Collier County

Condado de Collier

In fisheries management, setting the acceptable biological catch (ABC) is vital to ensure sustainable harvest without overexploiting fish stocks. The ABC determines how much fish can be harvested each year, and is estimated using a stock assessment model that brings together multiple data sources to estimate fish abundance and productivity.  However, in the Gulf of [&#8230;]

<figure id="attachment_4501" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4501" style="width: 540px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" class="wp-image-4501 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="Photo by scanning electron microscope of Karenia brevis aka red tide. Courtesy of FWC" width="540" height="394" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/collierco/files/2024/06/K.-brevis-aka-red-tide-FWC-photo.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4501" class="wp-caption-text">Photo taken from a scanning electron microscope of Karenia brevis aka red tide. Photo By: FWC. * Banner photo: A red tide killed snook washed ashore in Southwest Florida. Photo By: Chris O&#8217;Meara AP.</figcaption></figure>
<p>In fisheries management, setting the acceptable biological catch (ABC) is vital to ensure sustainable harvest without overexploiting fish stocks. The ABC determines how much fish can be harvested each year, and is estimated using a stock assessment model that brings together multiple data sources to estimate fish abundance and productivity.  However, in the Gulf of Mexico, red tides introduce a lot of uncertainty into this process. Ongoing red tide blooms can leave managers guessing about their impacts on fish stocks when trying to set the ABC. This uncertainty about red tide impacts can lead to lower catch levels for commercial and recreational fishers, resulting in a lower ABC and less opportunities to bring fish home. To learn more about the ins and outs of  fisheries management in Florida, check out the third education module in the <strong>FREE </strong><a href="https://ifas-seagrant.catalog.instructure.com/?filters%5B%5D=free">Florida Friendly Angler</a> online program!</p>
<figure id="attachment_4493" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4493" style="width: 354px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-4493 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="354" height="186" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/collierco/files/2024/06/The-OFL-ABC-ACL-ACT-framework.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4493" class="wp-caption-text">Framework of harvest limits used in fisheries management</figcaption></figure>
<p><strong>Red tides affect fish populations and ecosystems in several ways.  First, the brevetoxin released by red tide affects the central nervous system of fish and can result in large fish kills. Moreover, there are multiple sublethal and indirect effects of red tide such as low oxygen, impacts to benthic habitat, movement, and food web dynamics.</strong> Red tide could possibly alter the amount of bait/forage available for our prized game fish to eat and negatively impact the habitat where they live. In other words, a gag grouper that is exposed to red tide or poor water quality will have less food to eat, slower growth, and be less likely to survive, reproduce, and maybe one day be caught.  Combined with the fact that red tide doesn’t occur in the same place every time, with the same severity or duration makes estimating red tide impacts on reef fish species tough!</p>
<figure id="attachment_4497" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4497" style="width: 407px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-4497 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="407" height="305" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/collierco/files/2024/06/Sheepshead1.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4497" class="wp-caption-text">A sheepshead washed ashore from a red tide bloom in Southwest Florida. Photo By: Bryan Fluech.</figcaption></figure>
<p>To tackle this difficult task of estimating red tide impacts on fish stocks and helping make better informed management decisions, comes a new project that aims to a estimate and incorporating red tide mortality into the ABC determination for Gulf of Mexico (GoM) reef fishes. The “<strong><a href="https://restoreactscienceprogram.noaa.gov/projects/red-tide-and-reef-fish-modeling">Operationalizing the West Florida Shelf ecosystem model and application to red tides, stock assessment, and catch advice for Gulf of Mexico reef fish</a>”</strong> project was funded by the NOAA Restore Science Program.  <strong>The project team is developing satellite products to map red tides that will inform an ecosystem model designed to account for factors like the severity and duration of red tide blooms, their lethal and sublethal impact on fish and other marine fauna, and ecosystem dynamics.</strong></p>
<figure id="attachment_4499" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4499" style="width: 583px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-4499 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="583" height="232" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/collierco/files/2024/06/Fig-2.-K.-brevis-bloom-frequency-maps-from-integration-of-water-sample-data-and-MODIS-satellite-observations.-Figure-adapted-from-Hu-et-al.-2022.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4499" class="wp-caption-text">Bloom frequency maps from integration of water sample data and MODIS satellite observations. Figure adapted from Hu et al. (2022).</figcaption></figure>
<p><strong>In previous work, the ecosystem model was used to inform the ABC for gag grouper, resulting in a longer fishing season because the impacts on ongoing blooms were estimated to be lower than anticipated. </strong> The project team will refine the model&#8217;s inputs and extend its application to additional GoM reef fishes over the next five years. Furthermore, it will develop improved satellite-derived red tide maps and update biogeochemical models to estimate nutrient and oxygen dynamics. <strong>These model improvements will enable more precise estimation of red tide mortality rates on various reef fish species undergoing stock assessments.</strong> The project outcomes will be presented at workshops and incorporated into stock assessments, ensuring that the ABC reflects current red tide conditions. By operationalizing this modeling framework, fisheries managers can conduct routine red tide assessments, enhancing the sustainability of Gulf fisheries!</p>
<h2></h2>
<h2><strong><u>Where you can help!</u></strong></h2>
<h3><strong>Are you an angler, boater or beach goer living on the West Coast of Florida and wish to help researchers know more about red tide?</strong></h3>
<h3><a href="https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1AOsyJqHCThEPb0"><strong>Then please consider taking this brief survey </strong><strong>anytime </strong><strong>you head out on the water and experience red tide.</strong></a></h3>
<p><strong>The survey may be accessed via the hyperlink above or by copy and pasting this link into your browser:</strong> <a href="https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1AOsyJqHCThEPb0">https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1AOsyJqHCThEPb0 </a></p>
<p>Information researchers are interested in includes: where did you encounter red tide? Did you see any dead/dying marine life? If so which species? Did your plans change due to encountering red tide? These and a few more questions can improve the models and help managers a TON by helping us determine how fisheries are affected by red tides!</p>
<figure id="attachment_4509" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4509" style="width: 630px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-4509 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="630" height="294" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/collierco/files/2024/06/Red-Tide-Survey-Screen-Grab.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4509" class="wp-caption-text">An example of a question asked on the red tide survey to better understand where fish are dying, what species and how your trip may have been affected. Click the links above to access the survey to help fisheries science!</figcaption></figure>
<p><strong>Have a question about red tide and fisheries management you would like answered? </strong><a href="https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1RZnQdqIrIeOgXY"><strong>Submit your question via this link here and check back to this blog periodically where selected questions and answers will be posted!</strong></a></p>
<figure id="attachment_4505" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4505" style="width: 452px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-4505 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="452" height="338" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/collierco/files/2024/06/Photo-Kate-Spinner-Red-tide-Sarasota-Herald-Tribune-1.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4505" class="wp-caption-text">A typical sight during a red tide bloom with both forage and game fish washed ashore. <strong>Help us</strong> determine which fish dying, where and when by responding to the reporting survey above! Photo By: Kate Spinner Sarasota Herald-Tribune.</figcaption></figure>
<h2><strong>Resources:</strong></h2>
<ul>
<li><strong>Red Tide Updates:</strong>
<ul>
<li><strong>There are plenty(!) of resources and educational materials created about red tide!</strong> Check the links below to find information on red tide monitoring, forecasts and beach conditions that you may want to add to your red tide tackle box if and when a bloom occurs.  <a href="https://myfwc.com/research/about/connect/subscribe/">The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) has a service where you can subscribe to to receive weekly email and/or text notifications on the detection and current status of red tide throughout the state.  </a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://member.everbridge.net/453003085614923/login"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-4559 alignright" src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/collierco/files/2024/06/Naples-Red-tide-status.jpg" alt="" width="378" height="184" /></a></p>
<ul>
<li style="list-style-type: none">
<ul>
<li><strong>Collier County</strong> also has an automated notification system regarding red tide presence/status at county specific locations. <a href="https://member.everbridge.net/453003085614923/login">To sign up for theses updates check out this link</a><a href="https://member.everbridge.net/453003085614923/login">.</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li><strong><a href="https://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/health/fish-kills-hotline/causes/">Common Causes of Fish Kills in Florida</a>&#8211;</strong> Dead fish doesn’t always mean red tide, low dissolved oxygen, blue green algae, and extreme weather events can result in a fish kill. Check the link to learn more!</li>
<li><strong>Monitoring: </strong>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://myfwc.com/research/redtide/statewide/?redirect=redtidestatus"><strong>FWC Link to current red tide status throughout the state of Florida</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://visitbeaches.org/beach/49/report/41723"><strong>Mote Marine Laboratory beach condition reporting system for Florida</strong></a><strong>. Information regarding red tide presence with plenty of info on tidal and environmental conditions across many beaches within our state. </strong></li>
<li><a href="http://ocgweb.marine.usf.edu/hab_tracking/HAB_trajectories.html"><strong>USF Ocean Circulation Lab Red Tide Prediction and Tracking</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/science-areas/habs/hab-forecasts/gulf-of-mexico/"><strong>National Centers For Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) harmful algae bloom forecasts for Florida and Texas</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reporting:</strong>
<ul>
<li><strong>Live on the west coast of Florida and would like to help researchers record observations during a red tide? </strong><a href="https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1AOsyJqHCThEPb0"><strong>Please consider taking this brief survey when you encounter a bloom near you.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>FWC Fish Kill Hotline 800-636-0511 </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Red Tide Fact Sheets:</strong>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://myfwc.com/media/12422/karenia-brevis-factsheet.pdf"><strong>Karenia brevis (red tide) fact sheet</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://myfwc.com/media/16370/2013-ecphab-brochure_red-tides-on-the-west-florida-shelf.pdf"><strong>Red Tides on the West Florida Shelf</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Red Tide FAQs:</strong>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://myfwc.com/research/redtide/faq/"><strong>FWC red tide frequently asked questions</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/science-areas/habs/hab-forecasts/gulf-of-mexico/faqs/"><strong>National Centers For Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) Gulf of Mexico harmful algal bloom frequently asked questions</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://mote.org/news/florida-red-tide"><strong>Mote Marine red tide frequently asked questions</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Blog: </strong><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/charlotteco/2018/08/14/frequently-asked-questions-about-the-2018-red-tide-bloom/"><strong>Frequently Asked Questions about the 2018 Red Tide Bloom</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Red Tide Seafood Safety/Fishing: </strong>
<ul>
<li><strong>Blog: </strong><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/2023/03/29/when-red-tide-hits-is-your-seafood-safe-a-uf-expert-answers-questions/"><strong>When red tide hits, is your seafood safe? A UF expert answers questions</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Red Tide General Info: </strong>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://myfwc.com/media/21885/bloom-historic-database.pdf"><strong>Historic frequency of red tide in Florida by year and month in Florida, FWC</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Videos: </strong>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1er085e7M54"><strong>Red Tide in Florida FWC Infographic Video</strong></a><strong> (4:32)</strong></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VRyW2C3yhg"><strong>Red Tide Facts and Myths Collier County Video</strong></a><strong> (26:32)</strong></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26l5I50KbL4"><strong>Red Tide and Seafood Safety FWC Infographic Video</strong></a><strong> (4:19)</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Peer Reviewed Papers:</strong>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20411030/"><strong>Literature Review of Florida Red Tide: Implications for Human Health Effects</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v378/p171-186/"><strong>Effects of Karenia brevis harmful algal blooms on nearshore fish communities in southwest Florida</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304380018304101?casa_token=CWsj_EO99pAAAAAA:0gpg-eCsFDqwSa6jxHokVVG0Yp6_gRJF8S93ClFyG_y2rARq-fZWlTPP4dc9Cjd5pj_HKU62TA"><strong>Effects of Karenia brevis harmful algal blooms on fish community structure on the West Florida Shelf</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-29327-z"><strong>Evaluating red tide effects on the West Florida Shelf using a spatiotemporal ecosystem modeling framework</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1568988308001571?casa_token=zKOrbpFokv8AAAAA:dD0iAZWpEDZ1oWsNR-2S_thvqsdw-kd9-go_8ptY3scuU70LkHUuir4tK-ZqllknBQN2CixMKg"><strong>Karenia brevis red tides, brevetoxins in the food web, and impacts on natural resources: Decadal advancements</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Blue-Green Algae aka Cyanobacteria and other HABs:</strong>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/manateeco/2020/07/14/resources-for-understanding-blue-green-algae-cyanobacteria-blooms/"><strong>Resources for understanding blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>General resources: </strong>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://water.ifas.ufl.edu/harmful-algal-blooms/faq/"><strong>University of Florida harmful algae bloom website.</strong></a><strong> Information of causes, effects, solutions and FAQs of HABs</strong></li>
<li><a href="https://www.protectingfloridatogether.gov/education-center"><strong>Protecting Florida Together</strong></a><strong>; website with information regarding red tide/blue green algae task force, habitat restoration etc.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;">				<iframe loading="lazy" title="Swimming Karenia brevis 10&#039;" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"  src="https://embedr.flickr.com/photos/44940561414" width="500" height="373" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<p><em>Karenia brevis</em> aka &#8220;red tide&#8221; cells swimming! These microscopic organisms belong to the dinoflagellate phylum of algae which have appendages that allow them to move around in the water column. The word dinoflagellate is derived from the Greek <i><span lang="grc-Latn" title="Ancient Greek transliteration">dînos </span></i><span lang="grc-Latn" title="Ancient Greek transliteration">meaning </span> &#8220;whirling&#8221; and Latin <i>flagellum</i> meaning &#8220;whip.&#8221; <em>K. brevis&#8217;s</em> unique motion helps researchers identify red tide cells from other phytoplankton and algae in a water sample.</p>


Photo taken from a scanning electron microscope of Karenia brevis aka red tide. Photo By: FWC. * Banner photo: A red tide killed snook washed ashore in Southwest Florida. Photo By: Chris O’Meara AP.
In fisheries management, setting the acceptable biological catch (ABC) is vital to ensure sustainable harvest without overexploiting fish stocks. The ABC determines how much fish can be harvested each year, and is estimated using a stock assessment model that brings together multiple data sources to estimate fish abundance and productivity.  However, in the Gulf of Mexico, red tides introduce a lot of uncertainty into this process. Ongoing red tide blooms can leave managers guessing about their impacts on fish stocks when trying to set the ABC. This uncertainty about red tide impacts can lead to lower catch levels for commercial and recreational fishers, resulting in a lower ABC and less opportunities to bring fish home. To learn more about the ins and outs of  fisheries management in Florida, check out the third education module in the FREE Florida Friendly Angler online program!
Framework of harvest limits used in fisheries management
Red tides affect fish populations and ecosystems in several ways.  First, the brevetoxin released by red tide affects the central nervous system of fish and can result in large fish kills. Moreover, there are multiple sublethal and indirect effects of red tide such as low oxygen, impacts to benthic habitat, movement, and food web dynamics. Red tide could possibly alter the amount of bait/forage available for our prized game fish to eat and negatively impact the habitat where they live. In other words, a gag grouper that is exposed to red tide or poor water quality will have less food to eat, slower growth, and be less likely to survive, reproduce, and maybe one day be caught.  Combined with the fact that red tide doesn’t occur in the same place every time, with the same severity or duration makes estimating red tide impacts on reef fish species tough!
A sheepshead washed ashore from a red tide bloom in Southwest Florida. Photo By: Bryan Fluech.
To tackle this difficult task of estimating red tide impacts on fish stocks and helping make better informed management decisions, comes a new project that aims to a estimate and incorporating red tide mortality into the ABC determination for Gulf of Mexico (GoM) reef fishes. The “Operationalizing the West Florida Shelf ecosystem model and application to red tides, stock assessment, and catch advice for Gulf of Mexico reef fish” project was funded by the NOAA Restore Science Program.  The project team is developing satellite products to map red tides that will inform an ecosystem model designed to account for factors like the severity and duration of red tide blooms, their lethal and sublethal impact on fish and other marine fauna, and ecosystem dynamics.
Bloom frequency maps from integration of water sample data and MODIS satellite observations. Figure adapted from Hu et al. (2022).
In previous work, the ecosystem model was used to inform the ABC for gag grouper, resulting in a longer fishing season because the impacts on ongoing blooms were estimated to be lower than anticipated.  The project team will refine the model’s inputs and extend its application to additional GoM reef fishes over the next five years. Furthermore, it will develop improved satellite-derived red tide maps and update biogeochemical models to estimate nutrient and oxygen dynamics. These model improvements will enable more precise estimation of red tide mortality rates on various reef fish species undergoing stock assessments. The project outcomes will be presented at workshops and incorporated into stock assessments, ensuring that the ABC reflects current red tide conditions. By operationalizing this modeling framework, fisheries managers can conduct routine red tide assessments, enhancing the sustainability of Gulf fisheries!

Where you can help!
Are you an angler, boater or beach goer living on the West Coast of Florida and wish to help researchers know more about red tide?
Then please consider taking this brief survey anytime you head out on the water and experience red tide.
The survey may be accessed via the hyperlink above or by copy and pasting this link into your browser: https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1AOsyJqHCThEPb0 
Information researchers are interested in includes: where did you encounter red tide? Did you see any dead/dying marine life? If so which species? Did your plans change due to encountering red tide? These and a few more questions can improve the models and help managers a TON by helping us determine how fisheries are affected by red tides!
An example of a question asked on the red tide survey to better understand where fish are dying, what species and how your trip may have been affected. Click the links above to access the survey to help fisheries science!
Have a question about red tide and fisheries management you would like answered? Submit your question via this link here and check back to this blog periodically where selected questions and answers will be posted!
A typical sight during a red tide bloom with both forage and game fish washed ashore. Help us determine which fish dying, where and when by responding to the reporting survey above! Photo By: Kate Spinner Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Resources:
Red Tide Updates:

There are plenty(!) of resources and educational materials created about red tide! Check the links below to find information on red tide monitoring, forecasts and beach conditions that you may want to add to your red tide tackle box if and when a bloom occurs.  The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) has a service where you can subscribe to to receive weekly email and/or text notifications on the detection and current status of red tide throughout the state.  

Collier County also has an automated notification system regarding red tide presence/status at county specific locations. To sign up for theses updates check out this link.
 
Common Causes of Fish Kills in Florida– Dead fish doesn’t always mean red tide, low dissolved oxygen, blue green algae, and extreme weather events can result in a fish kill. Check the link to learn more!
Monitoring: 

FWC Link to current red tide status throughout the state of Florida
Mote Marine Laboratory beach condition reporting system for Florida. Information regarding red tide presence with plenty of info on tidal and environmental conditions across many beaches within our state. 
USF Ocean Circulation Lab Red Tide Prediction and Tracking
National Centers For Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) harmful algae bloom forecasts for Florida and Texas
Reporting:

Live on the west coast of Florida and would like to help researchers record observations during a red tide? Please consider taking this brief survey when you encounter a bloom near you.
FWC Fish Kill Hotline 800-636-0511 
Red Tide Fact Sheets:

Karenia brevis (red tide) fact sheet
Red Tides on the West Florida Shelf
Red Tide FAQs:

FWC red tide frequently asked questions
National Centers For Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) Gulf of Mexico harmful algal bloom frequently asked questions
Mote Marine red tide frequently asked questions
Blog: Frequently Asked Questions about the 2018 Red Tide Bloom
Red Tide Seafood Safety/Fishing: 

Blog: When red tide hits, is your seafood safe? A UF expert answers questions
Red Tide General Info: 

Historic frequency of red tide in Florida by year and month in Florida, FWC
Videos: 

Red Tide in Florida FWC Infographic Video (4:32)
Red Tide Facts and Myths Collier County Video (26:32)
Red Tide and Seafood Safety FWC Infographic Video (4:19)
Peer Reviewed Papers:

Literature Review of Florida Red Tide: Implications for Human Health Effects
Effects of Karenia brevis harmful algal blooms on nearshore fish communities in southwest Florida
Effects of Karenia brevis harmful algal blooms on fish community structure on the West Florida Shelf
Evaluating red tide effects on the West Florida Shelf using a spatiotemporal ecosystem modeling framework
Karenia brevis red tides, brevetoxins in the food web, and impacts on natural resources: Decadal advancements
Blue-Green Algae aka Cyanobacteria and other HABs:

Resources for understanding blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms
General resources: 

University of Florida harmful algae bloom website. Information of causes, effects, solutions and FAQs of HABs
Protecting Florida Together; website with information regarding red tide/blue green algae task force, habitat restoration etc.
				
Karenia brevis aka “red tide” cells swimming! These microscopic organisms belong to the dinoflagellate phylum of algae which have appendages that allow them to move around in the water column. The word dinoflagellate is derived from the Greek dînos meaning  “whirling” and Latin flagellum meaning “whip.” K. brevis’s unique motion helps researchers identify red tide cells from other phytoplankton and algae in a water sample.

In fisheries management, setting the acceptable biological catch (ABC) is vital to ensure sustainable harvest without overexploiting fish stocks. The ABC determines how much fish can be harvested each year, and is estimated using a stock assessment model that brings together multiple data sources to estimate fish abundance and productivity.  However, in the Gulf of […]

Red Tide, Fisheries Modeling and Citizen Science: Casting a Line to Anglers and Gulf of Mexico Stakeholders for Better Data!

Rainy season is almost here, and it&#8217;s a great time start planting tropical fruit trees. The consistent rain can help minimize the transplant shock that new trees experience and you may even be able to use less water to get your tree established, as long as the rain/irrigation applied is fairly consistent for those critical [&#8230;]

<p>Rainy season is almost here, and it&#8217;s a great time start planting tropical fruit trees. The consistent rain can help minimize the transplant shock that new trees experience and you may even be able to use less water to get your tree established, as long as the rain/irrigation applied is fairly consistent for those critical first few weeks. Once the tree is <a href="https://trec.ifas.ufl.edu/fruitscapes/Fruitscapes-videos/planting-fruit/playlist1/overview.shtml">properly planted</a>, it&#8217;s important to follow water and fertilization recommendations.</p>
<p>Many times we get contacted about unthrifty tropical fruit trees in backyards. While there can be multiple reasons why your trees are not thriving, one issue we see is folks not taking nursery stakes off their trees after planting. Sometimes, it looks like the stakes have been bound to the tree for years.</p>
<figure id="attachment_4423" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4423" style="width: 225px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-4423 size-medium lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="225" height="300" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/collierco/files/2024/06/Stake-2-225x300.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4423" class="wp-caption-text">Notice the tape cutting into the bark of this small, newly planted sapodilla tree</figcaption></figure>
<p>Trees come tied with wooden or bamboo stakes from the nursery. The purpose of this practice is to help the tree grow straight, provide support while the tree’s roots are growing in a contained area (the pot), and create a more uniform vertical growing area to save on space.  It can also help with uprooting and falling over during winds while the tree is establishing it’s root system.</p>
<figure id="attachment_4421" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4421" style="width: 225px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-4421 size-medium lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="225" height="300" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/collierco/files/2024/06/Stake-1-225x300.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4421" class="wp-caption-text">Landscape stake bound to citrus tree</figcaption></figure>
<p>Once the tree is planted in the ground, you should take your stakes off in a timely manner. For small fruit trees, within 2-6 weeks of planting and for large trees no more than 3-6 months after planting. Florida’s weather and climate provide for almost year-round growth for tropical fruit trees and their root system is constantly putting out feeder and structural roots to make the tree stable and able to access nutrients. The sooner you remove the stakes, the faster the tree will develop <a href="https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/reaction-wood.shtml">reaction wood</a>, which enhances its stability. It&#8217;s similar to how using your arm builds strength, whereas keeping it in a splint leads to atrophy from lack of use.</p>
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If stakes and tape are left on for too long, the tree becomes stunted and unthrifty and you will slowly strangle your tree. When stakes stay tightly bound to the outer and inner bark, they cut into the tree layer called the cambium layer, which is the growing park of the trunk, and can stunt growth over the long term, as seen in the photo below.</p>
<figure id="attachment_4425" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4425" style="width: 225px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-4425 size-medium lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="225" height="300" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/collierco/files/2024/06/Stake-3-225x300.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4425" class="wp-caption-text">Tape tightly bound to an unthrifty mango tree</figcaption></figure>
<p>Keep an eye on your tree and if it starts to lean or you have a wind event that causes it to tip over, you can always stake it again temporarily. But ensure the stakes are not tightly bound to the trunk of the tree.</p>
<p>When done properly, staking provides stability so the tree can support itself and assist in establishing a strong root system. However, if staking is done poorly or for too long, it can do more harm than good.</p>


Rainy season is almost here, and it’s a great time start planting tropical fruit trees. The consistent rain can help minimize the transplant shock that new trees experience and you may even be able to use less water to get your tree established, as long as the rain/irrigation applied is fairly consistent for those critical first few weeks. Once the tree is properly planted, it’s important to follow water and fertilization recommendations.
Many times we get contacted about unthrifty tropical fruit trees in backyards. While there can be multiple reasons why your trees are not thriving, one issue we see is folks not taking nursery stakes off their trees after planting. Sometimes, it looks like the stakes have been bound to the tree for years.
Notice the tape cutting into the bark of this small, newly planted sapodilla tree
Trees come tied with wooden or bamboo stakes from the nursery. The purpose of this practice is to help the tree grow straight, provide support while the tree’s roots are growing in a contained area (the pot), and create a more uniform vertical growing area to save on space.  It can also help with uprooting and falling over during winds while the tree is establishing it’s root system.
Landscape stake bound to citrus tree
Once the tree is planted in the ground, you should take your stakes off in a timely manner. For small fruit trees, within 2-6 weeks of planting and for large trees no more than 3-6 months after planting. Florida’s weather and climate provide for almost year-round growth for tropical fruit trees and their root system is constantly putting out feeder and structural roots to make the tree stable and able to access nutrients. The sooner you remove the stakes, the faster the tree will develop reaction wood, which enhances its stability. It’s similar to how using your arm builds strength, whereas keeping it in a splint leads to atrophy from lack of use.
 









View this post on Instagram

















 
A post shared by Jessica Ryals UF/IFAS Extension Collier County (@jessicamryals)

Tape tightly bound to an unthrifty mango tree
Keep an eye on your tree and if it starts to lean or you have a wind event that causes it to tip over, you can always stake it again temporarily. But ensure the stakes are not tightly bound to the trunk of the tree.
When done properly, staking provides stability so the tree can support itself and assist in establishing a strong root system. However, if staking is done poorly or for too long, it can do more harm than good.

Rainy season is almost here, and it’s a great time start planting tropical fruit trees. The consistent rain can help minimize the transplant shock that new trees experience and you may even be able to use less water to get your tree established, as long as the rain/irrigation applied is fairly consistent for those critical […]

Don’t Forget to Take the Landscape Stakes Off Your Tropical Fruit Trees!

In a long-standing tradition, University of Florida/IFAS Extension Collier County hosted the Annual Collier County Agricultural Bus Tour on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. This annual tour has occurred for over 50 years in the county and gives participants access to the stories, tastes, and sights of farm life from farmers, ranchers, and local agricultural experts. [&#8230;]

<p>In a long-standing tradition, University of Florida/IFAS Extension Collier County hosted the Annual Collier County Agricultural Bus Tour on Wednesday, March 20, 2024.</p>
<p>This annual tour has occurred for over 50 years in the county and gives participants access to the stories, tastes, and sights of farm life from farmers, ranchers, and local agricultural experts. 120 Residents, part-timers, and visitors hopped aboard an air-conditioned bus and got a “behind the scenes” look of why farming is important to Collier County’s economy, environment and people.</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="2024 University of Florida/IFAS Collier County Ag Tour" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GdTyRl4J-G4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>This year’s tour stops included flower nursery, American Farms; dragon fruit farm, Jessie’s Tropical Fruit Farm; large tomato farm, Lipman Family Farms, and the unique partnership with Naples Botanical Garden and Lipman Family Farms.</p>
<p>Collier County is home to highly productive agricultural lands. These lands are important not only for feeding people locally and nationally, but for water recharge areas, wildlife habitat, and carbon sequestration. Participants got a chance to see real working farms and how farmers, scientists and agricultural experts are navigating challenges of on the farm and the future of food production.</p>
<p><a href="https://lovetropicalfruit.com/welcome-to-our-farm/">Jessie’s Tropical Fruit Farm</a> is a 5-acre fruit farm in Naples offering fresh fruit, an edible plant nursery, and guided U-pick tours. Their farm mainly grows dragon fruit, but they also sell loquat, bananas, passionfruit, soursop, sapodilla, guava, and more. They have a unique selection of jams, syrups, sauces, and artisanal soaps and sell locally and ship across the U.S. Jessie&#8217;s Tropical Fruit Farm is a member of the <a href="https://www.swflfresh.com/">SWFL Fresh: Choose Local, Choose Fresh</a> program that connects local producers and consumers.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-4343 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="300" height="200" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/collierco/files/2024/05/JTFF-300x200.jpg"></p>
<p><em>Jessica Johnson of Jessie&#8217;s Tropical Fruit Farm giving a tour of her dragon fruit (pitaya) farm</em></p>
<p>Started in 1991 with a passion for horticulture and 10 acres of land, <a href="https://www.american-farms.com/">American Farms</a> has expanded to more than 100 acres. The wholesale business produces more than 30 million plants every year, including annual, perennial, and tropical flowering plants as well as seasonal and holiday plants such as geraniums, garden mums and poinsettias.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-4337 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="300" height="200" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/collierco/files/2024/05/AF-300x200.jpg"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-4339 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="300" height="200" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/collierco/files/2024/05/AFF-300x200.jpg"></p>
<p><em>Alex Salazar of American Farms sharing the production efficiency of American Farms</em></p>
<p><a href="https://www.lipmanfamilyfarms.com/">Lipman Family Farms</a>, founded in Immokalee, is now North America’s largest tomato producer. The family operation has expanded from growing tomatoes to specialty crops, repacking, distribution, and fresh-cut processing. Farm #7 grows tomatoes for fresh market consumption.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-4341 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="225" height="300" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/collierco/files/2024/05/FR-225x300.jpg"></p>
<p><em>Fritz Roka shares the tomato production challenges and opportunities in Florida</em></p>
<p>Lipman Family Farms recently donated use of a 5-acre greenhouse to the <a href="https://www.naplesgarden.org/?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=EAIaIQobChMImPOq547-hQMV96taBR0OdQc1EAAYASAAEgJIS_D_BwE">Naples Botanical Garden</a> as a horticultural production facility on Farm #7. This gift allows the Garden to venture into restoration projects, community plantings, and conservation efforts.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-4347 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="300" height="225" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/collierco/files/2024/05/NBBB-300x225.jpg"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone  wp-image-4345" src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/collierco/files/2024/05/NBB-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="338" height="225" /></p>
<p><em>Brian Galligan and Nick Ewy of Naples Botanical Garden discuss plants and conservation efforts</em></p>
<p>Our participants were guided by two local experts, Dr. Fritz Roka, Director of <a href="https://www.fgcu.edu/cob/agribusiness/">FGCU’s Center for Agribusiness</a> and former Associate Professor with UF/IFAS Extension and Mr. Gene McAvoy UF/IFAS Extension Emeritus and <a href="https://floridaaghalloffame.org/2023/10/eugene-gene-mcavoy/">2024 Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame Inductee</a>. <a href="https://swfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/faculty/tsouvaltzis/">Dr. Pavlos Tsouvaltzis</a>, assistant professor of vegetable horticulture at the UF/IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center also talked with participants about tomato production in SWFL. Clark Ryals with the <a href="https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service">Florida Forest Service</a> shared information about fire management with regards to wildfires in the Golden Gate Estates area.</p>
<p>We also thank the Collier County Master Gardeners, Collier County 4-H, and Collier County Public Services for making this year’s tour possible.</p>
<p>The excursion provides participants with an opportunity to explore the diverse agricultural landscape of Collier County. Previous tour stops have included cattle ranches, citrus groves, packinghouses, aquaculture, and more.</p>
<p>We hope to see some new faces join us next year!</p>


In a long-standing tradition, University of Florida/IFAS Extension Collier County hosted the Annual Collier County Agricultural Bus Tour on Wednesday, March 20, 2024.
This annual tour has occurred for over 50 years in the county and gives participants access to the stories, tastes, and sights of farm life from farmers, ranchers, and local agricultural experts. 120 Residents, part-timers, and visitors hopped aboard an air-conditioned bus and got a “behind the scenes” look of why farming is important to Collier County’s economy, environment and people.

This year’s tour stops included flower nursery, American Farms; dragon fruit farm, Jessie’s Tropical Fruit Farm; large tomato farm, Lipman Family Farms, and the unique partnership with Naples Botanical Garden and Lipman Family Farms.
Collier County is home to highly productive agricultural lands. These lands are important not only for feeding people locally and nationally, but for water recharge areas, wildlife habitat, and carbon sequestration. Participants got a chance to see real working farms and how farmers, scientists and agricultural experts are navigating challenges of on the farm and the future of food production.
Jessie’s Tropical Fruit Farm is a 5-acre fruit farm in Naples offering fresh fruit, an edible plant nursery, and guided U-pick tours. Their farm mainly grows dragon fruit, but they also sell loquat, bananas, passionfruit, soursop, sapodilla, guava, and more. They have a unique selection of jams, syrups, sauces, and artisanal soaps and sell locally and ship across the U.S. Jessie’s Tropical Fruit Farm is a member of the SWFL Fresh: Choose Local, Choose Fresh program that connects local producers and consumers.

Jessica Johnson of Jessie’s Tropical Fruit Farm giving a tour of her dragon fruit (pitaya) farm
Started in 1991 with a passion for horticulture and 10 acres of land, American Farms has expanded to more than 100 acres. The wholesale business produces more than 30 million plants every year, including annual, perennial, and tropical flowering plants as well as seasonal and holiday plants such as geraniums, garden mums and poinsettias.
 
Alex Salazar of American Farms sharing the production efficiency of American Farms
Lipman Family Farms, founded in Immokalee, is now North America’s largest tomato producer. The family operation has expanded from growing tomatoes to specialty crops, repacking, distribution, and fresh-cut processing. Farm #7 grows tomatoes for fresh market consumption.

Fritz Roka shares the tomato production challenges and opportunities in Florida
Lipman Family Farms recently donated use of a 5-acre greenhouse to the Naples Botanical Garden as a horticultural production facility on Farm #7. This gift allows the Garden to venture into restoration projects, community plantings, and conservation efforts.
 
Brian Galligan and Nick Ewy of Naples Botanical Garden discuss plants and conservation efforts
Our participants were guided by two local experts, Dr. Fritz Roka, Director of FGCU’s Center for Agribusiness and former Associate Professor with UF/IFAS Extension and Mr. Gene McAvoy UF/IFAS Extension Emeritus and 2024 Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame Inductee. Dr. Pavlos Tsouvaltzis, assistant professor of vegetable horticulture at the UF/IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center also talked with participants about tomato production in SWFL. Clark Ryals with the Florida Forest Service shared information about fire management with regards to wildfires in the Golden Gate Estates area.
We also thank the Collier County Master Gardeners, Collier County 4-H, and Collier County Public Services for making this year’s tour possible.
The excursion provides participants with an opportunity to explore the diverse agricultural landscape of Collier County. Previous tour stops have included cattle ranches, citrus groves, packinghouses, aquaculture, and more.
We hope to see some new faces join us next year!

In a long-standing tradition, University of Florida/IFAS Extension Collier County hosted the Annual Collier County Agricultural Bus Tour on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. This annual tour has occurred for over 50 years in the county and gives participants access to the stories, tastes, and sights of farm life from farmers, ranchers, and local agricultural experts. […]

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