Florida's 2.5 million acres of seagrass meadows support a healthy marine environment and help create the world-class fishing enjoyed by so many. Unfortunately, thousands of acres of Florida's precious grass beds have been damaged by boating activities. Propeller scars and blowholes create barren areas where fish, shrimp, and other marine life once flourished. Better boating skills and education can help prevent this unnecessary habitat destruction.

The Florida Seagrass Outreach Partnership (SOP) developed this website to provide factual information and free resources for boaters, resource managers, educators, media professionals and others interested in creating awareness about this issue. Take a few minutes to explore (and even download) the fact sheets, videos, fun activities, and other materials available through the SOP. For a copy of the Seagrass Toolbox CD, which contains all of the posters, articles, images and other educational materials posted on this site, contact the SOP. All products were created for educational purposes and may not be copyrighted.

This website is funded in part, through a grant agreement from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Coastal Management Program, by a grant provided by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award No. NA06NOS4190129. The views, statements, findings, conclusions and recommendations expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the State of Florida, NOAA or any of its subagencies.