Lionfish is not a traditional or likely seafood selection, but growing interest in response to its invasive and increasing abundance has stirred recreational and commercial interest. Seafood specialist Steve Otwell offers this perspective. Handling Eating lionfish, Pterois miles or Pterois volitans, is being encouraged as one of the best options to mitigate the harmful…
Florida Sea Grant and Escambia County Extension present two programs on flood insurance November 18, 2013 in Pensacola. The morning program is for real estate professionals and the evening program for members of the public. The presentations will give some background on the National Flood Insurance Program, look at how the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of…
Legislation introduced to blunt impact of flood insurance reform on homeowners On October 29, 2013, federal legislation was introduced into both the House and Senate to alter implementation of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (BW12) (background information on flood insurance and BW12 that will make the following clearer is available here). This…
Florida Sea Grant regional agent LeRoy Creswell has been given the “Meritorious Service” award from the National Shellfisheries Association in recognition of his many years of leadership.
Sea-level rise presents challenges not only to property owners but also to local governments. Local governments pay the bill for infrastructure such as roads, sewer, water, and electrical and drainage systems that can be compromised through sea-level rise or coastal flooding or erosion as exacerbated by sea-level rise. At the same time, as we have…
Floodplain managers, community leaders and public works staff can sign up for a one-day workshop in Largo on changes to the National Flood Insurance Program.
Florida Sea Grant partnered with Georgia Sea Grant, the Northeast Florida Regional Council, the First Coast Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association, and Fernandina Beach to bring the workshop “Local Government Challenges in Dealing with Rising Seas” to northeast Florida on October 28, 2013. The event was held at the Nassau Center at Yulee,…
Apalachicola, home of world-famous oysters and producer of about 10 percent of the U.S. oyster supply, is once again making headlines, but this time it’s for all the wrong reasons. A steep decline in the oyster harvest has hundreds of fishermen, local leaders and seafood producers wondering if their unique fishery and way of life…
Oysters are loved by seafood connoisseurs around the world, but these briny mollusks are much more than a taste treat. They also provide important benefits to a healthy coastal environment. Oyster reefs act as natural filters to improve water quality, stabilize shoreline and provide habitat for young fish and other marine life. Unfortunately, oyster populations…
Now accepting applications for the Florida Sea Grant Scholars Program. This $2,000 scholarship is open to full-time undergraduate and graduate students and is based on the applicant’s research proposal.