Seagrass meadows are the foundation of a thriving coastline, providing shelter to juvenile fish, serving as food for manatees and sea turtles, stabilizing sediments, and preventing erosion during storms. Unfortunately, harmful algal blooms and poor water quality have caused a 60% decline in seagrass cover throughout the Indian River Lagoon in recent years. Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch researchers are tackling this crisis by cultivating seagrass for restoration experiments in depleted areas, investigating how this habitat loss has impacted fisheries, and identifying the path forward for wide-scale restoration in the Indian River Lagoon. Charitable gifts to this program help support seagrass research and restoration efforts at Harbor Branch.
To learn more about this fund, and other giving opportunities at Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, please contact Brandon McHenry at bmchenr1@fau.edu or 772-242-2214.
