After the incredible destruction and suffering that Sandy brought to the United States’ northeast, talk is now turning to how to rebuild and how to avoid more such disasters in the future. Most ideas span a continuum. This continuum runs from what sea-level and coastal-adaptation specialists call “protection” at one end to “accommodation” to “relocation”…
Doug Gregory, Monroe County Extension Director and Florida Sea Grant extension agent, was recently awarded the Don Sweat Sea Grant Extension Award. The award is presented annually to a Florida Sea Grant agent who takes initiative, creativity and leadership in his or her extension program. Since 1991, Gregory has served as a valuable resource to…
Florida Sea Grant demonstrated its commitment to solution-oriented research and exceptional extension, and its appreciation for the service of volunteer advisors with four awards at the inaugural Coastal Science Symposium on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at the University of Florida. Each award winner is pictured with Florida Sea Grant Director Karl Havens. Dr. Mahmood Shivji of…
The Miami Herald picked up on the story of the need for coastal communities to update infrastructure to address sea-level rise in an article that appears here. The article emphasizes the high costs to prepare infrastructure for both current and future sea levels. For example, each of many stormwater pumps necessary in southeast Florida can…
Florida Sea Grant is currently funding research that is the first in the southeastern U.S. to adapt the forerunner of new fisheries models to grouper populations off Florida’s Gulf of Mexico coast. The Ecopath modeling software suite generates powerful computer simulations that could help fisheries managers better estimate the size of grouper, snapper and other…
Deep-freezing sea oats seeds and sheets may create business opportunities for commercial growers when dunes need restoring Sea oats are much more than decorative beach foliage. The wispy grass creates a natural barrier between land and water by trapping wind-blown sand, providing stability in beach dunes. A Florida Sea Grant researcher is developing novel techniques…
Florida Sea Grant is contributing to Florida’s reputation as a leader in the conservation and management of sharks. In January, a new Florida law went into effect that protects tiger sharks and three species of hammerheads from harvest in state waters. “Florida waters are one of the final bastions for shark diversity in North America,…
Add middle and high school students to the growing list of Floridians learning about aquaculture, a relatively new industry but one that already generates an estimated $250 million economic impact annually in the state. In a remarkable 900-square-foot greenhouse on their campus, students at Crystal Lake Middle School in Lakeland are trying their hand at…
by Mickie Anderson, UF/IFAS News Living along a Florida beach sounds like a dream, but it can bring nightmarish worries, including severe weather, erosion and regulations limiting how the land is used. A new study by Florida Sea Grant researchers with the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law and Institute of Food and Agricultural…
Miami Beach, some areas of which already suffer from tidal flooding during extreme high tides, is now incorporating sea-level rise into infrastructure planning. Consulting engineers for the City are recommending significant upgrades and changes in the stormwater system to help the system function more effectively during increases in sea level anticipated during the lifespan of…