National Seashell Day was founded by the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau on the first day of summer in 2016. This day was created as a marketing gimmick to attract tourists to celebrate the seashells found on the beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel in Southwest Florida. National Seashell Day was first celebrated on Captiva Island with the morning TV news show called “Good Morning, America.”
Did you know Sanibel Island has earned the title of the Seashell Capital of the World, owing to its abundance of seashells? Every year, people flock to Captiva and Sanibel Islands to search for over 400 species of shells. The calm waves and location make these islands the top pick for people to look for beautiful seashells.
However, while shelling is allowed, it is illegal to collect live shells, which is any shell that still has an inhabitant. The shell serves as their home and it is cruel to disrupt their environment. This day is also celebrated to alleviate the issue of the illegal shell trade. In fact, shellers are also encouraged to keep their empty shell collection to a minimum.
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