The Coral Protection and Restoration Program (CPR) and Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) are hard at work completing benthic surveys for the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP).

With another shorebird nesting season complete, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve staff, partners and volunteers removed the ‘Critical Wildlife Area’ and ‘Nesting Shorebird’ closure signs from Second Chance Island. Now one of Southwest Florida's most popular shelling destinations is once again open to the public. 

More BRUV (Baited Remote Underwater Video) deployments for the Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve staff at several of the hardbottom monitoring sites as part of the Springs Coast Resiliency and Biodiversity Monitoring Network. This week we deployed the BRUVs at two of our shallow sites that we are monitoring for the grant. Many fish species and several sharks were very interested in the sardine filled PVC tube.

Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserve (CHAP) staff recently made it over the halfway mark for sea grass fixed monitored sites. With more than 30 of the 50 transects monitored, the crew is making great headway this monitoring season.  

More than 12,000 baby sea turtles emerged from Rookery Bay beaches this year thanks to the dedicated  work of Rookery Bay’s sea turtle team and support from the Friends of Rookery Bay’s Adopt a Sea Turtle Nest program. The proceeds from 96 adopted nests were able to fund three sea turtle interns to monitor Cape Romano, Sea Oat Island, Cannon Island and the Ten Thousand Islands for sea

Joe and Trisha spent a day on the lower Silver River and at the confluence with the Oklawaha River, scouting for invasive plecos and assessing a large fallen tree that is diverting water flow and creating a tussock. The male plecos should be wrapping up their burrow-building season for the year. After three hours of searching, only six plecos were removed, which is encouraging news.

Driving along the coast of northern Florida, one can expect to see patches and pockets of salt marsh grasses jetting from the shallow waters, but as temperatures begin to climb, a new plant species is settling in and making home. Mangroves, a common site in southern Florida, are starting to adapt and expand their territory.

On August 20-21, Yesmarie De La Flor of the Coral Protection and Restoration Program (CPR) and Stephanie Stinson of the Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP), attended the 2026 South Florida GIS Expo. The wide array of sessions ranged from insights into emerging GIS technologies, to environmental applications, and professional development opportunities.

Tampa Bay Aquatic Preserves and Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection leadership worked with the Division of Recreation and Parks to solicit public input on the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve Management Plan revision simultaneously with the revision of the adjacent Terra Ceia Preserve State Park Management Plan.

The Central Panhandle Aquatic Preserve (CPAP) was honored to host Cooper as a special ambassador of the canine delegation. The BARK Ranger program was started by the National Park Service to promote responsible practices in our public wild areas by pets and their humans. With the success of the program, many other organizations have adopted the program to promote best practices on our public lands (and waters). BARK stands for: