The Monroe County Extension Office is looking for commercial trappers and recreational stone crabbers to be on the lookout for a possible new invasive underwater species. It is a soft coral called Pulse Coral, which is common in the aquarium ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Invasive Species
Communications & Outreach Working Group: Florida Bleaching Summary, September 2025 OVERVIEW Corals rely on microscopic algae called zooxanthellae, which live within their tissues, give corals their color, and supply up ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine
Let’s be honest — we’ve all been there. You open your phone just to check one thing, and suddenly it's 45 minutes later, and you’ve been scrolling through a stream of disasters, drama, and depressing headlines. Sound familiar? That’s ... READ MORE
Category: , Health & Nutrition, Recreation, Relationships & Family, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife
Starfish, or sea stars, are iconic marine animals often found in tide pools, along the shoreline, in seagrass beds, and mangrove channels. Their unique appearance and vibrant colors make them an irresistible photo subject for snorkelers and ... READ MORE
Category: , Coasts & Marine, Conservation, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
May 16th is National Endangered Species Day. It is important to raise awareness of some of the most critically endangered species that call the Florida Keys home. The Florida Keys are known for their breathtaking coral reefs, diverse marine ... READ MORE
Category: , Conservation, NATURAL RESOURCES, Wildlife
We hear a lot about Avian Influenza, or H5N1, and the price of eggs in the news recently. That got me thinking, should we be worried about bird flu here in the Keys? As it turns out, we should. Although Florida Fish and Wildlife has not ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, , Home Landscapes, Livestock, NATURAL RESOURCES, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Great Goliath Grouper Count This is the 15th year of the Great Goliath Grouper Count, scheduled to take place June 1 through June 16, 2024! The Great Goliath Grouper Count is a collaboration between Florida Sea Grant and the Florida Fish ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Recreation, UF/IFAS Extension
Sponges Filter Water at Incredible Rates! Sponges are animals that are incredibly important for improving water quality. Ounce for ounce, the amount of water they filter per day is astounding! A basketball-sized sheepswool sponge can ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, NATURAL RESOURCES
In Florida, this year’s sea turtle nesting numbers were record-breaking! 2023 state-wide statistics from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) counted 133,941 loggerhead sea turtle nests. This is 30,000 nests more than average ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, UF/IFAS Extension
Do I need a descending tool on-board when fishing from my vessel for reef fish in Florida? The answer is YES! But the regulations are a little different depending upon where you are fishing. Atlantic Ocean federal waters (3+ nautical ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Recreation, UF/IFAS Extension