Each year, the Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau conducts marketing, sales and promotional campaigns to increase awareness of and visitation to Charlotte County. In addition to generating economic contributions, Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach VCB is also focused on developing ecotourism and soft adventure travel. These popular low-impact industries enable the county to preserve the invaluable natural resources that contribute to its ecological and economic health, while distinguishing the area and drawing visitors. During calendar year 2016, Charlotte County welcomed an estimated 406,700 visitors and tourism generated an estimated $362,277,100 in direct expenditures and made an estimated $552 million economic impact in Charlotte County.