News | Florida Aquatic Preserves

Skip to main content

Florida Aquatic Preserves

Main navigation

Managed Areas
- Florida's Aquatic Preserves represent some of the most biologically diverse and ecologically significant natural areas in the state. These 43 designated preserves, encompassing over 2.9 million acres of submerged lands, protect vital coastal and freshwater ecosystems including seagrass meadows, oyster and hard-bottom habitats, mangrove forests, salt marshes and coral reefs.
  
  Learn More
  Alligator Harbor Aquatic Preserve
  
  Apalachicola Bay Aquatic Preserve
  
  Banana River Aquatic Preserve
  
  Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve
  
  Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve
  
  Boca Ciega Bay Aquatic Preserve
  
  Cape Florida Aquatic Preserve
  
  Cape Haze Aquatic Preserve
  
  Cape Romano-Ten Thousand Islands Aquatic Preserve
  
  Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve
  
  Coupon Bight Aquatic Preserve
  
  Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve
  
  Fort Clinch Aquatic Preserve
  
  Fort Pickens Aquatic Preserve
  
  Gasparilla Sound-Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserve
  
  Guana River Marsh Aquatic Preserve
  
  Indian River-Malabar to Vero Beach Aquatic Preserve
  
  Indian River-Vero Beach to Fort Pierce Aquatic Preserve
  
  Jensen Beach to Jupiter Inlet Aquatic Preserve
  
  Kristin Jacobs Coral Aquatic Preserve
  
  Lake Jackson Aquatic Preserve
  
  Lemon Bay Aquatic Preserve
  
  Lignumvitae Key Aquatic Preserve
  
  Loxahatchee River-Lake Worth Creek
  
  Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve
  
  Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve
  
  Nassau River-St. Johns River Marshes Aquatic Preserve
  
  Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve
  
  North Fork, St. Lucie Aquatic Preserve
  
  Oklawaha River Aquatic Preserve
  
  Pellicer Creek Aquatic Preserve
  
  Pine Island Sound Aquatic Preserve
  
  Pinellas County Aquatic Preserve
  
  Rainbow Springs Aquatic Preserve
  
  Rocky Bayou Aquatic Preserve
  
  Rookery Bay Aquatic Preserve
  
  St. Andrews Aquatic Preserve
  
  St. Joseph Bay Aquatic Preserve
  
  St. Martins Marsh Aquatic Preserve
  
  Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve
  
  Tomoka Marsh Aquatic Preserve
  
  Wekiva River Aquatic Preserve
  
  Yellow River Marsh Aquatic Preserve
- Florida is home to three National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRs), each dedicated to the conservation and study of vital estuarine ecosystems where freshwater meets the sea. These reserves are part of the NERR System, a network of 30 protected areas across the United States established to support long-term research, education and stewardship.
  
  Learn More
  Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve
  
  Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve
  
  Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
- Florida's Coral Reef stretches almost 350 miles from the Dry Tortugas to the St. Lucie Inlet. It’s the only coral reef system in the continental United States and is home to over 40 species of reef-building corals that provide shelter, food and breeding sites for millions of plants and animals.
  
  Learn More
  Cape Florida Aquatic Preserve
  
  Coupon Bight Aquatic Preserve
  
  Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
  
  Kristin Jacobs Coral Aquatic Preserve
- The St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve is strategically positioned along the coast of St. Joseph Bay, situated roughly 5 miles southeast of Port St. Joe. Panama City lies approximately 35 miles northwest of the preserve, and Tallahassee is about 100 miles to the northeast. The preserve's location south of U.S. Highway 98 and along State Road 30-A places it amidst a mix of urban residential development, pine plantations and the natural boundaries of the Gulf of America and St. Joseph Bay.
  
  Learn More
  St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve
About
Calendar
Resources
News
Get Involved

Skip to main content

News

Date

All News

Recent News

Older News

Managed Area

Aquatic Preserves
- Alligator Harbor Aquatic Preserve
- Apalachicola Bay Aquatic Preserve
- Banana River Aquatic Preserve
- Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve
- Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve
- Boca Ciega Bay Aquatic Preserve
- Cape Florida Aquatic Preserve
- Cape Haze Aquatic Preserve
- Cape Romano-Ten Thousand Islands Aquatic Preserve
- Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve
- Coupon Bight Aquatic Preserve
- Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve
- Fort Clinch Aquatic Preserve
- Fort Pickens Aquatic Preserve
- Gasparilla Sound-Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserve
- Guana River Marsh Aquatic Preserve
- Indian River-Malabar to Vero Beach Aquatic Preserve
- Indian River-Vero Beach to Fort Pierce Aquatic Preserve
- Jensen Beach to Jupiter Inlet Aquatic Preserve
- Kristin Jacobs Coral Aquatic Preserve
- Lake Jackson Aquatic Preserve
- Lemon Bay Aquatic Preserve
- Lignumvitae Key Aquatic Preserve
- Loxahatchee River-Lake Worth Creek Aquatic Preserve
- Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve
- Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve
- Nassau River-St. Johns River Marshes Aquatic Preserve
- Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve
- North Fork, St. Lucie Aquatic Preserve
- Oklawaha River Aquatic Preserve
- Pellicer Creek Aquatic Preserve
- Pine Island Sound Aquatic Preserve
- Pinellas County Aquatic Preserve
- Rainbow Springs Aquatic Preserve
- Rocky Bayou Aquatic Preserve
- Rookery Bay Aquatic Preserve
- St. Andrews Aquatic Preserve
- St. Joseph Bay Aquatic Preserve
- St. Martins Marsh Aquatic Preserve
- Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve
- Tomoka Marsh Aquatic Preserve
- Wekiva River Aquatic Preserve
- Yellow River Marsh Aquatic Preserve
Florida’s Coral Reef
- Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRs)
- Apalachicola NERR
- Guana Tolomato Matanzas NERR
- Rookery Bay NERR
State Buffer Preserve
- St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve

Topic

Ecosystems
- Coral
- Mangroves
- Oysters beds/reefs
- Seagrass
- Salt Marshes
Learn
- School Resources
- Statutes/Admin. Codes
- Permitting
Management Plans
Press Release
Research
- SEACAR
- Water Quality
Know Before You Go
- Boating
- Camping
- Cleanup
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Scuba Diving
- Tours
- Wildlife Safety

Message From The Manager

Each of the aquatic preserves within the Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves offers a unique visit of protected submerged state lands.

View More

Social Links

Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
YouTube

Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection
Contact | Customer Survey | Disclaimer | Accessibility | Privacy

© Copyright 2025

SMALL

MEDIUM

LARGE

X-LARGE

XX-LARGE