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"The Apalachicola River, Floodplain, and Bay comprise one of
the most biodiverse and productive riverine and estuarine
systems in the Northern Hemisphere. The historic natural
function and cultural heritage of the surrounding
communities remain intact much of the way it has been for
generations of commercial fishermen on one of Florida's last
working waterfronts. This ecosystem and its people are truly
an American Treasure."
Dan Tonsmeire, Apalachicola Riverkeeper
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Management activities at Northwest Florida Aquatic Preserves have been discontinued as of
July 1, 2011.
Although the aquatic preserves will remain designated, all coastal education and resource monitoring programs at closed locations have
been eliminated. The Central Panhandle Aquatic Preserves office serves
three aquatic preserves: Alligator Harbor Aquatic Preserve,
Apalachicola Bay Aquatic Preserve and St. Joseph Bay Aquatic Preserve. These areas are no longer actively
managed and the resource management, research and monitoring, and outreach and education programs at these aquatic preserves has ended.
Permit review by DEP regulatory offices will still be active
through the Northwest District office.
Although seven aquatic preserve offices remain open, it is
not possible for the remaining staff to absorb the closed
programs into the organizational structure.
This page describes former management programs which will be restarted should revenue streams improve.
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Derelict Crab Trap Removal
Staff partnered with members of the community to participate in the efforts to remove
derelict crab traps from the bay waters each year. These traps are no longer fished, but
remain in the water because they have been lost to storms, tides or currents, have
deteriorated floats, lines or knots, have been clipped by boat propellers, or have been cut
intentionally by vandals. Negative impacts created by derelict traps may include, mortality
of blue crabs and bycatch, navigational hazards, user group conflicts, visual pollution and
impacts to sensitive habitat.
Key Accomplishments
- Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas (CAMA) staff responsible in both the
Aquatic Preserve Program and the National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR)
System worked collaboratively on submerged aquatic
vegetation research and monitoring and the best
management practices for this habitat in the area.
- In order to promote use of sustainable resources, staff participated in public
events and workshops, including Estuaries Day and Seagrass Awareness Month.
These events target youth from local schools. Staff
coordinated
with a local elementary school to give regular presentations on the important
resources in the surrounding bay systems.
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2012 State of Florida