Florida Sea Grant Extension Program
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Joy Hazell |
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Lee County is located on the gulf coast in southwest Florida. It is an 804-square mile metropolitan area with a population of 571,000 citizens. There are 1.8 million visitors annually during the tourist season of November through April. Lee County beaches extend 50 miles, with over 100 coastal islands. The County is bisected by the Caloosahatchee River, which is part of the Federal Intra-Coastal Waterway. 30% of the County’s inland waterways are shallow seagrass meadows. There also numerous mangrove islands throughout the estuaries. These ecosystems support approximately 246 species of fish including many species important to commercial and recreational fisheries. Thus, almost 90% of the 51,000 registered vessels are less than 26 feet. The majority of these vessels are outfitted for fishing. Along with 283-square miles of inland waterways for fishing, Lee County has deposited materials on 27 artificial reef sites off-shore. Lee County is home to one of the largest commercial shrimping fleets in the United States. Based on San Carlos Island, the fleet numbers almost 200 boats. In addition to shrimping, there are a large number of commercial fishermen that ply the waters for crabs and finfish. For additional information on Lee County, www.lee-county.com Outreach Programs Clean Boating, Keep Lee County Beautiful, Sustainable Fisheries Education for Underserved Communities, Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program
Education B.S. Marine and Freshwater Biology, University of New Hampshire |
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