Do you spend time out on the Indian River Lagoon? Whether you are a fisher spending time out on your boat or a kayaker who enjoyed paddling the lagoon, if you are out on the water, you can contribute to the Eyes on Seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon Blitz!

Eyes on Seagrass is a participatory science program that monitors the health and status of Florida’s seagrass population. The Eyes on Seagrass Blitz is a month-long effort to collect data on the presence and absence of seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon. These data will allow us to better understand the current range of seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon and help inform future monitoring and restoration work.

The 2025 Eyes on Seagrass Blitz runs from May 1-31 and will rely on residents to report seagrass using an online form. Submitting a report involves taking a picture and answering a few quick questions about the area in the app. Participants may report as many or as few sightings as they would like across the entire Indian River Lagoon region, including Mosquito Lagoon and the Banana River. We are interested in both the presence and absence of seagrass across the lagoon, so reports of where there isn’t seagrass is just as important of where we find seagrass.

How to participate in the Eyes on Seagrass Blitz

There are two ways to submit data:

1. Online form: Visit bit.ly/ReportSeaGrass then choose “Open in Browser” and fill out the form through the website and submit.
2. Survey123 app: Download the Survey123 app in your phone’s app store. Visit bit.ly/ReportSeaGrass then choose “Open in the Survey123 app” and fill out the form through the app and submit.

Why would I want to use the app?

The app will save your data even if there is no cell service, so that you can submit it later. If you plan to submit multiple sightings or know that you visit areas with poor cell service, we recommend using the app. Download the app and access the form via the link once before heading out on the water. After you have accessed the form via the link for the first time, you can then open the app to access the form directly. You will always need to choose the option “Continue without signing in” on the main app page.

While you are out on the water:

Head out to wherever you usually boat or paddle. Note that seagrass may grow in shallow water, so be sure to take care if you are in a motor vessel. Travel at a slow speed and trim up your engine when necessary to avoid damaging seagrass.

Access the online form via bit.ly/ReportSeaGrass or through the Survey123
app.

• If using the Survey123 app, click “Continue without signing in” and then click on the Eyes on Seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon survey. Click the “Collect” button at the bottom and it will open the survey form.

Fill out the information in the form and take a photo of the seafloor – whether that is of seagrass or an absence of seagrass. Only report an absence sighting if you can see all the way to the seafloor to confirm there is no seagrass. Take a photo from overhead looking down such that you can see an area of about 3 x 3 feet in size. Take a second close-up photo of the seagrass, if present, to assist with species identification.

Answer the additional questions to the best of your ability, then click “submit” on the website or click the check mark in the bottom right corner of the app form to submit the data.

Thank you for participating! You can submit as many sightings as you would like in the month of May. Remember that we also want to know where seagrass isn’t, so seagrass absence sightings are just as important as seagrass presence sightings. If you have any questions, please reach out to your local Sea Grant agent in the Indian River Lagoon.

Keep reading below to learn more about the seagrasses in the Indian River Lagoon! If you would rather listen than read, please join us for an in-person presentation about the ecology of seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon and the Eyes on Seagrass Blitz at Marine Discovery Center in New Smyrna Beach at 10 am on Tuesday, May 6.

Why do we need to monitor the seagrasses?

Seagrasses have declined dramatically in the past 15 years due to decreased water clarity and quality from algae blooms. Seagrasses need sunlight to photosynthesize and live. Therefore, if the water becomes too full of algae, they are unable to survive. Excess nutrients from leaking septic systems and fertilizer feed algae and cause these large blooms. Unfortunately, this has resulted in a loss of seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon.

Seagrass is important because it provides habitat for juvenile fish and other small animals. It also helps prevent erosion and hold the seafloor sediment in place, and it is a food source for manatees and many other animals. When we lose our seagrass, it has a negative impact on the whole Indian River Lagoon ecosystem.

Thankfully, we have heard anecdotal reports of increased seagrass in many parts of the lagoon over the past two years. We hope that through the Eyes on Seagrass Blitz we will have the data to help us know where seagrasses are now living. This will help us have a better understanding of the current status of seagrass and inform in-water and aerial monitoring of seagrasses in the Indian River Lagoon. It will also allow us to provide useful information for Florida Fish and Wildlife and other organizations who are engaged in restoration activities as to where they should focus their efforts.

Species of seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon

There are seven species of seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon: shoal grass, turtle grass, manatee grass, star grass, paddle grass, Johnson’s seagrass, and Widgeon grass. Shoal grass is the most abundant type of seagrass throughout the entire Indian River Lagoon. To the north in Mosquito Lagoon, you are likely to see star grass in addition to shoal grass. In contrast, there are some species that are only found south of Sebastian Inlet, such as turtle grass, paddle grass, and Johnson’s seagrass. Read more about each of the seagrass species in our ID guide below, which you are welcome to save and print.

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