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The Indian River Lagoon system,
which includes the Indian River Lagoon, Banana River,
and Mosquito Lagoon, extends 155 miles along the central
Florida east coast, or nearly sixty percent of the
total length of the eastern Florida shoreline.
The
upper third of this region, from Cape Canaveral northward
to Ponce de Leon Inlet, is characterized by a temperate
climate, while the lower two thirds is typically tropical.
Plant and animal species diversity is thus large,
including more than 75 species that are listed as
either endangered, threatened, rare, or species of
special concern. An inventory of species conducted
in the mid-1980s indicated that the Indian River Lagoon
contained the greatest species diversity of any estuary
in the United States.
Environmental impacts resulting
from rapid human population growth in this region,
and all of Florida, in recent years have altered the
Lagoon ecosystems. Water quality is altered by stormwater
runoff which is overloaded with fertilizers, herbicides
and pesticides applied to urban lawns and gardens
throughout the region. Endangered and threatened species,
including manatees, American eagles, scrub jays, and
many others have been impacted by loss of habitat
and serious ecosystem modification caused by introduced
invasive exotic species. With over 1,000,000 registered
boaters in Florida, including about 30,000 in Brevard
County alone, and many thousands of other transient
boaters, all Florida waters are increasingly stressed
by boating environmental impacts.
Water quality degradation
caused by such human impacts contributes to ongoing
environmental stresses on almost all marine species,
including those of greatest commercial and recreational
economic importance, such as clams and oysters, shrimp,
lobsters, and other shellfish, redfish, seatrout,
and other sportfish.
Local and regional Sea Grant
programs offer hope for the future by providing university-based,
scientifically valid public education on these and
other marine issues so that the half-million Brevard
County citizens and nearly 16 million Florida
citizens who may potentially be so-educated then become
true stakeholders in Florida's future. The millions
of "snowbirds" who are either temporary
or newly permanent residents are primary candidates
for Sea Grant and other Extension educational programs
because they usually do not understand the impacts
of human activities in their yards and in Florida's
waterways on local marine environments. Many other
Floridians also do not clearly understand local marine
ecosystems, and human impacts upon them, so they are
also good customers of Sea Grant programming. Marina
operators and seafood processors are beneficiaries
of Sea Grant business programming, such as the Clean
Marina program, and HACCP training with ongoing HACCP
Plan reviews by Agents.
Education
BS, Biology, Kennesaw State University
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