Two graduate students at universities in Florida have been named the inaugural winners of the Guy Harvey Excellence Award, recognizing their outstanding achievement in marine science research. Melinda J. Donnelly, a Ph.D. student in conservation biology at the University of Central Florida, and Austin Todd, a Ph.D. student in physical oceanography at Florida State University,…
By Mickie Anderson, UF/IFAS New (GAINESVILLE, Fla.) — As Floridians brace for more crude oil on the state’s coasts, University of Florida researchers are racing to complete several newly funded projects that will help assess the magnitude of damage done by the spill. One will look at an organism that is a sentinel for the…
Recorded Webinar: What is Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning? Watch the Webinar Run time 55 min. (Note: You may be asked to open and run a Java file. Afterward, wait a moment and playback will begin shortly.) This webinar was broadcast nationally March 4 by Florida Sea Grant’s Boating and Waterway Planning Program. The presenter…
Boats may become contaminated as a result of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Contaminated boats will have to be decontaminated. While the specifics of the decontamination process are still being worked out, here is the latest information for Florida. Please remember that this decontamination plan is preliminary and is subject to change without prior notice.…
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, One Year Later: NOAA Research scientists have taken advantage of opportunities to study and learn from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. What they learned not only helped guide the response to Deepwater Horizon, but also will be applicable to oil spills that may take place in the future. The Deepwater Horizon…
Since the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, law firms seeking clients for litigation related to the oil spill have been advertising their services throughout Florida and the Gulf region. Although you may be entitled to compensation from BP and other responsible parties for certain losses, you should exercise caution when making legal decisions,…
Assisting injured animals may seem like a great idea; however, in disasters what seems helpful can be harmful and even dangerous. Picking up an animal that has been exposed to crude oil is a bad idea for several reasons. First, oil is a hazardous material that can cause damage if it comes into direct contact…
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has produced a variety of publications, fact sheets, and one-pagers about the effects of oil spills on coastal and marine resources. Florida Sea Grant has selected the publications most relevant to Floridians and posted them below, along with a brief description of each publication’s contents. All-Purpose Oil Spill Info…
UPDATE: June 22, 2010. BP has posted new requirements for vessels of opportunity. Vessels are required to be commercial or charter fishing vessels, registered in the state in which they will be put to work, and registered within that state as a commercial vessel prior to March 31, 2010. (See BP Vessels of Opportunity site.)…
This page was last updated on 9/02/2010. IMPORTANT NOTE: The claims process has changed substantially since the transfer of claims authority to the Gulf Coast Claims Facility. As of August 23rd, 2010, all claims must be made through the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF). If you filed a claim with BP prior to August 23,…