Some plastic products are labeled as “biodegradable,” “environmentally-friendly,” or “compostable.” All of these terms imply that the product will have a minimal or no negative impact on the environment. Unfortunately, the public perception of these terms is often… Read More
Are you ready for Plastic-Free July? As many readers know, I created and coordinate the Florida Microplastic Awareness Project. Our goal is to both collect citizen science data about the amount of plastic found in Florida’s waters and… Read More
June is a busy month for marine awareness. World Oceans Day is celebrated on June 8 and World Sea Turtle Day is June 16. This year there was a concerted effort to celebrate sea turtle week during the… Read More
I always enjoy looking for sea beans when I am walking on the beach. What are sea beans? This name is used for a group of seeds that float in water. Many of the plants that produce these… Read More
It is particularly difficult to try and reduce the amount of waste that we generate during holidays, reunions, or other “events.” Most things that we buy, from food to decorations to gift items come in packaging that must… Read More
Recently, beachgoers may have noticed fairly large (eight to ten-inch diameter), brownish, rubbery jellyfish washed up on the shore. This is not a rare occurrence. However, somewhat like the sea butterflies that I wrote about last summer, the… Read More
As the marine biologist in the UF/IFAS Extension Flagler County office, I wanted to share some holiday-themed marine creatures that you might or might not have heard of. Christmas trees Let’s start with Christmas tree worms. These worms… Read More
Many people will be entertaining or being entertained by friends and/or family over the next couple of months. It is particularly challenging to try and reduce the amount of waste that we generate during holidays. Most things that… Read More
Unlike many people, I am always happy to see (or smell!) brown Sargassum seaweed washing up on local beaches. While we do not have kelp in Florida waters, Sargassum is similar in that it contains gas-filled bladders that… Read More
For the third year, the Florida Microplastic Awareness Project promoted the month of September as Microplastic Awareness Month. Around the state, there were various educational activities designed to help teach people about the problems with plastics and to… Read More
