February 21, 2025

The Biggest Threats to Seagrass in Florida—and How We Can Save It

Seagrass meadows are the lifeblood of Florida’s coastal ecosystems, providing critical habitat for marine life, stabilizing sediment, improving water quality, and even capturing carbon. However, these vital underwater plants are in serious decline due to human activities and environmental changes. In this blog, we’ll explore the most significant threats facing Florida’s seagrass beds and what needs to be done to protect and restore them.

Why Is Seagrass Important?

Before diving into the threats, it’s essential to understand why seagrass matters:
✅ Essential Habitat: Seagrass supports species like manatees, sea turtles, and countless fish and invertebrates.
✅ Water Quality Improvement: Seagrass absorbs excess nutrients, reducing harmful algal blooms.
✅ Erosion Control: The roots stabilize sediment and prevent coastal erosion.
✅ Carbon Sequestration: Seagrass captures and stores carbon at a rate 35 times faster than tropical rainforests.

Major Threats to Seagrass in Florida

1. Water Pollution & Poor Water Quality

One of the biggest challenges facing seagrass is declining water clarity due to pollution. Excess nutrients from agricultural runoff, septic systems, stormwater, and wastewater discharges fuel algal blooms that block sunlight, preventing seagrass from photosynthesizing. Without sunlight, seagrass dies—leading to habitat loss for the marine species that rely on it.

Solution: Florida needs stronger pollution control measures, including:

  • Upgrading wastewater treatment facilities
  • Reducing fertilizer use and improving agricultural runoff management
  • Expanding stormwater filtration projects

2. Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) & Red Tide

Linked to nutrient pollution, harmful algal blooms (HABs) like blue-green algae and red tide choke out seagrass by clouding the water and depleting oxygen. These events, often fueled by discharges from Lake Okeechobee, can devastate entire seagrass meadows in just a few weeks.

Solution: To combat HABs, Florida must:

  • Improve Lake Okeechobee water management to reduce harmful discharges
  • Restore natural freshwater flows to the Everglades
  • Implement stricter regulations on nutrient pollution sources

3. Boating & Propeller Scarring

Florida’s shallow seagrass meadows are highly vulnerable to propeller scarring, where boats cut through the seafloor, leaving long, barren trails of destroyed seagrass. These scars can take years or even decades to recover.

Solution: To reduce boat damage, Florida should:

  • Expand seagrass protection zones with stricter speed limits and no-motor areas
  • Increase boater education on seagrass-safe navigation
  • Improve enforcement against illegal anchoring in seagrass beds

4. Coastal Development & Dredging

As Florida’s coastline becomes more developed, seagrass habitats are being lost to dredging, seawall construction, and shoreline hardening. Dredging increases sediment in the water, blocking sunlight and suffocating seagrass beds.

Solution: Sustainable coastal development is key:

  • Limit dredging in sensitive seagrass areas
  • Invest in living shorelines instead of seawalls
  • Strengthen coastal development regulations to protect existing seagrass meadows

5. Climate Change & Rising Temperatures

Florida’s waters are getting hotter than ever, with marine heatwaves becoming more frequent. Since seagrass thrives within a specific temperature range, extreme heat can cause seagrass die-offs. Additionally, stronger hurricanes fueled by climate change lead to sediment disturbance and erosion.

Solution:

  • Expand seagrass restoration projects to increase resilience

  • Reduce carbon emissions by protecting blue carbon ecosystems like seagrass, mangroves, and salt marshes

  • Support climate adaptation strategies to protect coastal habitats from extreme weather

What Needs to Be Done to Restore Seagrass in Florida?

Saving Florida’s seagrass requires collaborative action from policymakers, scientists, conservation groups, and the public. Here’s how we can help:

1. Seagrass Restoration & Replanting

Seagrass restoration projects like Florida Oceanographic Society’s FOSTER (Florida Oceanographic Seagrass Training, Education, and Restoration) program are working to regrow damaged meadows. These efforts involve:

  • Collecting and replanting seagrass in damaged areas

  • Protecting restoration sites from further harm
  • Engaging the community in citizen science projects

2. Better Water Management & Pollution Reduction

To prevent further seagrass decline, Florida needs stricter pollution controls and a long-term water management strategy that prioritizes estuary health over large-scale discharges.

3. Public Awareness & Boater Education

Recreational boaters and waterfront residents play a significant role in seagrass conservation. Simple actions like raising your motor in shallow areas, using mooring buoys instead of anchors, and supporting eco-friendly marinas can make a huge difference.

4. Stronger Legislation & Protection Efforts

Policymakers must enact stronger protections for seagrass beds, including:

  • Expanding no-motor zones in vulnerable areas

  • Increasing funding for restoration projects
  • Enforcing existing environmental laws more effectively

The Future of Florida’s Seagrass

Seagrass meadows are in crisis, but with the right actions, we can restore and protect these vital habitats for generations to come. Whether it’s supporting local restoration efforts, advocating for better water policies, or simply being more mindful when boating, everyone has a role to play in saving Florida’s seagrass.

Category
Advocacy