May 17, 2019 Sea Grant Notes
This Week
May 18-19 – Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day
Join thousands at AJs in Destin Harbor to learn about, view, and eat lionfish. There will be numerous vendors, education booths, tastings, and a kids activity area
May 19-22 – Full Moon Spring Tides & Horseshoe Crabs
Next week we will be experiencing strong spring tides associated with the full moon Sunday through Wednesday. The high tide will be between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM (depending on location). Horseshoe crabs will approach beach during high tide to lay eggs. The smaller males will be riding the backs of the larger females. PLEASE REPORT ANY SIGHTINGS to us here at the extension office. During the NEW MOON reports came from Avenida 16 on Pensacola Beach and Innerarity Point.
May 23 – Bringing Back the Bayous
Join Sea Grant Agent Rick O’Connor for a presentation on the health of our bay and practices you can adopt to help improve things.
Southwest Branch Library – 12248 Gulf Beach Highway – 6:00 PM – free
New Articles
Another Mystery in the Marsh – the Gulf Salt Marsh Snake – http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/.
Preparing for Hurricane Season – 10 tips to protect your home and family
http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/.
Water Quality
Health Advisories
- HEALTH ADVISORIES ISSUED FOR BAYOUS CHICO, TEXAR, GRANDE
- 10 stations were sampled this week; six on May 13, four on May 14
- POOR – Bayous Texar, Chico, Grande
- MODERATE – Quietwater Beach
- GOOD – Big Lagoon SP, Casino Beach, Park East, Park West, Perdido Key SP, Sanders Beach
- 2019 data at end of these notes
Rainfall
- Rainfall collected weekly from East Hill (UF IFAS)
- Jan (2.1”) Feb (1.5”) Mar (0.7”) – winter = 4.3”
- Apr (6.3”) May (1.0”)
Red Tide
- Last report issued was May 10 (FWC)
- Red tide was reported with background levels in Sarasota, Charlotte, and Lee counties in SW FL
Fish Kills
- No fish kills reported from the Pensacola Bay area for May 2019 (FWC).
LAKEWATCH Nutrient Data
- Report will be out in August
Killifish Report
- Project under development; more soon.
REMEMBER
- Maintain your septic tank
- Do not pour fats, oils, or grease down drains – http://www.ecua.fl.gov/green/fats-oils-and-grease.
- Consider a Florida Friendly Landscaped yard – https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/.
Bringing Back the Bayous Program – presentation on the state of the bay and how you can help
- May 23 – Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, 6:00 PM
- Aug 20 – Downtown Library, 239 N. Spring St. 6:00 PM
- Oct 15 – Drowsy Poet, Pensacola Beach Marina (upstairs), 655 Pensacola Beach Blvd, 11:00 AM
Habitat Restoration
- OCEAN HOUR Clean Ups May 18
- – Wayside Park near Graffiti Bridge
- – Bartram Park across from Seville Square
Clean Ups begin at 9:00 and supplies are provided
- Mangrove Surveys Have Begun
- – Only one of the 10 selected locations have been surveyed – no mangroves
- – If you believe you have seen this plant growing in our marshes, please let us know
- Seagrass Monitoring
- – began May 1 a full update will be posted in the fall
- Removing Invasive Species
The following invasive plants have been found on our barrier islands and estuarine coast
- – Beach vitex – http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/vitex-rotundifolia/.
- – Cogon grass – http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/imperata-cylindrica/.
- – Chinese tallow – http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/triadica-sebifera/.
- – Torpedo grass – http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/panicum-repens/.
- – Giant salvinia – http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/salvinia-molesta/.
- – Phragmites – the variety we have is not considered invasive, but the invasive variety has been noted in MS – https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in898.
- Invasive Species Presentations
- – May 31 – Central Office Complex, Giant Salvinia, Derek Fussell FWC, 12:00 PM
- – Jun 13 – Central Office Complex, Science Hour, 6:00 PM
- – Jun 25 – Downtown Library, 239 N. Spring St., 6:00 PM
- – Aug 6 – Drowsy Poet, Pensacola Beach Marina, 655 Pensacola Beach Blvd 11:00 AM
- – Oct 22 – Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Hwy, 6:00 PM
Wildlife
- Horseshoe Crab Nesting Search
- – FULL MOON IS THIS SUNDAY – MAY 19
- – Spring high tides will be running around noon Sunday through Wednesday
- – PLEASE let us know if you see any horseshoe crabs near the shoreline during these days and times
- – One juvenile horseshoe crab was reported near Avenida 16, Santa Rosa Sound, Pensacola Beach and a mating pair was spotted off of Innerarity Point Road during the NEW MOON tides this month.
- Diamondback terrapins
- – Surveys began May 1 in Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Gulf counties
- – May 2 – First nest of the season was reported in Santa Rosa County
- – Nesting activity has been reported in all three counties; full report in the fall
- Snakes
- – Salt marsh snake activity seems to have slowed this week
- – Still seeing coachwhips and occasional cottonmouth at our survey areas
- – They are more active during rain
- – We are seeing the snake-like glass lizards on the barrier islands
- Invasive Wildlife
- – Brown (Cuban Anoles) – best time to deal with them is in winter. More then.
- – Cuban Treefrogs – The have been reported in the New Orleans area. We can show you how to set up a treefrog collector and assist monitoring for the presence of this invasive frog in our area. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw259.
- Invasive Species Presentations
- – May 31 – Central Office Complex, Giant Salvinia, Derek Fussell FWC, 12:00 PM
- – Jun 13 – Central Office Complex, Science Hour, 6:00 PM
- – Jun 25 – Downtown Library, 239 N. Spring St., 6:00 PM
- – Aug 6 – Drowsy Poet, Pensacola Beach Marina (upstairs), 655 Pensacola Beach Blvd 11:00
- – Oct 22 – Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Hwy, 6:00 PM
Fisheries
- The Great Scallop Search
- – Scallop surveys in Big Lagoon are on going. We recommend a team of three to do these. If interested contact me.
- – Training for Santa Rosa Sound will be in May; more to come
- 2019 Scallop Season
- – Jun 15 – Sep 10: Dixie and parts of Taylor counties
- – Jul 1 – Sep 24: Franklin, parts of Taylor, Levy, Citrus, and Hernando counties
- – Jul 19-28: Pasco county
- – Aug 16 – Sep 15: Gulf county
- – Scallop harvest is currently prohibited in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties; please let us know if you do find any live scallops.
- Invasive Lionfish
- – Report Skin Ulcerated Lionfish. The University of Florida is asking divers to report any cases of lionfish with skin ulcers to the FWC. You can do this buy calling the FWC Hotline (1-800-636-0511), or visit public.myFWC.com/FWRI/FishKillReport/Submit.aspx, or use the FWC reporter app. Information needed includes: (1) date of occurrence, (2) location, (3) water temperature, and (4) photos. Read more at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa209.
- – 2019 Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day / Emerald Coast Open: The Largest Lionfish Tournament in History. This is the classic Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day (LRAD) we have had in Pensacola the last four years – this year, it moves to Destin. There will be cash, gear, and other prizes for spearfishing tournament participants. The pre-tournament submission in lionfish has begun and will continue until May 15. Entry fee is $75 before April 1 and $100 after. Learn more at http://emeraldcoastopen.com. The public event will be May 18-19 at AJ’s on the HarborWalk Village at Destin Harbor. 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM each day. There will be education and kid booths, lionfish tasting, and live music. Follow the festival on Facebook.
- – Nearshore Lionfish Surveys will begin in May. If you see a lionfish near the beach or in the bay, please let us know.
- Goliath Grouper Count (June 7-17)– Each year Florida Sea Grant conducts a goliath grouper count during the month of June. The objective is to determine the current range and relative abundance of these currently protected fish. To participate you need to be a diver who dives the same locations on a regular basis during the month. For data sheets contact Sea Grant Agent Rick O’Connor at (850) 475-5230 ext111. Or roc1@ufl.edu.
Seafood
- HACCP Training for Seafood Processors
- – The 2-day face-to-face course will be June 5-6 in downtown Pensacola
- – The online class and 1-day face-to-face course begins now and the face-to-face will be June 7 at the Escambia County Extension Office.
- – Register at http://reg.conferences.dce.ufl.edu/SSP/1400069938
- Seafood @ Your Fingertips
- – Presentation on local seafood, with samples
- – August 6, Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, 6:00 PM
- – October 15, Downtown Library, 239 N. Spring Street, 6:00 PM
- Local Seafood in Peak Season for May
- – Softshell blue crab
- – Cultured clams
- – Crawfish season!
- – Mahi-Mahi
- – Pink shrimp
- – Brown shrimp
- – White shrimp
- – Snapper (check annual regulations)
- – Spanish mackerel (no more than one serving per week)
- Seafood Safety Guidelines – Escambia County Division of Marine Resources – https://www.myescambia.com/our-services/natural-resources-management/marine-resources/seafood-safety.
Environmental Literacy
- 2019 SCIENCE HOUR SCHEDULE; programs are held at the Escambia County Central Office Complex; 3363 West Park Place; they begin at 6:00 PM and are free
- – Jun 13 Invasive Species Don Buchanon (FWC) Rick O’Connor
- – Jul 11 Mosquito Control Matthew Mello, Escambia County
- – Aug 8 Agnotology Chris Fenner, UWF
- – Sep 12 Genetically Modified Organisms Libbie Johnson, County UF Extension
- – Oct 10 Online Fact vs. Fiction Jane Daugherty, UWF
- – Nov 14 Bay Bridge & Artificial Reefs Robert Turpin, Escambia County
New Articles
- Gulf Coast Salt Marsh Snake
- Preparing for Hurricane Season – 10 tips to protect your home and family
http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/.
Upcoming Programs
- May 18-19 – Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day; This annual two day event will be held at the Harbor Docks in Destin this year.
- May 21 – Florida Master Naturalist Program / Coastal Course – This 40 hour course will be held on Tuesday from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM from May 21 – Jun 25. There will be classroom sessions and field trips. Cost is $275. Register at https://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/fmnp/cs19-09.html
- May 23 – Bringing Back the Bayous; A presentation on the health of our bay system and what residents can do to help improve it. The presentation will begin at 6:00 PM. Will be at the SW Branch Library on Gulf Beach Highway near Perdido Key. Free.
- May 31 – Invasive Species and Air Potato Beetles – We will hold another lunch & learn at the Escambia County Central Office Complex. We will have information tables on a variety of invasive species, a guest speaker, and provide air potato beetles for those who are battling air potato. 11:00 – 1:00.
- Jun 5-6 – Seafood HACCP Training for Seafood Processors – The 2-day face-to-face course will be in downtown Pensacola. The online class and 1-day face-to-face course begins now and the face-to-face will be June 7 at the Escambia County Extension Office. Cost $150. Register at http://reg.conferences.dce.ufl.edu/SSP/1400069938
- Jun 7 – Seafood HACCP Training for Seafood Processors – This 1-day face-to-face course will be at the Escambia County Extension Office (3740 Stefani Road). Those taking this course must have completed the online class – OR – have a completed HACCP plan and are just interested in updates. Cost $150. Register at http://reg.conferences.dce.ufl.edu/SSP/1400069938
- Jun 7-17 – Goliath Grouper Count – Each year Florida Sea Grant conducts a goliath grouper count during the month of June. The objective is to determine the current range and relative abundance of these currently protected fish. To participate you need to be a diver who dives the same locations on a regular basis during the month. For data sheets contact Sea Grant Agent Rick O’Connor at (850) 475-5230 ext111. Or roc1@ufl.edu.
- Jun 13 – Science Hour: Local Invasive Species. Presentation will be at the Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place. 6:00 PM. Free.
- Jun 14 – Stormwater Impacts and Green Infrastructure Solutions – This workshop is targeting city and county planners, monitors, and engineers who work with stormwater issues and mitigation. The all day workshop will be held in Crestview.
- Jun 25 – Invasive Species. This presentation will discuss local invasive species issues and management. The presentation will be at the downtown library, 239 N. Spring Street. It will begin at 6:00 PM and is free.
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
Data provided by the Florida Department of Health’s Healthy Beaches Program
| Month | Water Body | Good | Moderate | Poor | Health Advisory Issued |
| Jan | Bayou Texar | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Sanders Beach | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Feb | Bayou Texar | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Sanders Beach | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |
| Mar | Bayou Texar | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Sanders Beach | 3 | 1 | |||
| Bayou Chico | 2 | 2 | |||
| Bayou Grande | 2 | ||||
| Big Lagoon SP | 2 | ||||
| Casino Beach | 2 | ||||
| Park East | 2 | ||||
| Park West | 2 | ||||
| Perdido Key SP | 1 | 1 | |||
| Quietwater | 1 | 1 | |||
| Apr | Bayou Texar | 2 | 3 | 3 | |
| Sanders Beach | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Bayou Chico | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Bayou Grande | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Big Lagoon SP | 3 | ||||
| Casino Beach | 3 | ||||
| Park East | 3 | ||||
| Park West | 2 | ||||
| Perdido Key SP | 2 | ||||
| Quietwater | 3 | 1 | |||
| Opal Beach | 1 | ||||
| Ft. Pickens | 1 | ||||
| May | Bayou Texar | 2 | 2 | ||
| Sanders Beach | 2 | ||||
| Bayou Chico | 1 | 1 | |||
| Bayou Grande | 1 | 1 | |||
| Big Lagoon SP | 1 | ||||
| Casino Beach | 1 | ||||
| Park East | 1 | ||||
| Park West | 1 | ||||
| Perdido Key SP | 1 | ||||
| Quietwater | 1 | ||||
| Opal Beach | |||||
| Ft. Pickens | |||||
| TOTAL | 91 samples | 54 | 12 | 25 | 21 |
| % OF SAMPLES | .23 |
Health Advisory Frequency
| Body of Water | # of samples taken | # of advisories issued | % frequency of advisories |
| Bayou Texar | 20 | 10 | .50 |
| Sanders Beach | 22 | 5 | .23 |
| Bayou Chico | 6 | 4 | .67 |
| Bayou Grande | 6 | 2 | .33 |
Fish Kill Data provided by FWC
| 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 |
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