NATIONAL SEASHELL DAY

NATIONAL SEASHELL DAY

June 20 is the first day of summer and National Seashell Day reminds us to put our toes in the sand and admire the beauty of seashells. National Seashell Day is here to tell you all sea shellers and make sure you check out your local beaches during the prime shelling season.

#NationalSeashellDay

To those not in the know, shellers are beachcombers who collect seashells by scouring the beaches for the gems left behind by snails and mollusks. National Seashell Day is a time to add color to your adventure in the form of seashells. Grab your bucket and head out around sunrise or sunset. Seashells are waiting for you!

For a sheller, the hunt for a rare or unique specimen is like finding a four leaf clover. Finding the true tulip or lettered olive is almost more mesmerizing than the ocean sunset. The king's crown conch, the apple murex, or even a pear whelk dazzle beachcombers and are the  jewels of the sandy beaches. Their names are as musical as finding a rare musical composition.

6 Tips for Shellers

  1. Never collect live shells. When in doubt, always put them gently back in the water.

  2. Check local ordinances. Only take a small number. Shells are part of the ecosystem helping to preserve and create the beaches we enjoy visiting.

  3. The best time for shelling is one hour before and one hour after low tide.

  4. Follow the high tide shell line where the largest waves stop.

  5. Watch for full and new moons. They have a higher gravitational pull on the tide and reveal more seashells.

  6. Storms churn up the ocean floor sending more shells to the surface and the shore for collection.

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL SEASHELL DAY

Make your way to your favorite beach to collect your treasures or schedule a shoreside vacation to start your seashell collection. Share your seashell collections and beachcombing tips by using #NationalSeashellDay on social media.

NATIONAL SEASHELL DAY HISTORY

The Beaches of Ft. Myers & Sanibel founded National Seashell Day in 2016 to be celebrated on the first day of summer. This National Day encourages everyone to celebrate seashells and the extraordinary shelling found in Southwest Florida.

The Registrar at National Day Calendar proclaimed National Seashell Day to be observed annually in 2017.