The Everglades and the Gulf of Mexico have much in common: They are both American treasures that have suffered from a half-century’s worth of degradation, resulting in ecosystems that are … Read more
Florida
Post Thanksgiving: I’m Still Thankful, Especially for Florida
It has become a Fischer family tradition to spend Thanksgiving holiday in Daytona, Florida—I’m not too sure what palm trees and the beach have to do with turkey day, but … Read more
Artificial Reefs: Restoration Beyond Recreation?
Over the past few decades the five Gulf States have built artificial reefs both inshore and offshore with the aim of enhancing recreational fishing and diving opportunities. State and local … Read more
Toxic Algae: Florida’s Manatees in Crisis
While “red tide” may sound like a biblical catastrophe, it is simply an unusual bloom of a common alga—karenia brevis—that turns saltwater a rust color. While not supernatural this algae … Read more
Troubled Waters – Mysterious Wildlife Deaths in Indian River Lagoon
It sounds like a scene straight out of a Carl Hiaasen novel – mysterious marine mammal and bird deaths haunting a once pristine South Florida lagoon. A historically vibrant estuary … Read more
Don’t Leave Florida’s Springs Out to Dry
Once upon a time, in a swampy, far away land, there were crystal clear natural springs that mesmerized visitors traveling to Florida from miles and miles away. Before the wonderful … Read more
Dunk City’s Dark Side: Florida Gulf Coast University Built on Desperately-Needed Panther Habitat
Will Florida Gulf Coast University basketball’s success brings renewed attention to the need to protect the Florida panther habitat that their school was literally founded on? Read more
Twenty-Five Years in the Mud: How a Quirky Little Fish Changed My Life
Sometimes it is the smallest things that are life-changing: the simple act of placing four little fish in a bucket led to over 25 years of research and insights into the remarkable life of a very unusual fish. Read more
Protecting Florida’s Manatees from Harmful “Red Tide”
Basking in the south Florida sun, a skimboarder turned to my friends on the beach and eloquently stated, “Bro, your girls are getting eaten by manatees.” While those who know … Read more
