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In recent years, saltwater anglers have noticed a rise in shark populations and are increasingly reporting losses of sportfish to these predators. (Bluegroper/Pixabay)

Rising shark depredation threatens Florida's sportfishing industry

Florida's saltwater anglers are increasingly frustrated by sharks swooping in and taking their catch in what is known as shark depredation. The …

Salt marshes are composed of a variety of rushes, sedges and grasses. Florida's dominant salt marsh species include black needle rush (Juncus roemerianus). (Florida DEP)

Conservation groups tout natural defenses against hurricanes

With the start of hurricane season, salt marshes are among the natural features playing a critical role in protecting coastal communities by …

Local oyster harvesters help deploy limestone rock, a restoration material, for the Apalachicola Bay System Initiative oyster reef restoration experiments. (Courtesy FSU Coastal and Marine Laboratory)

Community effort aims to restore Apalachicola Bay oyster harvests, livelihoods

Since the 2020 collapse of the famed Apalachicola Bay oyster fishery, people who made their livelihoods on the bay have been counting on local …

In 2021, scientists determined Rice's whale was a unique species, genetically and morphologically distinct from Bryde's whales. (NOAA Fisheries)

Protecting Rice's whale, others, on 50th anniversary of Endangered Species Act

Wildlife experts are spotlighting the Rice's whale, which was classified as its own species in 2021, as one of many reasons to preserve the …

According to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission at UNESCO, plastic waste makes up 80% of all marine pollution, and around 8 to 10 million metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year. (Flockine/Pixabay)

Community activists engage in hands-on beach cleanup initiative

Olympic swimmer turned environmental activist Merle Liivand has seen a rise in plastic waste while navigating the Intracoastal canals of South Florida…

Climate change with rising seas is making it more dangerous, and much more expensive, to live on the subtropical islands at the southern tip of Florida. (Stingrea1/Pixabay)

In face of rising seas, Monroe County adapts, innovates

By Steve MacLaughlin for NBC Miami.Broadcast version by Trimmel Gomes for Florida News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Publi…

A mural project celebrates the Endangered Species Act and the smalltooth sawfish. (Kelly Quinn)

Mural raises awareness for FL's smalltooth sawfish

A vibrant installation at today's SHINE St. Petersburg Mural Festival is designed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act …

An aerial view shows the salt marsh adjacent to the runway at Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, Florida. (Mark Bias)

How Salt Marshes Are Preserving Life Along FL Coast

Florida's nearly 500,000 acres of salt marshes are under threat from rising seas, polluted runoff, and an abundance of urban development that's been …

Barry Walton, a Ph.D. student at Florida State University, is studying how two popular recreational fish species, red drum and spotted seatrout, share resources in the Apalachicola Bay System. (Barry Walton)

FL Research Highlights Importance of Fish Communities, Environment

Two Florida graduate students are part of a Forage Fish Research Program. They are looking at how altering water flows in coastal estuaries affect …

William Toney is a fourth-generation fishing guide and Homosassa native who lobbied local and state elected officials to protect the Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve. (Charlie Shoemaker/The Pew Charitable Trusts)

Grassroots Effort Protects Gulf of Mexico’s Largest Seagrass Bed

Florida's newest aquatic preserve is officially set to move forward, with a management plan aimed at protecting some 350,000 acres of sea grass…

Salt marshes are coastal wetlands rich in marine life. They sometimes are called tidal marshes, because they occur in the zone between low and high tides. (FWC)

Multi-State Conservation Plan to Protect Salt Marshes

Conservation groups along several states on the East coast stretching from North Carolina to northeast Florida are working through a plan to conserve …

Florida Forage Fish Research program fellow Kira Allen, from the University of Central Florida, explains her ecosystem model that explores the effects of climate change on Apalachicola Bay food webs. (Justin Grubich)

FL Research Tracks Impact of Drought, Sea-Level Rise on Forage Fish

Preliminary research shows less fresh water and higher sea levels could be changing the forage fish in Florida's famed Apalachicola Bay and the fisher…

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are investigating high numbers of manatee deaths along Florida's Atlantic coast. (Florida Fish and Wildlife/Flickr)

A Christmas Eve Memorial for Florida Manatees

A record number of manatees have died this year, more than a thousand, and conservation groups warn hundreds more will die from starvation and …

Experts estimate the Gulf of Mexico lost between 4 billion and 8 billion oysters due to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and loss of reproduction in ensuing years. Places like Suwannee Sound in Florida and other Gulf states are tapping settlement money to help populations rebound. (macayran/Pixabay)

Settlement Funds from Oil Spill to Help Restore FL Oyster Reefs

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Storm damage, pollution and other factors - some related to climate change - are reducing the oyster population. But settlement …

The Piney Point property has received 22 inches of rain since the start of June, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protections' motion to request to transfer control of the troubled former phosphate plant from its owners, HRK Holdings. (Pixabay)

Piney Point Pollution Could Overflow with Storms, Hurricanes

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Due to the recent tropical weather systems threatening the region, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is …

Florida mangroves' natural ability to curb flooding protected over 626,000 people during Hurricane Irma in 2017, according to a University of California Santa Cruz report. (Adobe Stock)

Groups Say FL Coasts Need Federal Dollars to Mitigate Storm Impacts

TAMPA, Fla. -- Environmental groups are urging federal lawmakers to allocate $10 billion in the upcoming infrastructure package for coastal …

On Florida's northwestern Gulf coast, the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve supports 664 jobs and generates $46.4 million, including $15.1 million in labor income. (NOAA/Wikimedia Commons)

Report: Apalachicola, Other Estuarine Reserves Help Power Local Economies

APALACHICOLA, Fla. - A system of little-known public lands protecting sensitive coastal habitats generates significant economic impacts for local …

Forage fish are small, nutrient-rich species that serve as food for predators like saltwater fish, sharks, coastal birds and marine mammals. (Pexels/Milada Vigerova)

FL Researchers Study Links Between Prey Fish, Predators and Algal Blooms

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- For the most part, if you're a fish, you're either prey or predator, but Florida research is finding the symbiotic relationship …

Florida's Blue-Green Algae Task Force outlined in 2019,

As Toxic Algae, Other Issues Bloom, FL Environmental Secretary Resigns

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Today marks the last day on the job for Florida's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) secretary, who turned in his …

This image depicts Piney Point's water management features. This year, a liner in the wastewater pond leaked again, causing Manatee County to declare a state of emergency. (FPWC)

Lawsuit Launched Over Piney Point Wastewater Leak

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Conservation groups say Florida's environmental regulators ignored a decade of warning signs - including advice from the U.S…

A study by the National Academy of Sciences reveals salt marsh provides an average of $695,000 per square mile a year in protective value to Southeast communities and military installations from storm-surge flooding. (Adobe Stock)

Million-Acre Southeast Salt Marsh Conservation Plan Gets Green Light

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- An initiative to conserve a million acres of salt marsh from Northeast Florida to North Carolina is in motion, following …

The most recent manatee population survey by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission shows 400 Florida manatees died in 2019. But 2021 could set a new mortality record, due to water pollution and loss of food and habitat. (Adobe Stock)

FL Manatees Face Greater Threats to Habitat, Health

TAMPA, Fla. -- Polluted wastewater released into Tampa Bay at Piney Point in the last two weeks is only one threat to Florida manatees, as an …

The Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection is partnering with Tampa Bay area governments and the Tampa Bay Estuary Program to monitor water quality at locations affected by the Piney Point breach. (Pexels)

Tampa Bay Braces for Red Tide Outbreak After Toxic Wastewater Leak

TAMPA, Fla. - The uncontrolled release of millions of gallons of polluted wastewater at Piney Point into Tampa Bay is raising concerns about a …

Sea-level rise has been the main focus of Florida policymakers when it comes to climate change, but environmental groups are calling for a deeper analysis of wide-ranging impacts. (Pixabay)

Group Urges Creation of FL Legislative Committee on Climate Change

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- For the second year in a row, the group Florida Conservation Voters is calling on Florida's incoming legislative leaders to …

An octocoral (Metallogorgia sp.) and a commensal brittle star (Ophiocreas sp.) photographed at about 6,000 feet deep during a 2017 NOAA research cruise along the northern West Florida Escarpment in the Gulf of Mexico. (noaa.gov)

New Protections for Deep-Sea Coral Hotspots in Gulf

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The federal government has approved new protections for fragile coral hotspots in the Gulf of Mexico. It's a long-awaited victory …

President Donald Trump signed an executive order extending a moratorium on oil drilling off the shores of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. (Pixabay)

A Goal to Rebuild the Economy with Clean Energy

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- As experts and policymakers increasingly turn to the oceans for solutions to address climate change, there are growing calls to …

Coastal-restoration jobs could help Florida communities hit hard by losses in the fishing and tourism industries during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Peggychoucair/Pixabay)

House Moves Forward on Plan to Bring Coastal Restoration Jobs to Florida

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Conservation groups are looking at the recent passage of the Moving Forward Act in the U.S. House, a $1.5 trillion bill to fund …

Light shines through the water onto seagrass along Florida's Nature Coast. (Charlie Shoemaker)

Gov. DeSantis Approves Creation of Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday signed a bill creating Florida's first new aquatic preserve in 32 years. The Nature Coast Aquatic …

Living shorelines refer to a broad range of shoreline stabilization techniques that use vegetation, shellfish or other natural resources to stabilize estuarine coasts, bays and tributaries. (Jennifer McPeak/National Wildlife Federation)

Report: Nature Among Best Defenses from Natural Disasters

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- A new report shows the best protections from natural disasters could come from nature itself. "The Protective Value of Nature" …

Hurricane Dorian made it to Category 5 and parked above the Bahamas, flattening structures and leaving some 70,000 people homeless. (wikipedia)

How Can FL Reduce Economic Risk During Hurricane Season?

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The Atlantic hurricane season is now underway, and major forecasters are predicting it to be busy with above-normal activity…

A new bill to create an aquatic preserve on the coasts of Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties would become the 42nd such preserve in Florida. (Charlie Shoemaker/The Pew Charitable Trusts)

FL Legislature Approves Bill Creating New Aquatic Preserve

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- On Wednesday, the Florida Legislature approved a bill that would provide protections to the largest seagrass bed in the Gulf of …

A red snapper clipped to a weighted descending device at the surface, returning to the deep. (Adrian Gray)

To Save Millions of Fish, Descending Devices Could Soon be Required

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Fisheries of the deep will now have a better chance of surviving the hooks of fishermen thanks to a new rule requiring …

The Protecting and Securing Florida�s Coastline Act of 2019 would permanently extend a temporary ban on Gulf Coast drilling set to expire in 2022. (Pixabay)

Is Florida Protected from Offshore Drilling?

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Despite a White House threat to veto legislation that would permanently ban drilling off Florida's Gulf Coast, Gov…

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council approved projects to restore and protect deep-sea habitat and coral hot spots in the gulf. (lpittman/Pixabay)

After Deepwater Horizon Spill, Deep Sea Corals Win Protection

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Almost a decade after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, government agencies are still spending millions of dollars to …

According to marine scientists, many fish could survive the catch-and-release process if they were quickly returned to their deep-water environment. (Pixabay)

Public Comment Open on Device to Save Millions of Fish

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The public can weigh in on fishing boats using a device that could save millions of deep-water fish from dying of the bends …

Seagrasses soak up climate-changing carbon and absorb pollutants that run off land. Seagrasses aren't algae or seaweed and are different from marshes and wetlands. (NOAA Photo Library/Flickr)

Scallopers Urged to Minimize Threat to Seagrass

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – As many people and businesses gear up for this year's scalloping season, they'll find a new education campaign about the …

The Thompson Institute for Earth Systems was started in 2018 to advance communication and public understanding of current research discoveries about Earth's natural systems in Florida and beyond. (Joakant/Pixabay)

Florida’s Environmental Concerns Prompt New Institute to Inform Public

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida's environment has been a topic that looms large for the state's residents and politicians this election cycle. Now…

NOAA scientists say the number of cases where red-tide blooms and hurricanes have occurred simultaneously is small. (Pixabay)

How Will Hurricane Michael Affect Florida's Red Tide Outbreak?

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida's red-tide bloom continues to be a drag on tourism, causing fish kills and inducing respiratory problems for …

Algal blooms happen annually in Florida, but this summer blooms affecting the Gulf of Mexico and Florida�s Lake Okeechobee are having a devastating impact on tourism and the environment. (Pixabay)

Red Tide Continues to Harm Florida’s Coasts

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Harmful algae blooms on Florida's southwest coast have killed wildlife and steered away beach-goers since late last year…

Florida utilities are expanding their solar inventory as they meet goals for lowering emissions. (Pixabay)

FL Environmental Groups: More Solar, Not Offshore Drilling

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The American Petroleum Institute is trying to convince coastal states, including Florida, to "Explore Offshore." But …

According to hurricane experts, the slightest fluctuation in water temperature can make a significant difference in the development of a hurricane. (Pixabay)

Experts: Be Prepared for Hurricane Season Regardless of Prediction

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — While hurricane experts predict a slightly less active Atlantic hurricane season this year, they maintain it's …

A 2006 congressional moratorium bans drilling within 125 miles of the Florida coast, but only until 2022. (Pixabay)

Opponents Warn Offshore-Drilling Announcement is Sign of What's to Come

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Interior Department announced plans late Friday to hold the largest sale of oil and gas leases in U.S. history…

Uncertainty surrounds the Trump administration's five-year plan to allow offshore oil and gas leases in Florida and other coastal states. (Steven Straiton/Flickr)

Talking to a Wall: Offshore Drilling Plan Draws Protests

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – It isn't clear whether Florida is still included in the Trump administration's plan to expand offshore drilling, but the …

Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., calls the feds' decision to exempt Florida from offshore drilling

Environmental Groups Question Motives for Florida Drilling Exemption

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Critics of the Trump administration's decision to exclude Florida from its offshore drilling plan say it has little to do …

The Trump administration's plan to expand offshore drilling was met with immediate concern from environmental groups that say it poses risks to coastal communities. (Pixabay)

Trump Faces Opposition in Florida Over Offshore Drilling

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Even President Donald Trump's close friend and ally, Gov. Rick Scott, is opposing the administrations plans to open new …

Even before the hurricanes, hard and soft corals have been bleaching in the Florida Keys due to this summer's unusually warm ocean temperatures. (U.S. Geological Survey/Flickr)

Climate Change: Is Florida a "State of Denial?"

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- As Florida cities wrestle with how to haul out millions of tons of post-hurricane debris and where to put it, the environmental …

Experts say the settlement funds from the Deepwater Horizon incident could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to restore the Gulf of Mexico. (US Navy)

Report Urges FL to Make the Most of Deepwater Horizon Settlement

PENSACOLA, Fla. - Beginning this month, Florida will receive about $74 million a year over 15 years from BP's 2016 settlement agreement from the Gulf …

Raising awareness of climate change is part of a nurse's job, according to a new report. (MGDBoston/morguefile)

Nurses Commit to Protecting Climate, Environment

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – When a nurse expresses concern, most people take note, and right now nurses are very concerned about how climate change is …

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