In Northeast Florida, oysters are a foundational species and highly valued for their ecosystem services. Several entities from across Northeast Florida (St. Johns River Water Management District, Florida Fish and Wildlife, Northeast Florida Aquatic Preserves, University of Florida) met at Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve recently for a workshop to plan standardized oyster monitoring for winter 2026.

Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve staff visited Anclote Key for a site visit for the RESTORE grant for the SCAR MAPS project. The project will evaluate the effects of marking an existing pole and troll zone on private submerged lands to hopefully see a reduction in prop scar in the area.

Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTMNERR) hosted its annual Spring TOTE (Teachers on the Estuary) professional development training in partnership with the Guy Harvey Foundation. GTMNERR also partnered with Awareness and Appreciation Coordinator Maya Bhalla-Ladd from the Coral Reef Conservation Program to debut a new set of educational lessons teachers will soon be able to reserve and take into the classroom.