Summer has officially begun, which means Florida’s beaches, bays and lagoons are about to become the playgrounds of choice. Good water quality and a healthy aquatic environment attract tourists to the tune of more than $50 billion annually, with Florida’s recreational and commercial fishing industry bringing in about $8.5 billion.

 

Beneath the surface of these tropical paradises lies an underwater garden of seagrass meadows comprising approximately 2.7 million acres. Four of the 52 identified seagrass species recorded worldwide, commonly referred to as shoal-grass, widgeon-grass, turtle-grass and manatee-grass, are widespread within Florida’s waters. Although they are primarily found in the Florida Keys, and from Tarpon Springs to Apalachee Bay, seagrasses are also located throughout other coastal areas of the state.

 

Ensuring that Florida’s seagrasses are protected is beneficial to all of us for several reasons. These underwater gardens perform valuable services that contribute to good water quality and a healthy marine population. Seagrasses act like a filter helping to cleanse the water by absorbing nutrients from runoff. They stabilize the grounds beneath the surface and help to reduce erosion. And they support numerous marine species – providing food sources and nursery grounds for a variety of commercial and recreational fish and other marine species.

 

Boaters can easily do their part in protecting this valuable ecosystem by incorporating simple practices into their outings.

• Keep a detailed navigational chart on board at all times.

• Stay within marked channels.

• Do not operate vessel in water less than three feet deep.

 

• Know the tide and wind conditions.

• Use a trolling motor or push pole in shallow water.

 

And keep in mind, the sun’s angle can sometimes make it difficult to judge the depth of the water. Shallow water can appear very dark or brown, while deeper water usually appears blue or green. Sand covered areas appear white and may or may not be deep enough for your vessel to navigate. A little rhyme that may help goes like this:

 

 “Blue blue, sail on through; white white, you just might; green green, nice and clean; brown brown, run aground.”

 

To learn more about Florida seagrasses, go to http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/habitats/seagrass/.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comment On This Story