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Northwest: In The Spotlight - Grant Funding for Money Bayou Approved
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Money Bayou is in the money. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas received an $831,089 grant to fund management, restoration, and visitor amenities at the bayou. Goals of the project include, “removal of hurricane debris from the site, establishing a marsh overlook and bird observation site, installing displays to increase public awareness and appreciation, and the construction of an historical marker to commemorate the site’s African-American history” reported an FDEP newsletter called The Post. (1-15-10).
The funding is from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service and the 2010 National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program, which will place Money Bayou under conservation management, protecting its rich cultural heritage and sensitive environmental lands from development. This rare piece of property is located within the St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve near Port St Joe. Money Bayou’s eleven acres include wild areas that are home to listed and endangered species such as loggerhead turtles, Gulf sturgeon, and piping plovers. It is also a crucial drainage area for St Joseph’s Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.
The clean up and management of watersheds like Money Bayou are important steps in developing a healthy and resilient Gulf of Mexico. For more ways to support the gulf visit our Issues pages. |
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Northwest: In The Spotlight - Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve Hosts Derelict Crab Trap Cleanup
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The 5th annual Apalachicola Bay Derelict Crab Trap Cleanup, an Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve (ANERR) organized event that is approved by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), was held Tuesday, January 12, 2010. This year the event was held during the new ten day blue crab season closure, so that any traps found in the bay could be removed as derelict or abandoned. The cleanup in Apalachicola Bay brings in the most traps of any cleanup in the state of Florida. Volunteers removed 209 derelict traps, bringing the five year total to 1445 traps.
Apalachicola Bay is an essential habitat for blue crabs. In the last ten years, approximately 2,806,886 lbs of blue crabs and approximately 236,313 lbs of soft-shelled blue crabs were landed in Franklin County. Blue crabs are harvested both recreationally and commercially year round from shallow waters using coated-metal traps. These traps can become hazards to humans and marine life when the buoy is separated from its trap due to boat props, storms, vandalism, or abandonment by fisherman. The Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission estimates that 250,000 derelict blue crab traps are added to Gulf of Mexico waters each year. Once traps are separated from their buoys, they are difficult to see from the water’s surface. Therefore, derelict traps can often be navigational hazards to boaters. A derelict trap continues to catch marine life including blue crabs, stone crabs, commercial and recreational fish, and other marine life. These organisms die and become bait for more fish and crabs continuing the mortality cycle. Marine life in the Bay, boating safety, and the crabbing industry all benefit from trap cleanup events.
Forty-one volunteers staffing ten boats, including two airboats, spread out around East Bay, 2-mile Channel, Cat Point, Crooked Channel, Scipio Creek, and the mouth of the Apalachicola River . ANERR had tremendous volunteer help from FWC offices including the Apalachee Wildlife Management Area, Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute in Eastpoint, Tate’s Hell Wildlife Management Area, Box-R Wildlife Management Area, and Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area. Coastal and Aquatic Managed Area Central Office staff and area residents Grayson Shepard, Katie and Tom Herzog, Rama Benbaruch, Robin Vroegop, and Roy Ogles also volunteered. The collected traps were transported and disposed of thanks to the Eastpoint Solid Waste Collection and Recycling Center. The collaboration and dedication of state agencies and local volunteers contributes greatly to the success of this event.
For further information about this event contact
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or
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for Florida derelict trap removal information. |
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Northwest: In The Spotlight - Fish Tales
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"Thousands of acres of salt marshes line the bays and estuaries from Pensacola Bay to Apalachee Bay and this highly productive habitat provides excellent saltwater fishing opportunities for anglers in this region. Countless bays and lagoons, miles of sandy beaches and island passes and deep water support a variety of marine fish species. These areas lure inshore and offshore fishermen with plenty of choices to target when fishing. Blue marlin, sailfish, wahoo, red snapper, grouper and tuna are a few of the species found in the offshore waters. King mackerel, tarpon, pompano and cobia make seasonal runs through this region. Inshore waters and bays are excellent areas to catch redfish, seatrout, flounder, sheepshead, Spanish mackerel, whiting and bluefish. Exploring bays in this region with a mask and snorkel will yield sweet tasting scallops." |
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Area Highlights
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Pensacola: Population: 56,000 (2003). Pensacola is the County Seat of Escambia County and is located 50 miles west of Mobile, Alabama. Pensacola hosts a regional airport, a port facility and is a regional natural gas provider. This community's strong commitment to history and its waterfronts led to its nickname "America's first settlement".
Panama City: Population: 37,000 (2005). Panama City is the County seat of Bay County and is located on Florida's panhandle on St. Andrews Bay. This community enjoys a pleasant climate, attractive housing opportunities, good fishing, water sports, arts, and entertainment. Its small town atmosphere makes it ideal for raising a family and a popular tourist destination.
Apalachicola: Population: 2,340 (2005). Apalachicola is the County Seat of Franklin County. Located 80 miles southwest of Tallahassee, this small town sits on Apalachicola Bay at the mouth of the Apalachicola River. The name "Apalachicola" was bestowed upon this community by the Apalachicola tribe. More than 90% of Florida's oyster production is harvested from Apalachicola Bay - making it the perfect location and host of its annual Florida Seafood Festival.
"Morning comes gently to Apalachicola. Oyster boats and shrimpboats begin their daily pilgrimages into the seafood-rich bay as the sun rises on the Northwest Florida coast. The lights twinkle on in this fishing village, its residents ready for another day in unspoiled paradise. If you ever wondered if such a place still exists, yes, old Florida lives here. A lone blinking yellow light directs the downtown traffic. Come and stay awhile in this wonderful, walkable, watery hamlet. Try the pace on for size." - Southern Living, "Apalachicola: Florida's Quiet Side," Wanda McKinney, February 2007.
Panacea: "Natural coastal beauty at its finest." Located in Wakulla County, in the Tallahassee metropolitan area, Panacea was named after local springs that were believed to have healing properties. The elevation of Panacea is 7 feet.
Crawfordville: Crawfordville is the County seat of Wakulla County and is known for its excellent seafood and recreational opportunities. This small Gulf-coast town is the only Florida community that has preserved its original wooden courthouse. |
FWC 2007. "Where to Fish," by Rich Abrams, in Fishing Lines: An Angler's Guide to Florida's Marine Resources, 6th Edition. Dan Ellinor and Michelle Owen (editors). Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, Division of Marine Fisheries Management; http://www.ci.pensacola.fl.us/live/ ; http://www.panamacity-fl.gov/ .
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Our Gulf Coast 
