Extension offices across the district are now slowly opening on a limited basis. Some essential programs are being provided with limited attendance and social distancing. It is still best to contact us by phone or email.
Scallop Season Opening in One Week
Scallop season will be opening in St. Joe August 16 and will remain open until September 24. State waters open for scalloping in this area extend from Mexico Beach in Bay County to St. Vincent Island in Franklin. There is a restoration area south of Black Island in St. Joe Bay that is marked and off limits to harvest, anchoring, or other.
GET YOUR SNORKEL GEAR READY.
Water Quality Updates
Health Advisories
- Aug 3 – Bayou Chico (MODERATE), Bayou Grande, Bayou Texar, Big Lagoon SP, Johnsons Beach, Sanders Beach, Perdido Key SP (GOOD)
- Aug 4 – Casino Beach, Park East, Park West, Ft. Pickens, Opal Beach, Quietwater Beach (GOOD)
- See all data below
Rainfall
- Rainfall collected weekly from East Hill (UF IFAS)
- Jan (4.0) Feb (2.8) Mar (0.6) – Winter (7.4”)
- Apr (3.2) May (1.6) Jun (6.5) – Spring (11.3”)
- Jul (9.1”) Aug (0.0”)
Salinity
- The objective to see who has a MEAN, MEDIAN, and MODE 20‰ of higher for seagrass and scallop restoration.
- 2020 2nd Quarter Update
- > 20‰: Big Sabine, Old River, Bayou Grande, Little Sabine, Kees Bayou, Big Lagoon,
- < 20‰: Lower Perdido Bay,
Longnose Killifish Monitoring
- Longnose killifish (Fundulus similis) is being used as an indicator of freshwater tributaries.
- Project on hold due to COVID-19
Red Tide & Harmful Algal Blooms
- Report Date – Jul 31
- Red tide not reported anywhere in Florida the week prior to July 31
- HABs not detected in panhandle this week
Fish Kills
- No fish kills reported this week.
- No Fish Kills reported in Escambia / Santa Rosa for Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun
- Fish Kill reported at Navarre Beach and Perdido Key in July – believed to be discarded baitfish
- Report fish kills to FWC at – https://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/health/fish-kills-hotline/.
Habitat Restoration Updates
- Living Shorelines
- – In the process of monitoring existing projects – reports coming. If interested in a living shoreline contact me.
- Seagrass Monitoring
- – We have begun monitoring in Big Lagoon. A few stations do need volunteers. Some stations will require a boat to access. If interested – contact me.
- Mangrove Surveys
- – We are surveying for mangroves in the bay area. Paddle craft needed for this, paddleboard works best. If interested – contact me.
- OCEAN HOUR – Suspending all clean ups for the time being
Wildlife Monitoring Updates
- Terrapin Surveys – ongoing until Sep 30 – if interested contact me
- Horseshoe Crabs – will resume in the fall – Oct 1
- Barrier Island Cottonmouth Survey – ongoing until Sep 30 – 3 found – update report in fall
- The Great Scallop Search – Waiting on permits and ready to begin
- The Great Scavenger Hunt – planned for week of Sep 13-19; one on Perdido Key, one on Pensacola Beach – stay tuned
- Manatee Watch – More of reports this week. Some post-dated but needed none the less. Reports coming from the Gulf, the Sound, and Big Lagoon area. 53 reports since Jan 1
- – PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH SIGHTINGS (roc1@ufl.edu)
- – ALSO, APPORACH SHORE AND DOCKS SLOWLY WITH A LOOKOUT IF YOU CAN
- IT IS BIRD NESTING SEASON ON OUR BARRIER ISLANDS – please slow down
Invasive Species Updates
- Cuban Treefrog Records – there has been an increase in reports of these animals in our area. Read the following article to find out where and how to manage this before they become a bigger problem –
https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2020/07/02/are-we-being-invaded-by-cuban-treefrogs-maybe/.
- Halloweed – coming in October
- Lionfish
- – 2020 Emerald Coast Open – Sep 11-13 in Destin
- – Inshore Lionfish Surveys – on hold – IF YOU SEE ANY LIONFISH NEARSHORE OR IN THE BAY, PLEASE CONTACT ME
- The Great Scavenger Hunt – scheduled for the week of Sep 13-19; one on Perdido Key, one on Pensacola Beach
Seafood in Peak Season for August
- Rolling out of peak season
- – Crawfish
- – Pink shrimp
- In peak season
- – Clams
- – Flounder
- – King Mackerel – children, pregnant women should only consume one serving a week
- – Brown shrimp (bay shrimp)
- – Rock shrimp
- – White shrimp (Gulf shrimp)
- – Snapper – check state limits and accessibility; change frequently
- – Yellowfin tuna
- Beginning peak season
- – Spanish mackerel
- – Spiny lobster
- Seafood Safety Guidelines – Escambia County Division of Marine Resources – https://www.myescambia.com/our-services/natural-resources-management/marine-resources/seafood-safety.
Upcoming Programs
PANHANDLE OUTDOORS LIVE – WEBINAR
Aug 19 – Invasive Species: Those Nursery Hitchhikers
12:00 – 12:30 CDT
1:00 – 1:30 EDT
This is the first of a series of webinars focusing on Panhandle Outdoor issue and topics.
We kick off with a presentation by Okaloosa Agent Shelia Dunning and Escambia Agent Rick O’Connor on invasive species in the nursery industry.
Pre-registration is required
https://ufl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwpf-2trzouH9x2IafUmamYkZPkVVQy-64d
BITE SIZED SCIENCE WEBINARS
The Florida Sea Grant “Bite-Sized Science” webinar series has completed all NEW programs. However, you can view any of the past ones by visiting http://bit.ly/bite-sizedscience
SEAFOOD @ YOUR FINGERTIPS
The live broadcast of the “Seafood @ Your Fingertips LIVE” have all been completed at this time. New ones may be coming. You can view any of the past programs by visiting the Florida Sea Grant Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/floridaseagrant/.
Or get the recipes at our website – https://www.flseagrant.org/.
Current Articles
Weekly “What is it?” – Bagworm
Carrie Stevenson
https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/category/natural-resources/.
Climate Change and Future Hurricanes
Wat are scientists saying?
http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/.
CARES Act Funding in the Pipeline for the Hard-hit Fishing Industry
Money will be coming, those involved in commercial or recreational harvest for hire, should check out links on how to prepare for the applications when they come
http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/.
2020 Year of the Turtle – WE HAVE COMPLETED ARTICLES ON ALL FLORIDA SPECIES
You can find any species you are interested by visiting the link below – find the search box near the top entitled “what can we help you with?” – and type in the turtle you are interested in.
https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/escambia/?topic=natural-resources#county-feed.
HEALTH ADVISORY DATA
Enterococcus bacteria count rubric for health advisories (Florida Department of Health)
GOOD 0-35 colonies/100ml of sample
MODERATE 36-70 colonies/100ml
POOR 71> colonies/100ml
Health Advisory Frequency
Data provided by the Florida Department of Health’s Healthy Beaches Program
| Body of Water | # of samples collected | # of POOR reports | # of advisories issued | % frequency of advisories |
| Bayou Texar | 27 | 9 | 9 | .35 |
| Sanders Beach | 24 | 3 | 0 | .00 |
| Bayou Chico | 19 | 4 | 4 | .21 |
| Bayou Grande | 18 | 5 | 5 | .28 |
| Big Lagoon SP | 16 | 2 | 0 | .00 |
| Perdido Key SP | 18 | 0 | 0 | .00 |
| Casino Beach | 17 | 0 | 0 | .00 |
| Park East | 17 | 1 | 0 | .00 |
| Park West | 17 | 0 | 0 | .00 |
| Quietwater Beach | 17 | 0 | 0 | .00 |
| Ft. Pickens | 6 | 0 | 0 | .00 |
| Opal Beach | 6 | 0 | 0 | .00 |
| TOTAL | 202 | 24 | 18 | .09 |
Fish Kill Data provided by FWC (Escambia and Santa Rosa counties)
| Month | # of Fish Kills reported | # of Dead Fish reported | Cause |
| Jan | 0 | 0 | |
| Feb | 0 | 0 | |
| Mar | 0 | 0 | |
| Apr | 0 | 0 | |
| May | 0 | 0 | |
| Jun | 0 | 0 | |
| Jul | 2 | NR | Baitfish at Navarre Beach and Perdido Key; probably a discard |
| Aug | 0 | 0 | |
| TOTAL | 2 | 0 |
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