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Mapping and Monitoring
An integral component to any management efforts is
knowing where the resource is and its current
condition. However, the natural communities of
submerged lands surrounding the state are often
poorly mapped or not mapped at all. The Office of
Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas (CAMA) is helping
to map submerged habitats, including seagrass beds,
throughout the state. CAMA also monitors the health
of seagrass beds that are already mapped as well as
factors that can contribute to their health such as
water quality.
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Education and Outreach
Since seagrasses are underwater, their
importance and even existence is not well
understood by the public. Educating the public
about their importance, the threats that
seagrasses face and how members of the public
can help protect seagrasses or minimize those
threats is another important means of protecting
seagrasses. Events such as Seagrass Awareness
Month or lectures on seagrasses can help educate
the public. Posting signs to educate boaters
about the importance of seagrasses or inform
them of their presence are also important.
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Restoration
Seagrasses have been reduced from 5 million to 2
million acres since the 1950s and continue to
face several threats. In addition, they are slow
to recover from damages. CAMA is working with
other agencies to find ways to better protect
seagrasses and to return them to areas where
they have been lost.
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- Public Use
CAMA is working
with other agencies to determine appropriate sites
for mooring fields to give boaters opportunities to
anchor while minimizing the disturbance to
seagrasses and other submerged natural communities.
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2012 State of Florida