FDEP and ECHD both sampled this week – all clear!

 

RED TIDE

Background levels of Karenia brevis were not detected anywhere in the state of Florida this week woo-hoo!

 

FISH KILLS for Escambia and Santa Rosa counties

No fish kills reported this week.

 

HEALTH ADVISORIES

No advisories this week

 

WATER TEMPERATURES

84-86°F

 

SALINITY

14-19 ‰- normal

 

DISSOLVED OXYGEN

5.8 – 6.8 mg/L – all good

 

NUTRIENTS

No updates on nutrients this week

MARINE DEBRIS PLASTICS

Ocean Hour this week – Ft. Pickens – meet at the campground registration building @ 8:45

Top 3 – (1) foam (2) cigarette butts (3) plastic bottles

The Ocean Hour team, Escambia County Division of Marine Resources, and Sea Grant are working on an education campaign to address marine debris – more coming

Microplastics

105 samples not analyzed – 1019 microplastics found – 52% unknown (before data sheet separated)

484 items were identified – 74% are fibers, 22% microbeads

Top spots – (1) Morgan Park – Pensacola Beach (2) East Boat Ramp Bayou Texar / Waste Water Treatment Plant Pensacola Beach (3) Thompson’s Bayou UWF

 

TERRAPIN SURVEYS

The only survey logged this week was from Big Lagoon State Park – 2 surveys conducted – no terrapins found

Some team members will be surveying Weekly Bayou and Tarkiln as well as Big Sabine this week.

 

OTHER

Goliath Grouper – the official Goliath Grouper survey concluded today – however we are still interested in any sightings – just contact me if you do – we had two reported during the official count

Bay Scallop

Santa Rosa Sound Survey will be Saturday July 30 (8:00-12:00) – orientation July 28 TBA

Big Lagoon will be Saturday August 6 (8:00-12:00) – orientation August 4 TBA

THE SCALLOP SEASON IS BACK ON IN ST. JOE BAY… ALBEIT SHORTER AND FEWER CAN BE TAKEN

The status of scallop in St. Joe Bay had reached “collapsed” status with recent surveys. This was believed to be caused by the red tide this past fall. A stable situation is defined as 60 scallops/station, the numbers were mostly less than 6 scallops/station with a mean of 2.3/station. Based on this FWC decided to close St. Joe to scalloping this year. However, yesterday they have changed that ruling to a shorter season. NOW…

Between the west end of St. Vincent Island and the west bank of the Mexico Beach canal harvesters may collect no more than 40 scallop/person or 200/vessel. The season in this area will run from Aug 22 – Sep 6. Harvesting west of Mexico Beach is illegal

From St. Vincent Island east to the Pasco/Hernando county line the season begins tomorrow and will run through Sep 24. Harvesters can collect 2 gallons whole (0.5 gallons of meat) / person / day – OR – 10 gallons whole (0.5 gal cleaned) / vessel.

FOR THOSE HEADING EAST OF ST. JOE TO COLLECT, THE KEATON BEACH BOAT RAMP IS CURRENTLY CLOSED.

 

Vitex

More vitex was discovered this week on Perdido Bay. Sea Grant and UWF SEAS will work on this area in the fall.

 

Here are the numbers…

 

FDEP

Water Body Temp (F) Salinity (ppt) DO(mg/L) ENT bacteria count (colonies/100ml)

 

Bayou Texar 86 14.1 6.8 4

Bayou Chico 84 17.3 6.4 34

Bayou Grande 84 18.6 5.8 6

 

ECHD

Bayou Texar – Good

Sanders Beach / Bayou Chico – Chico Good / Sanders Beach was POOR on Jun 20 but Jun 21 was Good

Bayou Grande – Good

Big Lagoon – Good

Safe levels of Enterococcus bacteria are those that are less than 104 colonies / 100ml of sample.