Where’s the sea grasses? If I hadn’t heard it once, I heard it 12 times this past summer regarding the Indian River Lagoon! Is it a mystery? Researchers know sea grass loss is due in part to loss of sunlight to the plant. Now what is causing the loss of sunlight to the seagrass beds – let’s see – murky water! Thick algae blooms and clouds the water- hence the loss of sunlight. Researchers believe that nearly 80% of the seagrasses in the Lagoon have been loss due to massive algae blooms – which have hit the system twice since 2011.
We do know the algae bloom from this past summer, called Brown tide, is identified with the algal species Aureococcus anaphagefferens. This algae is not toxic. It grows in low nutrient and light conditions in shallow bays and lagoons. Preferring organic nutrients, Brown tide has plague coastal Texas and the Northeast U.S. It is known for upsetting ecosystems along it’s path – hence, the current in balance in the Indian River Lagoon – starving manatees, dolphins and fish. The question remains “why” and what is causing these blooms.
The Indian River Lagoon stretches across 40 percent of Florida’s east coast, spanning 156 miles from Ponce de Leon Inlet in Volusia County to Jupiter Inlet in Palm Beach County. It’s estimated annual economic value of the lagoon is $3.7 billion, supporting 15,000 full and part-time jobs and providing recreational opportunities for 11 million people per year. Also, regarding personal economics and property values -whose wants to live next to a dead lagoon. It should be everyone’s concern.
Education regarding water quality is necessary for understanding the current state of the Indian River Lagoon. Restoring the seagrasses and planting native shoreline vegetation are key to the lagoon’s recovery. The Marine Resource Council in Melbourne, Florida is currently forming Lagoon LifeSaver Volunteer Corps for organizing and educating those who care about what is going on with the sea grasses. Get involved by visiting www.mrcirl.org; or call (321) 725-7775. By Kasey Shaw