Charlotte Harbor Estuaries Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Network
"Imagine Florida without its tourism-driven economy: without fishing, boating, wading and beachcombing. Thankfully, you won't have to because the state's 41 aquatic preserves (AP), including Lemon Bay AP, will help safeguard Florida's environment and quality of life for generations to come." - U.S. Senator Bill Nelson
"Cape Haze is a Florida place where the sense of wilderness and encounters with the genuinely wild persist-- where there remains the chance to experience our state's original bounty and heritage of nature. That's what aquatic preserves are all about."
- Ernest D. Estevez, Ph.D., Director at the Center for Coastal Ecology, Mote Marine Laboratory
Natural resource management efforts at Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves are in direct response to the issues of Biscayne Bay. Issues-based management is a means to allow multiple partners to become involved with an aquatic preserve in addressing an issue. The four main issues of Biscayne Bay are summarized below.
Water and Sediment Quality
For copies of any of these publications, please email Veronica Lopez at Veronica.Lopez@FloridaDEP.gov.
Management Plan
Maps
Support Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves by joining the Friends of Biscayne Bay Inc., a 501(c)3 not for profit citizen support organization of Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves. Friends of Biscayne Bay (FOBB) meets periodically to discuss current issues and events related to Biscayne Bay and raises funds to support the management programs of the aquatic preserves. In addition to FOBB, there are two major categories of volunteers at the BBAP - student interns and general volunteers.
The Adopt-an-Island Program aims to promote stewardship of Biscayne Bay by allowing individuals or groups to adopt one or more islands in the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves. These islands are visited frequently and collect a lot of debris. In order to minimize debris build-up, adopters are responsible for conducting four cleanups each year on the island(s) they have adopted. After each cleanup, adopters are to report to the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves about the amount and types of debris removed from the islands.
The Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve is located
Interested in subscribing to DEP newsletters or receiving DEP updates through email?
Sign UpThe Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s lead agency for environmental management and stewardship – protecting our air, water and land. The vision of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is to create strong community partnerships, safeguard Florida’s natural resources and enhance its ecosystems.
Learn More