Tag: seagrass

A top view of a sea sponge in water.

EPA grant to help UF/IFAS scientists restore sea sponges, improve water quality in South Florida

by Lourdes Mederos
October 15, 2025

Hidden beneath South Florida’s waves, sponges quietly clean the waters by filtering out nutrients, supporting seagrass and sustaining the region’s vibrant marine life. But after years of environmental stress and water quality decline, ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Crops, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Water
Tags: Algae, Ana Zangroniz, Aquaculture, Ashley Smyth, Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Bacteria, Biscayne Bay, Biscayne Bay Pilot Nursery, Biscayne National Park, Classifications, Coastal, Coastal Environments, Coastal Habitat, Coastal Health, Cycle Nutrients, Ecosystem, Ecosystem Services, Filter, Florida Keys Aquaculture Research, Florida Sea Grant, Genetic Advances, Habitat, Harmful Algal Blooms, Lower Keys, Marine, Marine Life, National Park Service, Nature’s Water Filters, Organisms, Restore Ecological Services, Restore Sponge Populations, Sea Sponge, Seagrass, Shelly Krueger, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, South Florida, Southeast Florida, Sponge Restoration Aquaculture, Sponge Restoration Species, Tropical Research And Education Center, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County, UF/IFAS Extension Monroe County, UF/IFAS Researchers, Viruses, Water Clarity, Water Quality, Water Quality Benefits
scallops

Scallop season opens in Florida. Dive into this summer tradition with advice from UF/IFAS, Florida Sea Grant

by Megan Winslow
June 18, 2025

Florida bay scallop season has started, and seafood lovers from across the state are already venturing off the coasts of Taylor and Dixie counties, where recreational harvesting is permitted now through Labor Day. Harvesting in other Gulf Coast ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Wildlife
Tags: Ask IFAS, Bay County, Bay Scallop, Boat, Boating, Brittany Hall-Scharf, Captain, Catch, Conservation, Diving, Dixie County, Emergency, Extension Hernando County, Fishing, Float Plan, Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Sea Grant, FSG, FWC, Guide, Gulf Coast, Harvest, Harvesting, Hurricane, IFAS, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Megan Winslow, Overharvesting, Pinellas County, Recommendation, Recreation, Safety, Seagrass, Shucking, Snorkeling…, Sustainability, Swimmer, Swimming, Taylor County, Tips, Tutorial, Tyler Jones, U.S. Coast Guard, UF, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida, USCG, Vessel
Blades of seagrass on the left and drift macroalgae on the right

Algae vs seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon

by Carolyn Kovacs
May 3, 2025

During the Eyes on Seagrass Blitz, one of the questions we ask is "Is there macroalgae present?"  But what is macroalgae, and how can I tell it apart from seagrass?   What is the difference between seagrass and algae?   Seagrass is ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, Recreation, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Algae, Estuary, Eyes On Seagrass, Eyes On Seagrass Blitz, Florida Sea Grant, Indian River Lagoon, Macroalgae, Seagrass, Water Quality
seagrass

Calling all volunteers, May 1-31: Join the Indian River Lagoon Eyes on Seagrass Blitz

by Lourdes Mederos
April 15, 2025

The Indian River Lagoon is a vibrant ecosystem full of important seagrasses. Those seagrasses act as habitats and nurseries for marine species like manatees, sea turtles, fish, crabs and more, and the seagrasses also serve as their critical ... READ MORE

Category: , Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Events, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, Water
Tags: Banana River, Brevard, Ecosystem, Eyes On Seagrass, Florida Sea Grant, Good Water Quality, Habitats, Indian River, Indian River Lagoon, Lisa Krimsky, Martin County, Mosquito Lagoon, Nurseries, Seagrass, Seagrass Health, St. Lucie, Volusia, Water Resources
Seagrass.

NCBS Intern Report: Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve Coastal Monitoring

by Emily Colson
November 12, 2024

Written by Megan Houser, 2024 undergraduate summer intern hosted by Tim Jones and Trisha Green of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's (FDEP) Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve    Bona Fide BBSAP This summer, ... READ MORE

Category:
Tags: Aquatic Preserve, Coastal Habitat, Coastal Systems, Florida Department Of Environmental Protection, NCBS Interns, Research, Seagrass, Water Quality
seagrass

Calling all volunteers Nov. 1-15: Join the Indian River Lagoon Seagrass Blitz

by Lourdes Mederos
October 31, 2024

Do you spend time out on the Indian River Lagoon? Whether you enjoy boating, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, snorkeling or just soaking up the sun in these critical estuaries, Florida Sea Grant is calling on volunteers for the Eyes on Seagrass ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Banana River, Blitz, Brevard, Carbon Sequestration, Charlotte County, Ecosystem Health, Escambia County, Eyes On Seagrass, Florida Sea Grant, Indian River, Indian River Lagoon, Manatees, Martin, Mosquito Lagoon, Sea Turtles, Seagrass, Seagrass Health, Seagrass Spotter, St. Lucie, Volusia, Water Quality

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