The Big Bend Conservation Economy: Why protecting Florida’s last wild coast is a smart investment
Protecting natural features supports property values, fisheries and water supplies.
Tag: seagrass
In Florida, manatee deaths edge up slightly in 2025
The beloved sea cows still face many threats, but deaths this year were not as high as in 2021 and ...
Don’t gut the laws that protect Florida’s marine mammals
New legislation would weaken safeguards for manatees and North Atlantic right whales in the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Why is the state of Florida fighting its mandate to protect manatees?
State officials believe they don’t have to follow the federal Endangered Species Act when it comes to protecting manatees.
As green seaweed replaces seagrass, sea slugs pose new threats
As this pollution-tolerant macroalgae replaces seagrass, it may be reshaping marine life and reducing biodiversity.
Manatees’ defenders score a major court victory. But hundreds are still dying
The leaders of the state’s environmental protection efforts can’t drag their heels any longer.
Research: Mangroves provide best protection for fragile Florida shorelines
A study by the Nature Conservancy found mangroves averted $1.5 billion in storm damage during Hurricane Irma.
Scientists use fossils to assess the health of Florida’s largest remaining seagrass bed
The Nature Coast has largely avoided challenges faced by other areas that have seen significant reductions in seagrass.
Protecting seagrasses could prevent billions of dollars in damages, research finds
The study predicts that protecting at-risk seagrass meadows could avert climate damages valued in excess of $200 billion.
Federal judge orders Florida to address pollution that led to manatee deaths
Nearly 2,000 manatees died in the state in 2021 and 2022, a two-year record.