Project Spotl

Educational KioskIn a joint effort between and the Division of Agricinformational kiosk was Aquatic Preserve boat racompilation of informatioAgriculture, Division of Aleases within the harbor, and habitats within the A

Marshes comprise the bulk of t

The kiosks are full of useful inf

• The aquatic preserve staff have established a successful partnership with the University of Florida’s 

Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Department, and participates in a monthly water quality and nutrient monitoring project. This ongoing project has created a long-term database that serves to document current water chemistry conditions, to be compared with future water conditions. 

• Ongoing biological monitoring of valuable commercial and recreational fish and invertebrate species 

will supply habitat data that will identify areas that these important species utilize during critical life stages and will allow for better management practices in these areas.

• Staff have partnered with the Alligator Point Tax Payers Association (APTA), a network of active and 

concerned citizens, who are interested in protecting the natural ecological diversity and functions of the harbor. This group volunteers with beach clean up events, turtle patrol, water quality and bird surveys. The preserve staff provide the APTA newsletter with regular articles on the resources within and adjacent to the harbor and information on how citizens can stay involved in their environment.

Key Accomplishments

PRESERVE PRESERVE

“Alligator Harbor is one of the world's largest feeding grounds for the Kemp's Ridley which is the rarest and most endangered of all marine turtles. The area's abundance of blue crabs, jellyfish, shellfish and sea grass provide an important food source for all sea turtles. The unspoiled waters and beaches are valuable breeding and nesting grounds for marine sea turtles. Alligator Harbor, in addition to being a valuable natural resource, is also archaeologically rich with several Miccosukee/Seminole Indian artifact and burial mounds surrounding the harbor."

Bill Wargo, Coordinator, Alligator Point Sea Turtle Patrol

Alligator Harbor
A publication funded in part by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Coastal 

Management Program, pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award No. 

NA04N0S4190035. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily 

Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas reflect the view of the State of Florida, NOAA, or any of its sub-agencies.

Alligator Harbor

Aquatic Preserve

Local Contact:

Kim Wren

Aquatic Preserve Manager

350 Carroll Street

East Point, FL 32328

(850) 670-4783 ext 104

www.aquaticpreserves.org

Aquatic Preserve Facts:

• Established as the Alligator Harbor Aquatic 

Preserve in 1969

• Alligator Harbor supports a variety of commercial 

and recreational species of fish and invertebrates

• Valuable habitat includes seagrass meadows, 

salt marshes, oyster bars, and beaches

• A major forage area for migratory birds, in 

particular for trans-gulf migrants in the fall and 

spring

• Clam aquaculture sites were established in 2002 

and are producing a very valuable product for 

Florida's economy

• Migratory species include piping plovers, 

semipalmated plovers, least terns, peregrine 

falcons and a variety of hawks

• Local species include American oystercatchers, 

black skimmers, snowy plovers, royal terns and 

brown pelicans

Pelicans resting on a dock

Horseshoe crabs mate in the protected 

waters of Alligator Harbor

Alligator Harbor is a popular location 

for sailing and other boating activities

Shorebirds feed along the edge of the 

harbor

Great blue heron perched on a pine tree

Location:

Franklin County

Acreage:

14,000 acres of sovereign submerged lands