Protect and Restore Our Bays Together

It’s #tunicate time! This time of year, you may see squishy sea-anemone-like creatures clinging to docks and hardened structures. These tunicates, also known as sea squirts, are filter feeders that draw in water through one siphon, extract tiny food particles like plankton, and expel the filtered water through another siphon. While many tunicates are native and harmless, they can grow very rapidly and crowd out space for oysters and other sessile marine life, which is something that we are currently seeing happen to some of our Vertical Oyster Gardens. We plan to narrow the VOG deployment window to hopefully minimize this issue in the future. #wildlifewednesday #seasquirt #standrewbay #stjosephbay #estuaryprogram

We recently completed sampling for the National Coastal Condition Assessment (NCCA) led by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency! The NCCA is a survey of the condition of marine and Great Lake resources across the U.S that is conducted every 5 years. SASJBEP increased the number of sampling stations in St. Andrew and St. Joseph Bays which will help us fill some data gaps and provide a more robust assessment of condition. We sampled water quality, sediment quality, benthic community condition, and fish tissue contaminants to understand the ecological and recreational condition of our waters. We expect some results this fall so stay tuned for updates!

You can check out our recent news article with MyPanhandle to learn more: https://www.mypanhandle.com/news/local-news/bay-county/panhandle-waterways-improve-with-the-national-coastal-condition-assessment/

As we celebrate our nation’s independence this Fourth of July, help ensure a safe and enjoyable day on the water and at the beach. Check out the tips below on recreating responsibly!