03 • 11 • 2022
Restore and Keep Healthy Seagrass, Florida!
Surfrider Foundation supports legislation that works to improve water quality and conserves healthy seagrass habitat. SB 198 would remove healthy seagrass in hopes of planting elsewhere. Surfrider Foundation opposes this and supports funding new seagrass planting while improving water conditions.
SB 198 Seagrass Mitigation bill came up in Legislative Session 2022 in Florida. Through hard work with coalition members, the legislators have removed this bad bill friendly to developers from consideration.
Threats are still out there regarding poor water quality and dramatic seagrass loss across the state including the Indian River Lagoon. Last year's UME event claimed over 1,100 manatees or 1/6 of the state population. In 2022, we've already lost over 365 and the FWC is currently actively feeding them. Seagrass continues to decline inexplicably. Surfrider has worked locally, at the state and federally to support water quality testing to determine the source of this decline.
Budget items up for consideration in the 2022 Session are encouraged to support more restoration measures.