seagrass

Scientists worry that the arrival of the weedier seagrass from the Indian Ocean could outcompete local grasses that fight hurricane storm surges, trap carbon, feed turtles and manatees and supply major seafood and fishing industries.

As oceans warm and organisms that feed on seagrasses move north, they could overgraze parts of the Gulf of Mexico, including areas in the greater Tampa Bay region, that's according to recent study.

"Seagrass die-off has happened before in Florida in various estuaries at various times. Seagrass recovers. But this is the first time it's really been simultaneous in all five major estuaries in Florida," said Bill Kearney of the Sun Sentinel.

New surveys of seagrass on Florida's Gulf Coast shows the vital marine plant is continuing to lose ground at a rapid pace in Tampa and Sarasota Bay.

Florida's offshore marine habitat is in peril. Populations of fish are dwindling in many places, and manatees have been dying in record numbers. The basis for much of this life lies in seagrass just under our boats. We join scientist on a trip into one of the healthiest seagrass meadows in the Gulf of Mexico.

Over the last 10 years the Indian River Lagoon and Biscayne Bay have lost up to 100% of their sea grass in some areas says Dr. James Fourqurean,a professor of marine biology at Florida International University.

A bill to open Florida’s seagrass beds to development has a slim chance of passing this legislative session. Environmentalists oppose the bill, arguing it will further deplete manatees’ food source.

The bill would create seagrass mitigation banks, allowing property owner to buy credits in privately managed seagrass meadows to offset the destruction caused by construction.

More than 840 manatee deaths were recorded between Jan. 1 and July 2, according to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Scientists examining this month's fish kill in Biscayne Bay say it follows decades of decline, but it still could have been prevented.

A new study from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration looking at 20 years worth of data on pollution has found a new risk threatening…

A cloudless sky greeted Shannon Waddell and friends in Miami Beach for their weekend getaway from Atlanta, and the day might have qualified as postcard…