The remaining 276 acres of mangroves occur in very small areas and are now protected by strict regulations. Indian River is the longest saltwater lagoon in Florida. There are just less than 8,000 acres of mangroves within the study site, but only 1,900 are available as fisheries habitat because of mosquito impoundments. A total of 86 percent of the mangrove areas have been lost to fisheries since the 1940's. State and local regulations have been enacted to protect Florida's mangrove forests.
Local laws vary.
Be sure to check with officials in your area prior to taking any action, to determine if a permit is required. Mangroves are one of Florida's true natives and are part of our state heritage. It is up to us to ensure a place in Florida's future for one of our most valuable coastal resources- mangroves. Original production funds provided by DER office of Coastal Management through a grant from the U.S. Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, NOAA, under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended.