Sea Grant Notes
Dec 14, 2018
2019 SCIENCE HOUR PROGRAM LINE UP LISTED BELOW IN ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY SECTION
DO NOT EXPECT HORSESHOE CRABS TO LAY EGGS THIS WEEK, BUT IT IS FULL MOON WEEK – Full moon will be Saturday Dec 22 – IF they decide to lay eggs they will approach the beach close to high tide – high tides are running between 7:00 and 10:00 PM this week – More information on reporting HC sightings in CITIZEN SCIENCE section below
FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WE WILL BE POSTING UPDATES FROM OUR CITIZEN SCIENCE MONITORING PROJECTS – Links to reports can be found under CITIZEN SCIENCE section below
SAVE THE DATE! FEB 19-20 we will be hosting a today workshop; Day 1 – Lionfish; Day 2 – Artificial Reefs; Workshops will be held in Ft. Walton Beach; registration information coming
Photo: Marine Science Academy Washington High School
WATER QUALITY UPDATES
Health Advisories:
- 2 samples taken this week: Bayou Texar, and Sanders Beach
- HEALTH ADVISORIES ISSUED FOR BOTH BAYOU TEXAR AND SANDERS BEACH
- See complete data table at end of this note
Red Tide: Karenia brevis – Data provided by FWC
- Mid-week Report
- Southwest Florida – continues from Pinellas to Collier counties albeit patchy, FISH KILLS reported from Manatee, Sarasota, and Collier counties; RESPIRATORY ISSUES reported from Manatee, Sarasota, Lee, and Collier counties.
- Northwest Florida – no reports from NW Florida
- Southeast Florida – background levels reported from Palm Beach county; no reports of fish kills or respiratory problems
- Today’s Report
- Southwest Florida – continues from background to low concentrations from Pinellas to Collier counties; NO FISH KILLS reported; RESPIRTORY ISSUES reported from Manatee, Sarasota, and Collier counties.
- Northwest Florida – RED TIDE NOT REPORTED IN FLORIDA PANHANDLE
- East Florida – RED TIDE NOT REPORTED FROM EAST COAST OF FLORIDA
- ARTICLES
- Who is This Creature That Causes Red Tide: Information on Karenia brevis. Rick O’Connor, Florida Sea Grant – http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/2018/09/21/who-is-the-creature-that-causes-red-tide-information-on-karenia-brevis/.
- Frequently Asked Questions About the 2018 Red Tide Bloom – Betty Staugler, Florida Sea Grant – https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/charlotteco/2018/08/14/frequently-asked-questions-about-the-2018-red-tide-bloom/.
- Understanding Florida’s Red Tide – Betty Staugler, Florida Sea Grant – https://www.flseagrant.org/news/2018/08/understanding-the-florida-red-tide/.
- Watching and Waiting: Uncertainty About When the Algal Blooms Will End – Dr. Karl Haven, Florida Sea Grant – https://www.flseagrant.org/news/2018/07/watching-and-waiting-uncertainty-about-when-algae-blooms-will-end/.
Fish Kills: Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties – Data provided by FWC
- DEC 1 – DEAD MENHADEN REPORTED NEAR SHORELINE PARK IN GULF BREEZE
- Cause was not reported
- See complete data table at end of note
Photo: Rick O’Connor
INVASIVE SPECIES
Lionfish
- SAVE THE DATE – FEB 19-20 Ft. Walton Beach – Lionfish/Artificial Reef Workshop; more information coming
Giant Salvinia
- This plant is a serious noxious weed in our state. It has been reported in Jackson Creek and in Bayou Chico. FWC is currently trying to eradicate it but we are in need of other records. If you believe you have this freshwater plant in a pond near you – please contact us (reply to this email). You can find out more about this plant at http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/salvinia-molesta/.
Beach Vitex:
- WE HAVE FOUND 4 NEW RECORDS OF BEACH VITEX ON PENSACOLA BEACH
- We continue to survey for beach vitex in Gulf Breeze, Pensacola Beach, Perdido Key, and Navarre Beach. If you believe you have seen this plant please contact us at roc1@ufl.edu or (850) 475-5230.
- We will begin removing in January.
- Read more about this plant at http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/vitex-rotundifolia/.
CITIZEN SCIENCE MONITORING
2018 Citizen Science Reports
- LAKEWATCH update. These volunteers monitor nutrients in local waterways. Read the 2018 update at https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2018/08/31/2018-annual-lakewatch-report-for-escambia-county-water-quality/.
- 2018 BIG LAGOON GREAT SCALLOP SEARCH. https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2018/12/05/the-2018-big-lagoon-great-scallop-search-results/.
Marine Debris Removal
- Ocean Hour – all cleanups begin with sign in at 8:45 – clean ups are from 9:00 – 10:00
- Dec 15: TWO SITES
- Wayside Park and Graffiti Bridge
- Bartram Park across from Seville Square
Habitat Restoration and Monitoring
- Living Shoreline
- Fall and winter is a good time to have a living shoreline installed; contact us if interested
Horseshoe Crab Surveys
- We encourage all locals who observe horseshoe crab nesting to contact FWC and report it. You can contact them at horseshoe@myfwc.com or 1-866-252-9326.
- Currently between 2002 and 2017 9 records have been reported from Escambia and 3 from Santa Rosa counties. Read more at http://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/crustaceans/horseshoe-crabs/report-sightings/.
- You can report any sighting of a horseshoe crab at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/horseshoe_crab.
- Best time to find nesting is during high tide of the new and full moon.
- New Moon occurs the week of DEC 2-8; high tides running between 8:00 and 10:00 PM
- Full Moon will be during the week of DEC 16-22; High tides running between 8:00 and 10:00 PM
- If you see a horseshoe crab we would like to know as well, please let the county extension office know – roc1@ufl.edu (850) 475-5230 ext 111
- Annual reports from CS projects will be posted as we complete them. Current reports available are
- LAKEWATCH nutrient monitoring report
- GREAT SCALLOP SEARCH survey report
Photo: Betsy Walker
MARINE LITERACY
Science Hour
- 2019 SCIENCE HOUR CALENDAR
- Jan 10: Online Fact vs. Fiction – Jane Daugherty; University of West Florida
- Feb 7: Urban Coyote Populations – Catherine Kennedy; FWC
- Mar 14: Emmanuel Point Shipwrecks – Nicole Grinnan; Public Archeology Coordinator
- Apr 11: Beach Safety – Dave Greenwood; Water safety Chief / Pensacola Lifeguards
- May 16: NW Florida Aquatic Preserve Program – Beth Fugate and Zach Schang; FDEP
- Jun 13: Local Invasive Species – Don Buchanan and Rick O’Connor; FWC / Extension
- Jul 11: Mosquito Control – Matthew Mello; Escambia County Mosquito Control
- Aug 8: Vibrio – speaker TBD
- Sep 12: Genetically Modified Organisms – Libbe Johnson; Escambia County Extension
- Oct 10: Climate Task Force Report – Carrie Stevenson; Escambia County Extension
- Nov 14: Bay Bridge & Artificial Reefs – Robert Turpin; Escambia Marine Resources
- Programs will be held in rm 104 of the Central Office Complex; 3363 West Park Place
Gulf Coast Seafood in PEAK Season for the Month of December
- Clams (cultured – always in season)
- King Mackerel (this fish does have issues with mercury content – check the following link for more information – https://www.myescambia.com/our-services/natural-resources-management/marine-resources/seafood-safety.
- Mullet
- Oysters
- Snapper (always in season for some species; based on harvest regulations – check with local market)
- Spanish Mackerel
- Stone crab
OTHER NOTES
- RED SNAPPER SEASON
- This month FWC directed staff to move forward with the 2019 Snapper Season; this would apply to all private vessels fishing state or federal waters and charters who do NOT have federal permits; the season would run from JUNE 11 through JULY 12; there MAY be a fall season if quotas allow
- UF MILTON AND FLORIDA SEA GRANT RELEASE DUNE RESOTRATION MANUAL
- If interested contact Chris Verlinde at the Santa Rosa County Extension Office 850-623-3868
- SHORE-BASED SHARK FISHINIG UPDATES FROM FWC
- This month FWC drafted possible new regulations for shore-based shark fishing designed to improve survival rates of released sharks, assist with data gathering, and increase public safety. The new regulations (if passed in Feb) would include a new required no cost permit, no chumming if fishing from beach, prohibit delyaed release when captured from beach, required tool for quick release, stainless circle hooks, keeping all no-take species of sharks remain in water during capture/release
- ISSUE WITH PUBLIC NOT HAVING ACCESS TO PRIVATE BEACHES: News report with Sea Grant Specialist Thomas Ruppert on this topic. http://www.wmnf.org/new-law-privatize-florida-beaches-more-complicated/.
NEW ARTICLES
- The Rattlesnakes are Still Around. https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2018/12/04/the-rattlesnakes-are-still-around/.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
- Jan 16 LOCAL WATER QUALITY – Sierra Club Chapter Meeting – Downtown Library – 239 N. Spring Street – 6:00 PM – EVERYONE WELCOME
- Feb 19-20 LIONFISH/ARTIFICIAL WORKSHOP – SAVE THE DATE – Emerald Coast Convention Center – registration required and will be open soon.
Water Quality Data
Enterococcus bacteria scoring rubric for health advisories:
GOOD 0-35 colonies / 100ml
MODERATE 36-70 colonies / 100ml
POOR 71 > colonies / 100ml
Data provided by Florida Department of Health
| Month | Water Body | Good | Moderate | Poor | Advisory Issued |
| Jan | Bayou Texar | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Sanders Beach | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| Feb | Bayou Texar | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Sanders Beach | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | |
| Mar | Bayou Texar | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Sanders Beach | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Bayou Chico | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Bayou Grande | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Big Lagoon SP | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Perdido Key SP | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Casino Beach | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Park East | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Park West | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Quietwater | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Apr | Bayou Texar | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Sanders Beach | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Bayou Chico | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Bayou Grande | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Big Lagoon SP | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Perdido Key SP | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Casino Beach | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Park East | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Park West | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Quietwater | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| May | Bayou Texar | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Sanders Beach | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Bayou Chico | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Bayou Grande | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Big Lagoon SP | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Perdido Key SP | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Casino Beach | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Park East | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Park West | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Quietwater | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| June | Bayou Texar | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Sanders Beach | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Bayou Chico | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Bayou Grande | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| Big Lagoon SP | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Perdido Key SP | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Casino Beach | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Park East | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Park West | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Quietwater | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Opal Beach | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Johnson’s Beach | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Ft. Pickens | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| July | Bayou Texar | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Sanders Beach | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Bayou Chico | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| Bayou Grande | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| Big Lagoon SP | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Perdido Key SP | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Casino Beach | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Park East | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Park West | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Quietwater | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Opal Beach | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Johnson’s Beach | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Ft. Pickens | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Aug | Bayou Texar | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Sanders Beach | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| Bayou Chico | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Bayou Grande | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Big Lagoon SP | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Perdido Key SP | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Casino Beach | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Park East | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Park West | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Quietwater | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Opal Beach | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Johnson’s Beach | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Ft. Pickens | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Sep | Bayou Texar | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Sanders Beach | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
| Bayou Chico | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| Bayou Grande | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| Big Lagoon SP | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Perdido Key SP | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Casino Beach | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Park East | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Park West | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Quietwater | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Opal Beach | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Johnson’s Beach | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Ft. Pickens | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Oct | Bayou Texar | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Sanders Beach | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
| Bayou Chico | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | |
| Bayou Grande | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Big Lagoon SP | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Perdido Key SP | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Casino Beach | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Park East | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Park West | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Quietwater | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Opal Beach | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Johnson’s Beach | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Ft. Pickens | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Nov | Bayou Texar | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Sanders Beach | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | |
| Bayou Chico | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Bayou Grande | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Big Lagoon SP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Perdido Key SP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Casino Beach | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Park East | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Park West | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Quietwater | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Opal Beach | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Johnson’s Beach | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Ft. Pickens | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Dec | Bayou Texar | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Sanders Beach | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| Bayou Chico | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Bayou Grande | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Big Lagoon SP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Perdido Key SP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Casino Beach | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Park East | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Park West | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Quietwater | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Opal Beach | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Johnson’s Beach | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Ft. Pickens | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| TOTAL | 134 | 37 | 67 | 48 | |
| Percent | Samples with advisories | .20 |
Health Advisory Frequency
| Body of Water | # of samples | # of advisories | % frequency |
| Bayou Texar | 49 | 22 | .45 |
| Sanders Beach | 61 | 7 | .11 |
| Bayou Chico | 20 | 12 | .60 |
| Bayou Grande | 17 | 8 | .47 |
Fish Kill Data provided by FWC
| Month | # of Fish Kills | # of Dead Fish | Cause |
| Jan | 5 | 107 | Unknown – probably cold |
| Feb | 0 | 0 | |
| Mar | 0 | 0 | |
| Apr | 0 | 0 | |
| May | 1 | 4 | unknown |
| Jun | 0 | 0 | |
| Jul | 0 | 0 | |
| Aug | 0 | 0 | |
| Sep | 0 | 0 | |
| Oct | 1 | ? | Alewives – unknown |
| Nov | 0 | 0 | |
| Dec | 1 | ? | Menhaden – unknown |
| TOTAL | 6 | 111 |
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