Florida students team with federal, state agencies to study coral reefs
Tampa Bay area students will work hand in hand this summer with scientists
from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to attempt to
document the spawning of staghorn coral in the Florida Keys National
Marine Sanctuary. Students with SCUBAnauts International, a youth
education organization, will be in Key Largo Aug. 7-11 to help biologists
better understand this species’ reproduction.
Staghorn coral is classified as a federally threatened species. Although
scientists have never documented the spawning of staghorn coral in the
Florida Keys, they can determine the approximate time of the spawning,
based on the behavior of related coral species. Staghorn coral spawn only
once a year. The spawning activity is brief, lasting only for about 15
minutes in one evening, making it a challenge to observe.
During their trip, the students will make several dives each night until
the spawning occurs. With the help of FWC and NOAA scientists, SCUBAnauts
students will scientifically document the event and collect sperm and eggs
released by spawning corals. NOAA will use the sample to promote new coral
growth and assist in recovering the species.
“We selected 25 of our most advanced kids, because we know they can handle
the rigors of repetitive night-diving and perform the science tasks
required to successfully complete this research project,” said Dr. David
Palandro, an FWC research scientist who volunteers as Chief Scientist for
SCUBAnauts International. “We hope this project will foster continued
collaboration between the FWC, NOAA, and the SCUBAnauts.”
SCUBAnauts International is a nonprofit organization committed to
educating 12- to 18-year-old students about the marine environment.
Professional scientists and divers train SCUBAnauts students to meet the
same qualifications as professional science divers. This training includes
CPR, first aid, rescue diver training, oxygen administration and other
skills.
SCUBAnauts students have performed scientific dives in Hawaii, the
Bahamas, Tampa Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, the Florida Keys and other
locations. This summer, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation
recognized the organization for its volunteer and environmental work at
the Capitol Hill Ocean Week awards dinner in Washington, D.C. Last year,
while in Washington for the same event, White House staff invited the
students to meet with first lady Laura Bush.
For information about SCUBAnauts, visit www.scubanautsintl.org. More
information on coral reef research is available at
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/ or http://research.MyFWC.com.
To view this press release online visit
http://research.myfwc.com/news/view_article.asp?id=32807.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
2nd Annual Sarasota Bay Great Scallop Search - August 8th
If you can make it out Saturday at 8:30 a.m. this Sarasota Bay Watch event is a lot of fun!
Please feel free to pass along to anyone who maybe interested.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
this weeks Red Tide update
No water samples have been received this week from the east coast of Florida or northwest Florida.
In southwest Florida, Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, was not detected in water samples collected alongshore of Hillsborough, Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties.
Sampling will continue this week, and complete results will be available in the next scheduled status report on Friday, August 7.
Visit Florida Red Tide Current Status and select the statewide summary or a region of interest for more information and sampling details.
FWC asks anglers to help gather reef fish data
Go to MyFWC.com and click on “Newsroom.”
FWC asks anglers to help gather reef fish data
Biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s
Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) request angler assistance with
a research project focusing on red snapper and other reef fish on Florida’s
Gulf Coast. This project will provide fisheries researchers and managers
with much of the catch-and-release survival information they need for
assessing reef fish stocks.
Reef fish include a variety of snapper and grouper species commonly
targeted by recreational anglers. Anglers can contribute to reef fish
research by participating in angler surveys. They also can help by
reporting tagged fish to the Angler Tag Return Hotline at 800-367-4461.
As part of the research, FWRI biologists will approach anglers at public
areas such as boat ramps, fishing piers and marinas to request
participation. These biologists will distribute survey cards designed to
collect detailed information on fishing trips in the Gulf of Mexico. This
information includes where red snapper are caught and released, the type
of equipment used and the condition of the fish when released.
Anglers can also e-mail their name and address to FishStats@MyFWC.com to
obtain a postage-paid survey card in the mail. Downloadable data sheets
are also available on the FWRI Web site at
http://research.MyFWC.com/features/view_article.asp?id=32671.
Additionally, each month FWRI will mail surveys to a random sample of
licensed saltwater anglers. These surveys focus on the habits of anglers
who target reef fish. Survey questions include when and how often anglers
fish, as well as the type and number of fish they harvest or release.
Biologists request that anglers respond to the survey, even if they are
not fishing for reef fish.
FWRI biologists are tagging and releasing reef fish back into the wild to
evaluate the survival of released fish. For this project, biologists are
placing an orange tag near the dorsal fin of the fish. Each tag has a
unique number printed on the side. When anglers catch a fish with one of
these tags, they should call the Angler Tag Return Hotline. Biologists
would like to know the species of fish, tag number, date and time of
capture, where the fish was caught, fish length, type of bait used and
whether the fish was kept or released. If the fish is released, anglers
should leave the tag in the fish so biologists can continue to collect
data. Receiving this information is important for the success of this
project.
Anglers will receive a token of appreciation for participating in this
study. For more information on reef fish research, visit
http://research.MyFWC.com
To view this press release online visit
http://research.myfwc.com/news/view_article.asp?id=32790.
FWC asks anglers to help gather reef fish data
Biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s
Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) request angler assistance with
a research project focusing on red snapper and other reef fish on Florida’s
Gulf Coast. This project will provide fisheries researchers and managers
with much of the catch-and-release survival information they need for
assessing reef fish stocks.
Reef fish include a variety of snapper and grouper species commonly
targeted by recreational anglers. Anglers can contribute to reef fish
research by participating in angler surveys. They also can help by
reporting tagged fish to the Angler Tag Return Hotline at 800-367-4461.
As part of the research, FWRI biologists will approach anglers at public
areas such as boat ramps, fishing piers and marinas to request
participation. These biologists will distribute survey cards designed to
collect detailed information on fishing trips in the Gulf of Mexico. This
information includes where red snapper are caught and released, the type
of equipment used and the condition of the fish when released.
Anglers can also e-mail their name and address to FishStats@MyFWC.com to
obtain a postage-paid survey card in the mail. Downloadable data sheets
are also available on the FWRI Web site at
http://research.MyFWC.com/features/view_article.asp?id=32671.
Additionally, each month FWRI will mail surveys to a random sample of
licensed saltwater anglers. These surveys focus on the habits of anglers
who target reef fish. Survey questions include when and how often anglers
fish, as well as the type and number of fish they harvest or release.
Biologists request that anglers respond to the survey, even if they are
not fishing for reef fish.
FWRI biologists are tagging and releasing reef fish back into the wild to
evaluate the survival of released fish. For this project, biologists are
placing an orange tag near the dorsal fin of the fish. Each tag has a
unique number printed on the side. When anglers catch a fish with one of
these tags, they should call the Angler Tag Return Hotline. Biologists
would like to know the species of fish, tag number, date and time of
capture, where the fish was caught, fish length, type of bait used and
whether the fish was kept or released. If the fish is released, anglers
should leave the tag in the fish so biologists can continue to collect
data. Receiving this information is important for the success of this
project.
Anglers will receive a token of appreciation for participating in this
study. For more information on reef fish research, visit
http://research.MyFWC.com
To view this press release online visit
http://research.myfwc.com/news/view_article.asp?id=32790.
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