Key Issues and Environmental Projects

MCFF’s Seagrass Survey Participation
Since Mangrove Coast Fly Fishers began monitoring seagrass with Sarasota County in 2006, the program has been an enormous success, recognized by the Sarasota County Commissioners and leading to a identical program in Crystal River.

Ready to have some fun AND make a difference?
Become a Sarasota County Seagrass Survey Volunteer
- Help protect this valuable natural resource
- Participate in environmental research
- It's easy, fun and will help scientists better understand Sarasota's bays.

Join us for hands-on training in the water
1:30-4:30 Sunday, August 1st
Bay Preserve at Osprey (directions below)
400 Palmetto Ave., 34229
Rain Date: Sat. Aug. 7th, same time and location.

A portion of the training will take place in approximately one foot of water so please dress accordingly. Particpants in the survey should have their own GPS and watercraft. Those who do not have this equipment will need to be paired with those who do.

Contact Amanda at 861-5000 or adomingu@scgov.net. Or for more information about MCFF's participation, please contact Joe Polidoro at 941-925-0464 or by email at joe.polidoro@comcast.net.

Location: Bay Preserve at Osprey is located at 400 Palmetto Avenue, Osprey, FL 34229. Directions: From US 41 (Tamiami Trail), turn West onto Oak Street. Turn right on Palmetto Avenue and follow it to Bay Preserve.

Returning Volunteers: We have made a few changes so please contact Amanda for updated materials and information on our new survey techniques.

Contact Amanda at 861-5000 or adomingu@scgov.net

I hope to see you for our next survey!
Sincerely, Amanda Dominguez

Sarasota County Water Resources, 1001 Sarasota Center Blvd, Sarasota Fl 34240-7850
Cell: 941.650.1089, Fax: 941.861.0986 or by email at: adomingu@scgov.net

As reported in the Federation of Fly Fishers newsletter
Volunteer seagrass monitoring program picks up three awards
For the last three years, Sarasota County and a small army of volunteers have been surveying seagrass habitats throughout Sarasota. Now, the Sarasota Environmental Assessment (SEA) Team is continuing to make some serious waves, earning recognition from the National Association of Counties (NACo) and the Environmental Protection Agency's Gulf of Mexico Program.

In June, the team won two notable awards from NACo; an Achievement Award which honors it's unique and effective program. As well as a Best of Category Award which marks it as a model program for its out-standing and creative work.

This month, the Environmental Protection Agency‟s Gulf of Mexico Program honored the SEA Team with a Gulf Guardian Award for finding innovative solutions to improve the environmental health of the Gulf, in concert with economic development.

“These recognitions continue to add credence to the program which started with a handful of volunteers 3 years ago. Today, the data is being used by many environmental managers, from mapping seagrass to setting water quality criteria”, said Jon Perry Environmental Specialist.

According to Environmental Specialist Amanda Dominguez, nearly all of the commercially and recreation-ally important estuarine and marine animals depend on seagrass beds as refuge or habitat for some part of their life, making them directly responsible for bringing in millions of dollars annually to the state of Florida through the recreational and commercial fishing industries.

“The beds serve as nurseries for juvenile fish, scallops, crabs and shrimp. Manatees, turtles and rays feed on the plants themselves or on the smaller creatures that live there. Many birds also feed in the grass flats,” said Dominguez. “Seagrass also helps maintain water quality by filtering and anchoring sediments. Without it, most of the regions they inhabit would be a seascape of unstable shifting sand and mud.”

If you would like to participate in this award winning program and help environmental managers protect this valuable resource, volunteers are still being sought. Volunteers will learn survey techniques and become comfortable with mapping seagrass.

To learn more about how to participate, contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000 and ask for Amanda Dominguez.
Sarasota County Communications | scgov.net
Media contact: Pat Haire, 941-861-5104; cell 941-650-2850; phaire@scgov.net
Project contact: Amanda Dominguez, 941-650-1098; adomingu@scgov.net
-end-

Map to Bay Preserve - Location of the January 30th Training:

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Killing Tarpon for Fun
When it comes to spearfishing for tarpon, there’s no such thing as “catch and release”—and it could impact the Gulf of Mexico’s tarpon fishery. Read more about this troubling practice at Tarbone.org...

We can really help the cause by getting as many members as possible (and anyone else) to sign BTU's electronic petition (Bonefish & Tarpon Unlimited), available by clicking here: www.tarbone.org/tarpon.cfm

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Take the Mangrove Initiative
Want to help with conservation but don’t how to go about it? Ever thought of getting involved in fish habitat restoration but have yet to take action?

Now there’s a great opportunity to make a real difference to our local fishery—and see the results. It’s called the Mangrove Initiative—a project sponsored by the Federation of Fly Fishers to help restore, conserve, and educate the public on mangrove ecosystems.

The Mangrove Initiative is currently working with the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge recover from Hurricane Charlie, which destroyed or imperiled huge tracts of fishery habitat. Past MCFF President Pete Greenan, local project director of the Mangrove Initiative, says, “Right now we’re removing mangroves that have fallen into waterways and are endangering the habitat. We’re removing exotic species. And we’re replanting mangoves.”

An ongoing program whose work will continue into the next few years, the Mangrove Initiative works directly with National Wildlife Refuges around the state that need its help. Long-term, the Initiative will expand its efforts beyond the Refuges.

Volunteers from local fly fishing clubs—including MCFF members —are the heart of the Mangrove Initiative, providing nearly all of its man- (and woman-) power.

What can you do? Anything from directing traffic to educating youngsters to getting in the water and cutting dead mangroves. There’s a role for everyone who wants to help.

There are several opportunities to get involved throughout this year. Please consider joining us for a couple of fun work days and lend a hand to help preserve mangrove habitats important for fish and wildlife.

If you can help in any way, please contact our Past President, Capt. Pete Greenan, who is coordinating our efforts. Let Pete know if you can participate and whether you have a boat. You can contact Pete by email at captpete@floridaflyfishing.com or by telephone at 941-923-6095.

Do it today. And tell a friend. We’ve all enjoyed great times on the water that our habitat has given us. Now it needs our help. Take the initiative… and get involved.