Save the Seagrass - Bocilla Island Conservancy

Why Florida’s Seagrass is Struggling

Our sea grass is dying 7% every year! That is more than the rain forest.

Who is Kate Rose?

Florida Sea Grant Agent for Charlotte County and leads the Eyes on Seagrass citizen science program.

Kate Rose is the Florida Sea Grant Agent for Charlotte County, where she leads programs to protect and restore seagrass ecosystems. She directs Eyes on Seagrass, a citizen science program that engages volunteers to monitor seagrass health, water quality, and macroalgae in Charlotte Harbor and Lemon Bay. Kate holds degrees in Marine Science and Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences from the University of Florida, and her past work includes sponge restoration in Florida Bay and aquaculture projects in Belize.

Did You Know?

“Sea Grass is 35 times more efficient at cleaning our air than the rain forest! Unlike rainforests, which store most of their carbon above ground in trees and vegetation, seagrass meadows lock carbon in their roots and the sediment below, where it can remain for thousands of years.”

Seagrass Captures Carbon Up to 35X More than Tropical Rain Forest

Want Clean Air? Take Care Of The Seagrass (Video)

Seagrass works like an underwater sponge for pollution in the air. It pulls carbon dioxide (the same gas that comes from cars, factories, and burning fuel) out of the water and traps it in its roots and the soil below. This matters because too much carbon dioxide drives climate change. By locking it away, seagrass helps keep our climate stable, protects coastlines, and gives us cleaner water — and here’s the huge deal: seagrass can capture up to five times more carbon than tropical forests, making it one of nature’s most powerful climate tools.

You Can Make A Difference

Volunteer – Eyes On Seagrass Port Charlotte

Volunteer - Eyes On Seagrass

Protecting One means Protecting Both

1000 Manatees Died In 2021 From Hunger. 18% of the Florida Manatee Population

Manatees depend on seagrass for food.
Manatees are herbivores, and in Florida their diet is made up largely of seagrass. A single adult manatee can eat 100–200 pounds of seagrass every day. Without healthy seagrass beds, manatees struggle to find enough food.

A decline in seagrass = a decline in manatees.
Recent seagrass die-offs in places like the Indian River Lagoon have led to mass manatee starvation events. This shows just how tightly their survival is tied to the health of seagrass ecosystems.

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Seagrass depends on clean, healthy water.
Seagrass meadows thrive in clear, shallow water where sunlight can reach the bottom. When pollution, runoff, or algae blooms cloud the water, seagrass dies off — and with it, the manatee’s primary food source.

Protecting one means protecting both.
By reducing nutrient pollution, practicing seagrass-safe boating, and supporting habitat restoration, we not only save seagrass but also ensure Florida’s manatees have a future.

Limit Nutrient Pollution

How You Can Help

What is nutrient pollution? Too much nitrogen and phosphorus in the water fuels algae growth that blocks sunlight and smothers seagrass. Everyday human activities add to the problem: leaking oil or fluids from cars wash into storm drains, lawn fertilizers and pesticides run off into canals, and poorly maintained septic systems leak nutrients into groundwater. Runoff that contains weed killers, lawn fertilizers, or other chemicals flows into storm drains, canals, and rivers, eventually reaching the Gulf.

How You Can Help? You can help by fixing vehicle leaks, following fertilizer and weed killer ordinances, and maintaining your septic system to keep excess nutrients out of our waterways.

Mindful Boating – Prevent Propeller Scaring

It takes years to recover the seagrass scars

The Cause?
When boats enter shallow water, their propellers and hulls can slice through seagrass meadows, tearing up plants and damaging the root systems needed for regrowth. This damage also disrupts the many habitats that depend on healthy seagrass.

What Can you do to help?
Practice seagrass-safe boating by trimming up your motor, using marked channels, and avoiding shallow seagrass flats when boating.

Don’t Drop Your Anchor On Seagrass

Protect the Habitat

When a boat anchor or chain drops into a seagrass bed, it can rip up plants and tear through root systems, leaving bare patches in the meadow. These scars can take years — sometimes a decade or more — to recover, and in the meantime the exposed sandy bottom is more vulnerable to erosion. Anchoring damage also destroys habitat for fish, crabs, shrimp, and countless small creatures that depend on seagrass.

Restoration areas marked with stakes are places where scientists and volunteers are actively replanting or protecting seagrass so it can regrow. Disturbing these sites — by boating too close, anchoring, or walking through them — can undo months of work and set recovery back significantly.

Minimize Development

The Challenge:
When construction and shoreline alteration stir up sediment, the water becomes cloudy, blocking sunlight that seagrass needs to grow while giving fast-growing algae an advantage. Large coastal developments and high-rises can also block natural light along the shoreline.

How You Can Help?
You can help by supporting living shorelines, planting native vegetation, reducing runoff, and opposing projects that harm water clarity or shade seagrass habitat.

An Evening to Cherish and Remember

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our dedicated board and committee members who made this evening’s event possible. We are especially grateful to our visiting lecturer, Kate Rose, for her insightful presentation on Save the Seagrass.

A special thank-you goes to Kelly and Matt Lube, our gracious hosts, for opening their space to make this gathering possible. We also thank Midori Sushi & Hibachi Restaurant for their generous donation, and Jude for the delicious chili. The generosity of our volunteers did not go unnoticed — they gave their time, prepared food, and helped share the word about this remarkable event.

Mission of Living Lecture Series

The Island Living Lecture Series will foster a social gathering with community education by providing a space for experts to talk about interesting topics that will highlight our islands unique environmental elements, land conservation and community needs.
Island Living Lecture Series is under the heading of “Education & Community Awareness
Committee” of Bocilla Islands Conservancy.

Ways to Support Us

Join our conservation programs to protect and restore our island’s ecosystems. Volunteer your time and talents, make a donation to support essential resources, or participate in our adoption program by nurturing sea oats or mangrove propagules, or adopting a mini reef to aid in marine life restoration.

Volunteer

Donate

Adopt

Hand’s on Programs

Our programs are designed for volunteers eager to learn about the ecosystem! Participate in activities such as building Vertical Oyster Gardens, propagating mangroves, restoring shorelines, and planting sea oats. Unlike traditional lectures, these hands-on experiences allow you to engage directly with the environment and make a tangible impact.

Clean Islands

Volunteer Island Cleanup Team

The Clean Islands volunteer team is dedicated to preserving the beauty of our island. Our passionate group of volunteers comes together to clean vital areas, including easements and beach access points, ensuring our environment remains vibrant and accessible. Thanks to our generous community members and visitors, we have successfully removed approximately 10 tons of construction debris and 6 tons of vegetation, all fueled by the energy and big hearts of our volunteers. Join us in making a real difference—get involved and help us keep BOCILLA Island beautiful.

Our Past Events

Oysters For Clean Water

Coming this Fall 2025

Join us in this vital mission to protect and revitalize our aquatic ecosystems! VOGs consist of oyster shells strung together with lengths of rope, designed to hang below docks. Building on the success of our pilot projects at the Marine Life Park and Artificial Reef, we are excited to introduce our upcoming program this fall. This effort not only aims to enrich our park’s biodiversity but also encourages community members to establish similar gardens at their docks.

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Mini Reef Habitat Program

20 Mini Reefs were installed by Ocean Habitat on May 17, 2023 at the Artificial Reef & Marine Life Park.

If you have a dock, you can purchase your very own Mini Reef, and we’ll help you install it. And if you don’t have a dock, you can still join the fun by adopting a Mini Reef that will be installed at a host location or one of our parks. Best of all, you can adopt a portion of a Mini Reef — every contribution helps, and together we’ll build reefs that clean the water and bring marine life back to our islands. Each Mini Reef filters up to 30,000 gallons of seawater daily while creating a habitat for fish and other marine life.

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We are a Nationally Certified Wildlife Habitat!

We are proud to be a Nationally Certified Wildlife Habitat Community, recognizing that our community as a whole met the requirements by certifying 40 individual properties and providing ongoing education that supports and celebrates wildlife conservation.

Receiving a Certified Wildlife Habitat® designation from the National Wildlife Federation means that your property provides the essential elements wildlife need to thrive—food, water, cover, places to raise young, and sustainable practices that support the local ecosystem. This certification recognizes your commitment to creating and maintaining a healthy environment where native plants and animals can flourish.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter!

Be the first to learn about our Island Living lecture series and exciting fundraisers, where we unite to support preservation and environmental education! Stay informed about our upcoming clean-up events and hands-on demonstrations in our parks, like creating oyster strings that benefit our beautiful shores!

Bocilla Islands Conservancy Overview
Bocilla Islands Conservancy is a public, nonprofit, non-political organization working in partnership with the residents of the Bocilla Islands chain, including Don Pedro Island, Knight Island, Little Gasparilla Island, and Thornton Key. Our mission is dedicated to the long-term preservation of open, undeveloped spaces and natural habitats across the Bocilla Islands. The Conservancy can customize conservation easements through land acquisition, ensuring sensitive habitats are preserved and protected to maintain the ecological balance of the islands.

Disclaimer:
The content provided on this website is for informational purposes only and reflects the views and opinions of Bocilla Islands Conservancy members. It is not intended as legal, financial, or professional advice. Bocilla Islands Conservancy assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions, or the accuracy of the information provided. Visitors are encouraged to consult qualified professionals regarding any concerns or decisions. By using this site, you agree that Bocilla Islands Conservancy and its contributors shall not be held liable for any actions taken based on the information presented here.