Calusa Waterkeeper has announced the start of the “Eyes on Seagrass” pilot program in Lee County, a program developed and managed by Florida Sea Grant in partnership with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Scientists (UF/IFAS). This initiative aims to monitor and protect vital seagrass habitats along the coast that are under threat.

Seagrass beds are crucial ecosystems that support a diverse array of marine life, stabilize coastal sediments and play a significant role in carbon sequestration. However, these invaluable habitats face numerous threats, including pollution, boat propeller damage and climate change.

The Eyes on Seagrass program empowers community members to become stewards of their local environment by engaging in seagrass monitoring activities. Through citizen science efforts, volunteers will collect valuable data on seagrass health, density and distribution, providing scientists and policymakers with essential information for conservation and management efforts.

Eyes on Seagrass surveys have been executed in Sarasota and Charlotte counties by the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program and UF/IFAS Florida Sea Grant respectively. The program also runs in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

The Calusa Waterkeeper is well equipped to pilot the program in Lee County, in part because of its team of rangers who could be mobilized. Calusa Waterkeeper has trained hundreds of citizen scientists in its Ranger Program over the years who are the boots on the ground or fins in the water helping the Waterkeeper protect and restore nearly 1,000 miles of waterway.

“We are excited to help launch the ‘Eyes on Seagrass’ pilot program in Lee County,” said Calusa Waterkeeper Capt. Codty Pierce. “Seagrass ecosystems are critical for the health of our coastal waters, and by involving the community in monitoring efforts, we can work together to safeguard these important habitats for future generations.”

Participants in the program will receive training on seagrass identification and monitoring techniques, equipping them with the skills needed to contribute meaningfully to conservation efforts. By harnessing the collective power of citizen scientists, “Eyes on Seagrass” aims to enhance our understanding of seagrass dynamics and promote informed decision-making for coastal management.

“The Calusa Waterkeeper Rangers are playing a vital role in expanding the program into Lee County by providing a combination of local and technical knowledge,” said Kate Rose, the Florida Sea Grant agent who runs Eyes on Seagrass in Charlotte County and leads efforts to expand the program statewide. “The goal of Eyes on Seagrass is to address a need that the entire state is facing (seagrass loss) while allowing local entities to explore phenomenon that they are concerned about. We are excited to welcome them into a community we hope will continue to expand throughout Florida.”

The Eyes on Seagrass pilot program represents a significant step forward in coastal conservation efforts, demonstrating the potential for community-driven initiatives to make a tangible impact on environmental sustainability.

For more information about the “Eyes on Seagrass” program or to get involved, please call 239-899-1440, email info@calusawaterkeeper.org or visit calusawaterkeeper.org.