Three research projects are underway at Florida Sea Grant that will test methods to control the invasion of the exotic lionfish in the Atlantic and Caribbean. Complete eradication of lionfish is unlikely, according to Maia McGuire, an invasive species specialist with Florida Sea Grant, but there is hope that developing methods for local removal may…
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…
The second in a series of marine sanctuary books edited by Florida Sea Grant marine extension agent Maia McGuire has now been published. “Explore the West Coast National Marine Sanctuaries” is available through Ocean Publishing, a publisher located in Flagler Beach, Fla., who approaced McGuire about compiling materials for the series. The 350-page book has…
As many readers know, Northern Right Whales visit the coastal waters of northeast Florida each winter and are often close enough to be seen from shore. Most of the visiting whales are females who have traveled to our waters to give birth to their calves. They are accompanied by other females, and some juvenile right…
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…