Approximately 2.7 million acres of seagrass meadows grow throughout Florida’s coastal waters and are most abundant in the Florida Keys and from Tarpon Springs to Apalachee Bay. Like lawn grasses, seagrasses are flowering plants that provide many of the same benefits as a healthy lawn, absorbing nutrients from runoff, stabilizing the soil to reduce erosion and attracting and supporting wildlife.

Actions Boaters Can Take:

• Know your boat and be familiar with the boat’s draft. As a general rule, there should be at least a foot between the boat’s propeller and the top of the seagrasses.
• Be familiar with the local waterways. Estuarine and coastal environments change constantly, making navigation tricky.
• Be aware of how tide and wind conditions affect boating. It is common for seagrass beds to be completely exposed during low tides.
• Turn the motor off and drift into deeper water, if you run aground
• Use a trolling motor and push pole for fishing in shallow water.

A boat’s hull, anchor or propeller can uproot seagrasses, ripping several inches into the soft sediment and creating a path several meters long. Prop scars are often visible and can be linear or circular. When viewed from the air, scars often resemble a zigzag pattern. Recovery is slow and research has shown it may take up to ten years for damaged areas to regenerate.

In Florida, seagrasses are protected by law and boaters can face federal and state fines as well as costs associated with restoration efforts and monitoring if they are caught damaging them.

March is Seagrass Awareness Month. Preserving Florida’s seagrass meadows is critical to protecting marine life, water quality and Florida’s ocean-based economy. Learn more at http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/habitats/seagrass/.