Every action counts. Ultimately, the health of the Gulf of Mexico depends upon choices made by Florida’s local communities, businesses and residents. The good news is that citizens of the Sunshine State ARE taking steps to protect and restore this shared regional resource. By clicking on various buttons on this page, you can learn more about the inspiring activities being carried out in Florida’s coastal communities.

A Rookery Bay volunteer keeps this young manatee cool and hydrated during a rescue. The calf and her mother were relocated to the Ten Thousand Islands after being stranded near Goodland. Volunteers along the Gulf Coast can now be certified in a Marine Mammal Stranding Program where they learn to assist in emergency situations like this one.

Over 400 middle school students visit Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve each year in May to “Dive Into the Ocean.” Students learn how to use scuba gear and practice dive techniques in a 17,000 gallon pool. Guest speakers at the event raise awareness about our coastal and ocean resources, and encourage students to pursue careers in marine science.

Shark researcher Pat ODonnell and Education Specialist Brooke Carney hold a young shark caught in the estuary near Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Every summer, volunteers join a waiting list to accompany Captain Pat on hislate‐night research trips into the Ten Thousand Islands. These "citizen scientists” gather data about sharks that helps researchers understand the impacts of freshwater on the estuaries.

Visitors to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary near Naples enjoy a 2‐mile interpretive boardwalk through the largest remaining virgin bald Cypress forest in North America. The Corkscrew wetlands filter runoff in the watershed before entering the Gulf of Mexico, and offer food and refuge for migrating birds on their way to Central and South America.

Eco‐tour providers learn about southwest Florida’s wildlife and natural resources on an airboat tour through the Everglades. These dedicated tour operators who attend a series of courses in Fort Myers or Naples now earn an “Eco‐Tour” certification. Certified EcoTour operators along southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast are recognized for their leadership in protecting our wildlife and their habitats.

Landscapers and local businesses worked with the South Florida Water Management District to complete the first‐ever “Xtreme Yard Makeover” for a homeowner in 2008. This Australian Pine and other exotic species were removed from the yard to make way for water‐efficient native plant species. The new yard requires less fertilizer and pesticide application, reduces runoff, and protects local waterways leading to the Gulf of Mexico.

Grow a Garden for the Gulf - Very easy to create, the City of Naples rainwater garden is designed to retain and treat rain water that has washed off of roofs and sidewalks. Built by city staff in just a few hours, this garden is made with plants that filter pollutants out of the rainwater before it reaches Naples Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.
Check out more of Florida’s Southern Gulf Coast.

Dr. Ernest Estevez, Director of the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, contributes to a discussion on sea level rise in a recent Gulf of Mexico Alliance community input workshop. Mote Marine Laboratory hosts educational programs, maintains an interactive aquarium, and serves as a center for scientific research on aquaculture, coastal ecology, red tide, marine mammals, and sea turtles.

Randy Runnels, Florida Alliance Team Member and Manager of the Tampa Bay Aquatic Preserve, takes volunteers snorkeling in Tampa Bay to monitor water quality and marine ecosystems. The researchers were pleased to find a tiny octopus hiding in this shell on one of their recent trips – a good indication that water quality has improved dramatically in the Bay over the last decade.

Every summer, residents in St. Pete Beach closely monitor loggerhead sea turtles and their nests. Often arriving before dawn, volunteers walk the beaches looking for turtle tracks and depressions in the sand. Nests are marked and covered with a plastic cage to prevent raccoons, dogs or even humans from disturbing these threatened species.

College means more than late night parties to students at the University of South Florida (USF), St. Petersburg, who have taken strides to clean up the local waterfront. In kayaks, students collected hundreds of pounds of trash and other debris, sometimes pulling, pushing or towing it along. A clean campus extends beyond the dorm room on waterfront campuses like USF.
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At Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve near Crystal River, staff and high school interns partner with local restaurants to run PROJECT OYSTER. Students collect oyster shells from restaurants and use them in restoration projects along the Gulf Coast. St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge uses the shells to create artificial oyster bays and habitat for endangered whooping cranes.

Ecotour Captain Shares the Gulf - Renowned for its rich waters and thriving clam beds, Cedar Key reflects many of the traditions of old Florida. And some of the locals are helping to keep the knowledge of old Florida alive. Local ecotour guide Captain Doug does his part to educate about the Gulf of Mexico by providing boat trips for school classes free of charge. This opportunity gives students a chance to visit historic islands and learn about the natural history of priceless coastal resources through first-hand experience.
Check out more of Florida’s Northern Gulf Coast

Lesley Cox, of the Carrabelle Waterfront Partnership Program, explains where the new “Carrabelle by Land and by Sea” trails will link biking and walking paths along the waterfront. In addition to creating more public access and improving the local maritime economy, the residents aim to stabilize shorelines, host community cleanups, teach seminars, and reduce harmful runoff into the Gulf of Mexico.

Oyster harvesters at Leavins Seafood work hard to deliver top quality seafood ready for the national restaurant market. Because of its pristine water quality and delicate balance of salt and fresh water, Apalachicola Bay produces 90% of Florida’s oyster harvest, and 10% of the nation’s supply. The Bay is considered to be one of the most productive in all of North America.

Students from schools far and wide visit Apalachicola Reserve’s Nature Center where they can birdwatch on the nature trail, participate in educational programs or visit the aquarium exhibits. Reserve Education Staff offer curricula for elementary, middle and high school classrooms as well as a variety of programs on-site. From field trips in the bay to occasional overnight stays on a Gulf coast barrier island, there is always something fascinating to learn about.

The historical St. George Lighthouse previously on Little St. George Island near Apalachicola was restored on nearby St. George Island in 2008 by volunteers and opened to the public after collapsing into the Gulf of Mexico in 2005. Offering a 360 degree view of St. George Island, Apalachicola Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico, the lighthouse now attracts visitors adventurous enough to climb the 92 stairs to the top.

BEST, the Bay Environmental Study Team, works hard to monitor the health of seagrasses in northwest Florida. The St. AndrewBay system has the largest expanse of seagrasses in the Panhandle region, and hosts over 2,100 marine species. Scientists currently conduct essential research research on how urban runoff and development affect the vulnerable seagrass beds.

Community leaders attended a Gulf of Mexico Alliance Resiliency Meeting in 2008 to create an Action Plan and develop an Index formeasuring risks associated with living along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Emergency managers, health officials, planners, and concernedcitizens joined together to discuss the impacts of tropical storms,climate change, and sea level rise on coastal communities in thePanhandle region.

While it’s easy to order tasty crab bisque on a menu, volunteers at the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve know the hard work that goes into harvesting crabs in the wild. Each year, in the chilly month of December, dedicated citizens board airboats to remove dozens of derelict crab traps from the Gulf, protecting many kinds of sea life from this lost litter.
Check out more of Florida’s Northwestern Gulf Coast