Tri Beta Fish Fundraiser

University of Tampa Biological Science Honors Society, Tri Beta, is hosting a fish sale fundraiser on campus inside the Vaughn Center, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 3-5.

The members of Tri Beta are going to be selling fish bowls for $10 each. Each bowl comes with fish food, and contains one Siamese Fighting fish, commonly known as the Betta fish, and rocks for the bottom of the bowl.

The money Tri Beta raises is going to be used to purchase emission rights from the Regional Clean Air Market. RECLAIM gives companies a cap on how much pollution their facilities can emit, and lowers that cap each year, forcing facilities to reduce emissions or buy rights from companies that have extra.

According to Tri Beta member Cory Gucwa, a sophomore majoring in Biology, Tri Beta plans on spending their emission rights on greenhouse gas, or GHG. By purchasing GHG rights, the amount of emission rights in circulation will diminish, effectively lowering emissions.

The members Tri Beta seem optimistic about the sale, and making a difference.

"I'm really happy to be able to have this chance to make a positive impact on the environment," Sophomore Marine Biology major Erich Dietterle said. "It [pollution] is a huge problem in the world right now, and most people just aren't taking it seriously. We are just trying to do our part."

Sophomore Biology major Ernie Gonzalez agreed.

“I think it a good idea,” Gonzalez said. “We're going to make a little bit of a difference. And with the club name and all. I mean Tri Beta is selling Betta fish. And hey, it provides some pets for some people, so that’s always good.”

Gonzalez said that he thought the sale would be a lot more fun than something more common, like a bake sale.

“I personally would have preferred a sea-themed car wash,” Gonzalez said. “You know, have the girls dress up as mermaids or something. But oh well.”