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Feature Story

Saving Seagrass from Scarring

Vital to marine ecosystems, seagrasses provide food, habitat, shelter, and numerous other services for humans and aquatic organisms. These include the fish, crustaceans, and shellfish essential for Florida's recreational and commercial fishing industries.

Read this feature story by Jessie Moses, published in collaboration with the UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station, to learn how boaters can play a part in conserving seagrass communities.
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Florida's Environment: XX Stories to Watch

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To pair with the rest of our educational content in each Earth to Florida newsletter, we bring you monthly updates on statewide environmental news. Read below to see what we found for September: 
  • Hurricane Ian made landfall in Southwest Florida on September 26 as a strong Category 4 storm. Officials have confirmed that the storm has killed at least 76 people in the state, with the search for survivors still ongoing. The wind and floodwaters left more than 2 million people without power and many under boil water notices. Hurricane Ian has been named one of the five worst hurricanes in America’s history, and scientists say the storm is part of a larger pattern of more intense storms fueled by climate change.
     
  • For the past few years, large mats of sargassum seaweed have been washing up on Palm Beach County beaches with more frequency and in higher volumes than previously reported. While sargassum can be beneficial, too much can be a bad thing. Large blooms can block sunlight and kill the seagrass growing below. When the sargassum dies and decomposes, the decaying organic matter removes the oxygen from the water, which can cause fish kills. In Palm Beach County, nesting sea turtles and hatchlings have gotten smothered by the large mats of sargassum, prompting officials to consider both short and long-term solutions for cleanup.
     
  • The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently proposed a new speed restriction on boats 35-65 feet in length to help prevent right whale collisions during calving season. Boat collisions are one of the top causes of death for this endangered species, and since right whales reproduce rarely, experts say each death pushes it closer to extinction. NOAA has extended its comment period on the proposal until October 31.
     
  • A study by researchers at the University of Florida, along with the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program and the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, has found that nutrient-rich freshwater discharges from Lake Okeechobee into the Gulf of Mexico over the past decade have been intensifying red tide blooms. This connection has long been under speculation by scientists and fishermen, but this is the first strong evidence in support of this theory.
     
  • For the last several years, the Florida citrus industry has struggled with citrus greening, hurricane damage, increased labor costs, and competition from foreign imports. According to a report from the US. Department of Agriculture, these factors have contributed to an 8% fall in the acreage used for citrus production compared to last year, and a 53% decrease from the 2001-2002 season. This most recent citrus growing season may have been the least productive in eight decades. Of the 24 counties included in the report, only Brevard County showed an increase in acreage.
     
  • In a state rife with natural hazards and claims fraud, property insurers are leaving the state in droves, requiring Floridians to find coverage elsewhere. This has led to a rapid increase in policies with Citizens Insurance, a state-backed insurance company that was developed in 2002 as a “company of last resort” for those who could not obtain coverage in the private market. Since 2020, Citizens has seen a nearly 50% increase in policyholders, and that number could double again by 2023. Insurance experts say that one bad hurricane could wipe out Citizens reserves to pay out claims. In most Florida counties, Citizens does not cover homes valued more than $700,000, but with rising property values and little competition in the private insurance market, state regulators are looking to raise that cap in certain places. Hurricane Ian made landfall as a Category 4 storm on September 26 and some insurance analysts predict most of the damage will be from flood waters. This would place most of the financial burden on the National Flood Insurance Program, and on individual property owners, rather than on Florida insurers. 
     
  • A study by researchers with Climate Central found that in U.S. coastal counties, rising sea levels are projected to significantly shift private property boundaries, which will result in a loss of tax revenue in some places. Over 140,000 properties in Florida will be impacted by 2050, more than any other state. Experts say the need to spend public dollars on flood prevention and mitigation exacerbates the loss in tax revenue. The Tampa Bay area is expected to take the biggest hit, with a tax revenue loss of $2.19 billion.
     
  • Florida provides 100% of the nation’s spiny lobster landings, making it one of the state’s most valuable fisheries. But as housing prices are on the rise in Key West, the Florida Keys spiny lobster industry is experiencing a labor shortage. Crew members looking to avoid increasing prices in Key West now have to commute from cities up to two hours away. As boats struggle to gather a full staff, an influx of younger fishermen is raising concerns around experience and knowledge. Additionally, Florida harvesters may soon have to compete with fishermen in North Carolina as they look to develop a commercial spiny lobster industry in their region.
     
  • Like many waterways in Florida, Miami’s picturesque Biscayne Bay has experienced water quality issues in recent years due to nutrient pollution. The Biscayne Bay Watershed Management Advisory Board is developing what it calls a reasonable assurance plan to reduce bay nutrient pollution in an area where fish kills, algae blooms, and seagrass die-offs are common. This plan includes initiatives to improve education and infrastructure, implement a fertilizer ordinance and launch an initiative called Plastic Free 305 to recognize businesses committed to reducing single-use plastics.
     
  • The White House is making $71.5 million available for Florida’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plan. The money will fund the state’s initiative to establish a network of 6,772 charging ports along its highways. In a prepared statement, the U.S. Secretary of Energy outlined the importance of making electric vehicle charging accessible to all and lowering dependence on fossil fuels like oil and gas that drive climate change.
     
  • Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials are considering a rule that would establish a seasonal no-entry zone in some Brevard County waters. The no entry-zone would prohibit watercraft and human recreation in the waters near the Florida Power and Light Cape Canaveral Energy Center, a popular wintering spot for manatees, from Nov. 15 to March 31 each year. Officials hope this move will add an extra layer of protection for Florida’s manatees after recent record die-offs.
     
  • The U.S. Association of Reptile Keepers of Florida wants the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to approve a new proposal that would legalize captive commercial breeding of the diamondback terrapin. Though none of the seven subspecies of the turtle in Florida are endangered, all are designated by the state as Species of Greatest Conservation Need, and three are endemic to Florida. The proposal has sparked controversy over potential ramifications it may have on terrapin poaching. An FWC report states that because of the high domestic and global demand for terrapins, poaching could increase with legalization. But a spokesperson for the Reptile Keepers association says this could actually help the problem, as profits from selling the turtles are high due to their artificially inflated value. 
Visit the links below for other environmental stories you may have missed this month!
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Feature Video

Red tide often affects the Gulf Coast of Florida during certain times of the year, like late summer. Not sure what that means for you, your family, and your pets?

This video by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will teach you everything you need to know: what red tide is, red tide’s effects on health, and how scientists track and monitor red tide. Visit the following website for more information about red tide, including a daily sample map: FWC Red Tide

Ways to Take Action This Month

Each week on our @UFEarthSystems Instagram page, our student Environmental Communicators share simple sustainability actions you can incorporate into your everyday routines. Click the images below to learn more. 
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Visit our blog posts below to learn more about these topics!

What We're Reading

Environmental protection and social justice are deeply intertwined, and we cannot accurately communicate the environmental issues facing our state without acknowledging this relationship. In this monthly Earth to Florida segment, we will share articles and videos that help explain these connections.

Tell Me About

Tell Me About is a weekly series on TESI's Instagram channel that explains environmental topics facing Florida and why they matter. Click the images or visit the links below to learn more about southern pine beetles, water management districts, and reef restoration in Florida. 
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Visit our blog posts below to learn more about these topics!
Learn more about Earth systems-related topics through our other student-produced educational videos! (Great for classrooms!)

What's the Word?

When reading environmental news, you may hear a lot of buzzwords. Our What's the Word Instagram series helps define terms you may come across while reading stories. Click the images below to learn more! 
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Know Your Florida

Want to impress your friends with all you know about our beautiful state? Follow us on Instagram @KnowYourFlorida and get to know your state’s natural history and outdoor wonders. Click the images below for fun Florida facts for this month!
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TESI News

To keep up with our Institute's news, events, and internship opportunities,subscribe to our TESI newsletter.

About the Institute

Started in 2018, the mission of the UF Thompson Earth Systems Institute is to advance communication and education about Earth systems science in a way that inspires Floridians to be effective stewards of our planet. 
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About Earth to Florida

Each month, a student-led team at the UF Thompson Earth Systems Institute curates Florida's environmental news and puts it into context by explaining what’s going on, why it matters and what we can do about it. We hope you enjoy this month's sampling.

If you know someone interested in subscribing, they can do so at: http://bit.ly/EarthtoFL

Have feedback for our team? Email earthsystems@floridamuseum.ufl.edu

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