Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve

The Miami Circle is one of the most important archaeological sites on the shores of the bay. The site is believed to be part of a settlement that existed on both shores of the Miami River's outlet to Biscayne Bay. Discovered in 1998, the Miami Circle was purchased by the State of Florida for preservation. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 and declared a National Historic Landmark in 2009. Scientists have used three-dimensional laser mapping to document the site, and the artifacts are now housed at History Miami.

The geology of the Biscayne Bay area is characterized by a shallow surficial aquifer system and the deeper Floridan aquifer. Groundwater discharge from the Biscayne Aquifer flows into the bay, contributing to the bay's salinity regime. This flow originates from the Biscayne Aquifer, which is composed of porous limestone dating back to the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs. Due to the limestone's variable permeability, creating numerical models of groundwater flow has been challenging. Submerged groundwater springs likely form as water dissolves the limestone, increasing the aquifer's transmissivity. During the dry season, canals recharge the aquifer, while in the wet season, they drain it.

Wildlife Habitat and Ecosystem Type
Biscayne Bay is a subtropical estuary with a variety of habitats, including mangrove-lined shores, hardbottom communities and seagrass beds. These habitats support a diverse collection of plants and animals, including many commercially important species. Seagrass beds provide a nursery for juvenile fish and invertebrates and serve as important feeding grounds for wading birds. Mangrove and estuarine areas host a diverse collection of fish that benefit the entire ecosystem's food web. Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve is an estuary and is considered Outstanding Florida Waters.

Nesting and Migrating Birds
Species include brown pelicans, double-crested cormorants, great blue heron, magnificent frigatebird, yellow-crowned night heron and bald eagles.

Mammals
The Bottlenose dolphin and the West Indian manatee live in the bay. Occasionally, pygmy sperm whale can be seen as well.

Reptiles
The American crocodile is found in the southern section of the bay. Loggerhead sea turtles, green sea turtles, leatherback sea turtles and hawksbill sea turtles are found throughout the bay, while invasive green iguanas have exploded in number across South Florida.

Bony Fish
Fish species in the bay are numerus but include various species of snapper, grouper, jack, bonefish, smaller tropical sergeant major and blue tang.

Cartilaginous Fishes (Sharks, Skates, and Rays)
The bay is home to a variety of cartilaginous species, including the spotted eagle ray, bull shark, bonnethead shark, blacktip shark, southern stingray, Atlantic stingray, bluntnose stingray, nurse shark, smooth butterfly ray, giant manta ray, lesser electric ray, smalltooth sawfish, hammerhead shark and yellow stingray.

Sponges and Coral
Many sponge and coral species live in the bay including, Loggerhead sponge, Vase sponge, Sheepswool sponge, Boulder Brain coral, Massive Starlet coral and Lesser Starlet coral.

Other Species
Endangered species in the bay include the American crocodile, the wood stork and the largetooth sawfish. 

For a full list of species, please see the Species List in section B.4 of the management plan.

The best time to visit Biscayne Bay is November to April, when the weather is pleasant, and wildlife is most active. During this season, manatees migrate into the bay for its warmer waters, migratory birds arrive from the north, sea turtles forage on the seagrasses and fish thrive in the cooler water, making it ideal for wildlife viewing, boating and fishing.

Yes.

Yes, please do not let your pet run free in areas not designated for pets, and please pick up after your pet to avoid hazardous pathogens in our coastal waters. Aquatic preserves often are adjacent to other conservation areas that may have nesting birds or other easily disturbed wildlife. 

Follow current FWC saltwater fishing regulations.

Follow current FWC boating regulations.

Seagrass is protected within aquatic preserves; avoid shallow waters and raise motor if over seagrass. Damage to seagrass can result in a fine up to $1,000. 

Call Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).

ADA accommodations are specific to each access point and the managing entity for that site. 

There are no fees required by Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve, but specific access points may charge access fees to those sites. The Friends of Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves, a 501(c)3 citizen support organization, accepts donations toward their goal of supporting preserve management and public outreach/education. 

If you are interested in getting involved helping with aquatic preserve, please reach out to Biscayne.Bay@FloridaDEP.gov or visit the Friends of Biscayne Bay website.