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Apalachicola Bay Aquatic Preserve Project Spotlight

"The Apalachicola River, Floodplain, and Bay comprise one of the most biodiverse and

productive riverine and estuarine systems in the Northern Hemisphere. The historic natural

function and cultural heritage of the surrounding communities remain intact much of the

way it has been for generations of commercial fishermen on one of Florida's last working

waterfronts. This ecosystem and its people are truly an American Treasure."

Dan Tonsmeire, Apalachicola Riverkeeper

Management activities at Northwest Florida Aquatic Preserves have been discontinued as of

July 1, 2011.

Although the aquatic preserves will remain designated, all coastal education and resource

monitoring programs at closed locations have been eliminated. The Central Panhandle Aquatic

Preserves office serves three aquatic preserves: Alligator Harbor Aquatic Preserve,

Apalachicola Bay Aquatic Preserve and St. Joseph Bay Aquatic Preserve. These areas are no

longer actively managed and the resource management, research and monitoring, and

outreach and education programs at these aquatic preserves has ended. Permit review by

DEP regulatory offices will still be active through the Northwest District office.

Although seven aquatic preserve offices remain open, it is not possible for the remaining staff

to absorb the closed programs into the organizational structure.

This page describes former management programs which will be restarted should revenue

streams improve.

Derelict Crab Trap

Removal

Staff partnered with members of

the community to participate in

the efforts to remove derelict

crab traps from the bay waters

each year. These traps are no

longer fished, but remain in the

water because they have been

lost to storms, tides or currents,

have deteriorated floats, lines or

knots, have been clipped by boat

propellers, or have been cut

intentionally by vandals.

Negative impacts created by

derelict traps may include,

mortality of blue crabs and

bycatch, navigational hazards,

user group conflicts, visual

pollution and impacts to sensitive

habitat.

Key Accomplishments

Coastal and Aquatic Managed

Areas (CAMA) staff responsible

in both the Aquatic Preserve

Program and the National

Estuarine Research Reserve

(NERR) System worked

collaboratively on submerged

aquatic vegetation research

and monitoring and the best

management practices for this

habitat in the area.

In order to promote use of

sustainable resources, staff

participated in public events

and workshops, including

Estuaries Day and Seagrass

Awareness Month. These

events target youth from local

schools. Staff coordinated with

a local elementary school to

give regular presentations on

the important resources in the

surrounding bay systems.

 Quick Facts about Apalachicola Bay Aquatic Preserve

Apalachicola Bay Aquatic Preserve http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/sites/apalachicola-ap/

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Location:

Franklin and Gulf counties

Acreage:

80,000 acres of sovereign submerged lands

Contact:

Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas

3900 Commonwealth Blvd., MS 235

Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000

(850) 245-2094

FloridaCoasts@dep.state.fl.us

Download a printable version of this page.

Apalachicola Bay Aquatic Preserve Management Plan

Oystermen

Shoreline of the

Apalachicola Bay

Rainbow over the bay

Apalachicola Bay is one of the

most productive estuarine

systems in the Northern

hemisphere as a result of the

overall good water quality.

Apalachicola Bay is an

exceptionally important nursery

area for the Gulf of Mexico.

Over 95% of all species

harvested commercially and 85%

of all species harvested

recreationally in the open Gulf

have to spend a portion of their

life in estuarine waters. Blue

crabs, for example, migrate as

much as 300 miles to spawn in

Apalachicola Bay.

Apalachicola Bay is a major

forage area for such offshore fish

species as gag grouper and gray

snapper.

The area is a major forage area

for migratory birds, in particular

for trans-gulf migrants in the

spring.

Sunrise over the bay

3900 Commonwealth Boulevard M.S. 235 Tallahassee, Florida 32399 850-245-2094 (phone) / 850-245-2110 (fax)

Contact Us 

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Apalachicola Bay Aquatic Preserve http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/sites/apalachicola-ap/

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