DEP Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) and Florida Keys Aquatic Preserve (FKAP) teams completed semi-annual seagrass and hardbottom benthic surveys and Disturbance Response Monitoring (DRM) one month early! Both teams were prepared on all field days to make monitoring and sampling go smoothly. Everyone did a great job working hard this field season.
Staff from the Florida Aquarium assisted Tampa Bay Aquatic Preserve (TBAP) staff on Friday as part of TBAP’s “Day of Action” service program. They worked on an island in the Pinellas County Aquatic Preserve to remove marine debris and invasive plants. The Florida Aquarium regularly provides staff for this type of work. TBAP is thankful for their continued support.
Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve (BBSAP) partners with Florida Public Archeological Network (FPAN) on outreach events, most recently participated in Moon Over the Mounds at the Crystal River Archeological State Park, learning about the cultural and historical importance of the area.
The Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves (IRLAP) staff collaborated with FWC, the Brevard Zoo and Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) to investigate open spaces on the 1000 Islands, near Banana River Aquatic Preserve, for potential least tern nesting sites. Florida’s least terns (Sternula antillarum) are listed as threatened, and their nesting habitat is rapidly disappearing.
The Fishy Fashion Show exhibit and opening night were a mixture of joy, silliness, education, seriousness, and creativity. These are essential ingredients of success when trying to get an important message out to the public. Artist Joan Matey’s costumes made of marine debris delivered a message both powerful and fun.
DEP Coral Protection & Restoration Program (CPR) and Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) spent two days collecting sediment and water samples in Broward County as part of a DEP CPR-funded project to investigate pollutants in sediment pore water. The DEP dive teams collected over 60 samples across the two days with topside support from NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS).
Rookery Bay staff teamed up with the Von Arx Wildlife Hospital to release a rehabilitated Black tern back into the wild. After receiving care at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s Von Arx Hospital, the bird was transported by boat to the Second Chance Critical Wildlife Area in the southern region of the reserve. Here it soared once again over the Gulf.
Two outreach events in celebration of Save Our Waters Week. Our annual kayak tour returned after a year off due to Hurricane Helene, fittingly taking place on the storm’s one-year anniversary. Community members joined staff and partners from the Florida Public Archaeology Network, Crystal River Preserve State Park, and SMMAP for a guided paddle highlighting the area’s cultural and natural resources.
The GTMNERR (GTM Research Reserve) celebrated National Estuaries Week with two events hosted by the Friends of GTM Research Reserve. On Friday, September 26, 2025, the reserve came alive with an evening of oysters, a low country boil, music and an estuary celebration.
Each year, Buffer staff welcomes Dr. Tom Miller and his FSU research students for a weekend of learning. Dr. Miller is a professor of biological sciences who has been conducting research and taking a vegetation census in our area since 1999.