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,…
Advisory prepared by Steve Otwell, Ph.D. Seafood Specialist, Florida Sea Grant College Program Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Florida (Last updated June 25, 2010) Is seafood from Florida’s Gulf coast safe to eat? All seafood sold in Florida retail stores, supermarkets and restaurants will remain safe to consume prior to and…
This page was last updated on July 20, 2010. The unprecedented nature of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico, and the spill’s shifting trajectory, means the threat to Florida’s sensitive marine areas and marine life will continue to change. Numerous individuals concerned about potential damage from oil coming ashore have…
Seaside communities are an integral part of both Florida’s past and future, and nowhere is this more evident than in the historical village of Cortez, one of the last intact fishing villages on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Each year, Cortez residents celebrate the unique appeal of their working waterfront with the Cortez Fishing Festival, a two-day…
Commercial Validation of Irradiation Technique Obtains FDA Approval A new processing method effective against harmful bacteria will give raw oyster lovers new options — and provide a boost to Florida’s oyster industry as well. Florida Sea Grant researchers have been working with industry partners in the Gulf of Mexico to develop the technical standards that…
Artificial reefs have become an increasingly important fishing opportunity for Florida anglers, yet reefs are created and deployed to achieve a wide range of goals. The 2010 Florida Artificial Reef Summit brought together noted experts, artificial reef managers, and fisheries scientists from around the state and nation to discuss current issues, hear the latest research,…
On a recent boat trip in the Intracoastal Waterway from Palm Coast to Fort Matanzas, it was interesting to notice the variety of shorelines present in the region. They ranged from fully-vegetated salt marsh to eroding banks to various styles of seawalls. In looking at a series of aerial maps of the region, we can…
UF research improves production of sea oats essential to beach survival by Stu Hutson, UF/IFAS News It might be easy for the casual beachgoer to write off sea oats as mere weeds. However, the lanky grass holds the soil of beach dunes, making it a keystone of the natural barrier between land and water —…
Lost and abandoned blue crab traps pose a problem in Florida’s commercial and recreational fishing industries by continuing to trap fish and crustaceans. Traps can also pose a marine hazard. Efforts to clean them up are receiving a major boost in 2009, due to a new rule approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation…