Seagrasses are underwater flowering plants that are commonly found in Florida’s bays, lagoons and other shallow coastal waters. Seagrass can be found in small patches and eventually spread to cover large areas over time. These larger areas are called meadows.
Seagrass is incredibly valuable to the ecology of our waters. Hundreds of species live in the seagrass, forming a complex ecosystem. Sea turtles and manates feed on the seagrass. Shrimp, crabs and small seventy percent of Florida’s fish depend on seagrass during some period of their lives.
Water quality is also dependent on the health of seagrass beds. It has the ability to filter out some pollutants and to stabilize sediment. Seagrass causes stability in the sand and mud bottoms of Florida’s bays. These beds are an important part of the habitats that link the wetlands to the coral reefs.
Seagrass is a fragile plant that can be easily disturbed by human activities. Seagrass is destroyed by storm runoff, careless boating and construction. Water runoff contains fertilizers, silt, debris and other poisons from residential, industrial and agricultural areas. Those toxins in storm runoff drain into Florida’s Waterways, killing seagrass and often the animals that depend on it. Boat propellers can destroy seagrass beds by causing irreparable damage, eventually leaving barren areas where fish once flourished. Construction of marinas, dredging and filling projects also contribute to the steady decline of seagrass.
In Florida, while the population has steadily increases, the existence of Florida Seagrass has decreased since 1950. Tampa Bay has lost 40% of the seagrass since 1950. Seventy-two percent of the seagrass in St. Joseph Sound, near Clearwater, has disappeared in the last sixty years. Biscayne Bay, in Miami, has lost 43% while the Indian River Lagoon lost 30%.
What can you do?
If you live on the coast, use slow release fertilizer and only use what is required. If you are a boater, pay attention to your surroundings. Dark brown patches are sea grass beds. Polarized glasses will help you see past the surface to see the shallow areas. Also, know your markers. Seagrass beds are sometimes marked to warn boaters of shallow areas.
What else is being done?
The government has crafted regulations designed to protect water quality as well as the seagrass. Private industry should monitor industrial discharges and runoff. Volunteer organizations are also implementing programs to plant seagrass. Local entities are also making changes to their zoning laws to take into consideration acceptable land-use practices that protect our natural resources.
