Florida Coastal & Ocean Coalition

02/10/2022

Two bills that would allow developers to complete "seagrass mitigation" are moving through the Florida Legislature - SB 198 and HB 349. Developers use "mitigation" to compensate for environmental losses caused by their projects. For example, if a swath of forest is destroyed for a roadway, trees are planted elsewhere to "mitigate" for that loss. Lawmakers are proposing to do the same with Florida's native seagrasses, but planting seagrass is not a proven strategy.

These bills are a tool for developers to expedite projects that will destroy native wild seagrass - habitat that is already imperiled due to poor water quality. Help us tell lawmakers that Floridians do not want seagrass mitigation banking by visiting https://takeaction.oceanconservancy.org/page/98836/action/1 and by contacting your representatives in the Legislature.

12/21/2021

On Dec. 20, Earth Justice filed a notice of intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency on behalf of the Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife and Save the Manatee Club if it does not take steps to reassess water quality standards in the Indian River Lagoon. The EPA has 60 days to address the violations in the notice before the groups file a lawsuit.

This action comes after more than 1,000 manatees have died in Florida in 2021 due to starvation and government agencies have approved targeted supplemental feeding of manatees. Patrick Rose, Executive Director of Save the Manatee Club, said in a statement: "We have exhausted our options at the state level. It is up to the federal agencies who are ultimately responsible for approving these failed standards to step in and correct course before it is truly too late.”

12/03/2021

Water quality in the Indian River Lagoon on Florida's east coast has been steadily declining since 2011. Loss of seagrass in the Lagoon has been cited as a contributor to Florida's record manatee deaths this year. In a new study published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin, FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute assessed the water quality along both canals and a tributary that drain into the Central Indian River Lagoon to determine if septic systems near the Lagoon were contributing to the water body's nutrient load. They found that even "properly functioning" septic systems were contributing nitrogen to surface water via groundwater. The study highlights that removing septic systems in low lying, coastal areas can help to reduce nutrient enrichment in waterways, improving water quality and seagrass health.

Read the study here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X21009620?via%3Dihub

11/24/2021

Great news! The first North Atlantic right whale calf of the season was spotted off of the coast of South Carolina on Nov. 15! After foraging in the waters off of New England and Canada, the whales travel to the coasts of South Carolina down to northern Florida to give birth and nurse their young.

Unfortunately, due to threats from vessel strikes, debris entanglement and climate change, fewer than 350 individuals remain on earth. Researchers are hoping to see at least 20 new calves born this season. 🐋

Photo credit: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute & USACE taken under NOAA permit #20556-01

11/22/2021

Florida Senator Joe Gruters and Representative Randy Fine have filed SB 224/HB 104: Regulation of Smoking in Public Places. What does it entail and how could it benefit our coastal environment? Swipe to see ➡️

11/19/2021

Did you know that an oil company submitted an application to drill near Big Cypress Preserve just two weeks ago? The Florida Department of Environmental Protection denied the request because of its potential risk to watersheds, wildlife, and people.

The last thing we need is the threat of oil spills in The Everglades or off our coasts.

11/12/2021

Almost 1,000 manatees have died in Florida this year. To make matters worse, experts worry that more mass deaths could occur this winter as the ecosystem impacts affecting their health have not been addressed or improved. Manatees were delisted under the Endangered Species Act from "endangered" to "threatened" in 2017, which lessened their federal protection measures. To take action and tell the Department of the Interior to reclassify manatees as "endangered," follow this link from the Ocean Conservancy:

I just took action with to protect the ocean. Tell the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to increase protections into the future for our seabirds and other birds.

04/24/2021

Action Alert from Surfrider Foundation Florida & Puerto Rico Chapter Network on Statewide Preemption of Seaports.

Last year a supermajority of voters in Key West passed three ballot initiatives restricting the size and capacity of cruise ships utilizing their municipal port, and giving priority to ships with the best environmental and health records. The referendums were driven by concerns over water quality an...