Seagrass Waning, Study Says

By Kevin Begos, Tampa Tribune, Fla.

Mar. 15–TALLAHASSEE — Florida has lost 300,000 acres of critical seagrass habitat since 1995, according to a new study that soon will be published by the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.

The previous figure of 2.6 million acres has dwindled to 2.3 million in the current estimate, said Paul Carlson, a research scientist at the institute.

The loss is significant because seagrass beds are important nursery areas for many species of fish and shellfish prized by commercial and recreational fishermen.

Nine of the 11 main estuaries studied showed declines, Carlson said. The good news is that there were gains in Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay, where aggressive efforts have been made to reverse decades of seagrass loss.

Experts say poor water quality is the main factor in seagrass decline, but new bills in the Legislature would target another problem: boaters whose propellers gouge scars in the beds. Those scars can take years to recover.

Wednesday morning, a House committee gave unanimous approval to HB 1069, sponsored by Rep. Will Kendrick, R-Carrabelle.

The bill authorizes the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to fine boaters who carelessly damage seagrass beds in aquatic preserves.

A first offense would be a $50 fine. The cost would be $250 for a second offense within 12 months, $500 for a third offense within 36 months and $1,000 for fourth or subsequent offenses.

A companion Senate bill adds possible misdemeanor charges for repeat offenses, but Kendrick says that goes too far.

If the bill passes, fines would go into a trust fund to rebuild seagrass habitat.

According to the Department of Environmental Protection, there are 41 aquatic preserves across the state, including 30,000 acres in Pinellas County and 8,000 acres in Hillsborough County’s Cockroach Bay.

Environmental groups welcomed Kendrick’s bill.

“We feel very strongly that this is an important bill,” Audubon of Florida’s Julie Wraithmell said. “We see this as not only protecting Florida’s environment but also protecting Florida fisheries.”

Marianne Gengenbach of the Nature Conservancy said that group also supports the bill, and American Watercraft Association representative Peggy Matthews added that “you do have careless operators out there.”

Kendrick says seagrass is too important to the environment and economy to keep ignoring the problem.

“We just need to start taking better care,” he said. “If we take the seagrasses out, those larger species leave. Everything thrives off everything else.”

On Tuesday, Gov. Charlie Crist and the Department of Environmental Protection announced “Seagrass Awareness Month,” but they could not have been aware of the new figures showing overall loss.

“Florida’s seagrasses sustain recreational and commercial marine industries as well as critical wildlife habitat,” said DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole, who estimated that in 2006, seagrass communities in Florida supported an estimated harvest of $71.4 million for six seagrass-dependent commercial species of fish and shellfish.

WHAT’S NEXT

HB 1069 next will be heard by the Environment & Natural Resources Council. SB 0548 passed the Environmental Preservation and Conservation committee unanimously Tuesday and has three more stops before a full floor vote.

Sponsors

–HB 1069: Rep. Will Kendrick, R-Carrabelle, (850) 488-7870, www.myflorida house.gov/sections/Representatives, click on “Will Kendrick.”

–SB 0548: Sen. Michael Bennett, R-Bradenton, (850) 487-5078, bennett.mike.web@flsenate.gov

Reporter Kevin Begos can be reached at (850) 222-8382 or kbegos@tampatrib.com.

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Copyright (c) 2007, Tampa Tribune, Fla.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

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