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Seagrass Awareness Month brings critical food source for Manatees to centre stage
March is Seagrass Awareness Month, and there has never been a more critical time to act to protect seagrass communities across Florida and call to action for everyone to contribute to the health of these vital ecosystems. The state’s manatee population has now suffered four years of elevated mortality rates, largely due to seagrass loss. While the reduced mortality rate in 2023 may signal some progress, it still underscores the ongoing need for awareness and conservation efforts.
Recent years have seen a critical decline in seagrass, leading to devastating consequences for manatees. In 2021, a record number of manatees died, with many dying of starvation within the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). Nutrient pollution, resulting in widespread algae blooms, caused a catastrophic loss of seagrass, leaving manatees to starve. This alarming situation prompted the declaration of an Atlantic Florida Manatee Unusual Mortality Event in 2021, which is still ongoing and under close monitoring.
In 2023, there were over 550 recorded manatee deaths in Florida, on top of the record number recorded in 2021 of 1,101, followed by 800 recorded manatee deaths in 2022. While the number of manatees starving from a lack of seagrass was lower last winter, the situation remains dire because human-caused nutrient pollution remains much too high. Due to high water levels in Lake Okeechobee, we are already seeing discharges to both coasts, dangerously affecting water quality and possibly the seagrass communities.
Manatees rely on seagrass as a vital food source. There are seven species of seagrass in Florida, all of which are consumed by manatees. However, the IRL, a critical manatee habitat, has lost over 95% of its seagrass biomass due to human-induced harmful algal blooms. On the West Coast, Tampa Bay has lost 12% of its seagrass in 2 years, with some areas at historic lows, and Sarasota Bay has lost approximately 30% of its seagrass since 2016. While habitat restoration projects are underway and there have been some signs that seagrass communities may be rebounding in some areas of the IRL, ultimate success depends upon avoiding future harmful algal blooms by continuing to improve overall water quality.
Patrick Rose, Aquatic Biologist and Executive Director of the Save the Manatee Club, emphasized the importance of Seagrass Awareness Month, stating, “Manatees and seagrass communities have co-evolved over millions of years. Seagrass Awareness Month is an important opportunity to spotlight this critical aquatic resource. Uncontrolled development, lax regulation, and pollution from Florida’s growing human population have fueled the cycle of algae blooms that cause seagrass loss.”
For it’s part, Save the Manatee Club has long worked with partners to rehabilitate and protect Florida’s waterways. Recently, it partnered with the Center for Biological Diversity and Defenders of Wildlife to file a suit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for failing to revise outdated critical habitat for Florida manatees, which has not been updated since its original designation in 1976. As a result, it was announced in June 2022 that FWS has committed to revising critical habitat for the Florida manatee by 2024. In May 2022, the same three groups, together with Earth Justice, sued the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to protect manatees from water pollution in Florida. The case is still pending.
Members of the public are encouraged to take action to protect seagrass and manatees by:
- Taking the pledge to be Fertilizer-Free™ For Manatees, thus helping to reduce pollution from yard chemicals, which will help prevent harmful algal blooms from forming.
- Preventing damage to seagrasses by avoiding boating over seagrass beds or trimming up the boat’s motor and idling to a safe depth before getting on plane.
- Reporting distressed, sick, injured, or dead manatees to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).
- Resisting the urge to feed or give water to manatees, which is illegal and can negatively impact their natural behavior.
- Sign up for our Action Alerts and contact local, state, and federal elected officials to urge them to help manatees and restore the seagrasses throughout Florida.
Seagrass Awareness Month serves as a reminder of the urgent need to protect seagrass communities and the manatees that depend on them. By working together, we can ensure a brighter future for these iconic marine mammals and their vital habitats. Rose concluded, “Everyone must act now—from the individual members of the public to governmental and nonprofit organizations to our elected officials—to disrupt this cycle of pollution and proceed to protect and rebuild the seagrass communities that are essential to the survival of manatees and a host of other species, including fishes, dolphins, sea turtles, and birds that collectively depend on this critical aquatic resource.”
Save the Manatee Club, established in 1981 by the late renowned singer-songwriter, author, and entrepreneur Jimmy Buffett, along with former Florida Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham, is dedicated to safeguarding manatees and preserving their aquatic habitat. For more information about manatees and the Club’s efforts, visit savethemanatee.org or call 1-800-432-JOIN (5646).
Far from the usual tourist trails, on a small island in the Northern Moluccas, lies a place of extraordinary beauty: Nabucco’s Spice Island Resort. Nestled between dense tropical jungle and a powdery white sand beach, the resort offers a peaceful escape immersed in nature at its purest. With panoramic views of the turquoise sea and direct access to some of Indonesia’s most untouched reefs, it’s a dream come true for those seeking tranquility above and adventure below the surface.
The resort features just 16 spacious beachfront bungalows, each only steps from the ocean. At its heart is a beautifully designed open-air restaurant, built entirely from natural materials, where guests can enjoy a diverse selection of Indonesian and international cuisine.
But what truly sets Nabucco’s Spice Island Resort apart is the underwater world that surrounds it. The reefs of the Northern Moluccas are among the most pristine and biodiverse in all of Indonesia – and remarkably, they remain largely untouched. Thanks to the remote location, dive boats are often the only ones around, giving divers the rare privilege of exploring vibrant coral gardens, dramatic walls, and colorful drop-offs in complete solitude.
Marine life here is nothing short of spectacular. Blacktip reef sharks are spotted on nearly every dive, while nutrient-rich walls attract sea turtles, schools of jacks, and bumphead parrotfish. For macro enthusiasts, the area is a treasure trove of rare and photogenic species, including pygmy seahorses, ghost pipefish, nudibranchs, frogfish, leaf scorpionfish, and several types of octopus and shrimp.
One of the region’s most extraordinary highlights is the Halmahera Walking Shark, a rare species endemic to this part of Indonesia. First described by scientists only in recent years, this small shark is unlike anything else in the ocean. Rather than swimming, it uses its muscular pectoral and pelvic fins to “walk” along the seabed. These elusive yet fascinating creatures are most often encountered on night dives – and witnessing one in the wild is a truly unforgettable experience.
The reefscapes surrounding Spice Island Resort are equally impressive. Flourishing hard coral formations spread across the seabed, interspersed with vivid sponges, large sea fans, and colorful soft corals. The biodiversity is astonishing, and the visual spectacle underwater is a dream for photographers. Most importantly, the reefs here are healthy—a rare treasure in today’s marine environment. With minimal tourism and careful management, the ecosystem remains intact, vibrant, and teeming with life.
Nabucco’s Spice Island Resort is more than just a dive destination – it’s a retreat for those seeking peace and a haven for underwater explorers looking to experience the authentic magic of Indonesia’s last true frontier.
Book your next diving adventure at Nabucco’s Spice Island Resort with Extra Divers!
Two weeks ago, during World Oceans Day weekend, over 200 divers from at least 15 different BSAC clubs descended on Cornwall to be part of the Kernow Dive Festival 2025. Ten RIBs and their skippers collectively carried out just shy of 300 boat dives over the weekend, with divers of all levels participating in the scheduled diving.
Not only was it fantastic to see the diving community come together to celebrate diving on World Oceans Day, but the weekend also raised funds for DDRC Healthcare Plymouth and hopefully increased awareness of their work.
The plight of UK chamber facilities has been in the spotlight recently due to the planned reduction in the number of hyperbaric chambers available to scuba divers in England.
With their number set to be cut from eight to just three, the pressure on the remaining chambers is a serious concern. Yet many divers starting out are unaware of the facilities available when things go wrong, or the ongoing research that takes place at these centres to make diving safer for everyone.
DDRC leads the field in dive medicine research, treating decompression illness and maintaining the national 24/7 helpline. Their work is essential for keeping all divers safe, and we’re proud to help raise awareness of their fantastic efforts.
Last year, the Kernow Dive Festival raised over £7,300 for DDRC Healthcare in Plymouth; this year, we’ve raised a phenomenal £8,550! This brings the total raised by the festival for DDRC to £69,760!
This is primarily thanks to the incredible support the event receives from the attending clubs, the diving industry, and local businesses, who contribute significantly to the raffle and auction fundraising activities on Saturday night.
The following businesses deserve a special mention, and we can’t thank them enough for their generosity. In no particular order:
North Coast Diving donated a full-day charter
O’Three Ltd donated a 50% drysuit voucher and a semi-dry
Kent Tooling Diving Products donated two of their reels
Seaways Diving and Suunto UK donated a Suunto Diving D6i Novo Zulu dive computer between them
Scubapro donated a pair of their Seawing Supernova fins
MARES – just add water donated three of their bags
Discovery Divers Plymouth Ltd donated a day’s diving for two divers
Seaways Diving and Engineer Aftercare Caravan, Campervan & Motorhome Warranty donated vouchers for cylinder testing and £100 off at Seaways
Liquid Sports donated a BigBlue 1300NP torch and some Sharkskin caps
Cressi donated a pair of their Origin fins
AP Diving donated an assortment of items, including flasks, dry bags, mugs and beanies
DDRC Healthcare donated a 40m chamber dive and facilities tour for up to 8 people
Dive Signs donated a selection of their Smart Emergency, MOD, and Gas Analysis sticker packs
Sharp’s Brewery donated a voucher for either a 5-litre mini cask of Doom Bar or an 8-pack of cans
Scuba Ry Divers donated a snorkel set
BSAC – British Sub-Aqua Club donated two digital SDC training packs
Porthkerris Divers donated T-shirts
Two local businesses also helped keep the divers warm and well-fed:
Penryn Joinery donated a van load of heating fuel briquettes to keep everyone warm on Saturday night, and Firewood Supplies Ltd near Penzance kindly donated several large bags of restaurant-grade charcoal for the Kernow Dive Festival BBQ.
We also need to give a big shout-out to local ghost gear recovery charity Fathoms Free, which supported the fundraising weekend with its recently refurbished RIB and experienced skipper, Jules!
Their RIB, Stingray, was the first boat out and the last boat in on both days. They said it was fantastic to support such a great cause and were pleased to help raise awareness and funds for DDRC, which provides a vital service to all divers in the region—including those who volunteer for the charity during ghost gear recoveries.
The BSAC South West Region clubs that played a major role in this year’s event included:
Bude Dive Club, whose members handled catering and, along with Peninsula Sub Aqua Club, ran the control room and slipway like a well-oiled military operation.
Peninsula Sub Aqua Club (BSAC), whose members oversaw much of the shotting of the dive sites and planned the weekend’s diving. They also have a small quiz team, known amongst other names as the Four Skin Divers, who attend Tricky’s at the Tolgus Inn every fortnight for quiz nights. Over the last 12 months, they collated all their winnings and donated £230 to the fundraising efforts!
Totnes Sub Aqua Club, whose members managed the finances and insurance and once again ran the record-breaking raffle!
A special thanks to Ponsandane Camping, who once again gave us VIP treatment, let us take over the site for the weekend, and provided secure boat storage for all attending clubs.
We’re also incredibly grateful to the team at Penzance Harbour for supporting the event year after year.
Huge thanks to everyone who helped organise the weekend, to the businesses and individuals who donated to the fundraising efforts, and to the 200+ people who took part!
It was truly a fantastic event. Despite the less-than-ideal weather, everyone had a great time—and a record amount of money was raised. Planning for next year is already underway!
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