Marine Life & Conservation
Seagrass Awareness Month shines spotlight on critical food source for Manatees

March is Seagrass Awareness Month, and there has never been a more critical time to act to protect seagrass communities across Florida. This year to date, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) has reported 326 known manatee mortalities, very close to the high number during this same period in 2021. A total of 1,101 manatee deaths were recorded in 2021, a number far higher than in any other year since record keeping began 50 years ago. Many of those deaths were reported in and around the Indian River Lagoon, where nutrient pollution, resulting in algae blooms, has led to catastrophic loss of seagrass.
Manatees are herbivores and feed on a variety of submerged, emergent, and floating plants including seagrass. There are seven species of seagrass in Florida, and manatees are known to consume all of them. But this critical food source is threatened, nowhere more so than in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL)—a critical manatee habitat—where a series of human-induced harmful algal blooms have caused the loss of more than 90% of the area’s seagrass biomass. Lack of food in this region has contributed to increased reports of malnourished manatees and unprecedented numbers of manatee deaths.
“Manatees and seagrass communities have co-evolved over millions of years. Seagrass Awareness Month is an important opportunity to spotlight this critical aquatic resource,” said Patrick Rose, Aquatic Biologist and Executive Director of the Save the Manatee Club, “Uncontrolled development, lax regulation, and the resulting pollution from Florida’s growing human population has fed the cycle of algae blooms that cause seagrass loss.”
Save the Manatee Club has a long and continuing history of working with partners to rehabilitate and protect Florida’s waterways, including helping fund research efforts to monitor the state of the Indian River Lagoon and recently opposing House Bill 349 and Senate Bill 198, the so-called “seagrass mitigation bills” that would in fact have been detrimental to seagrass and manatee populations. Additionally, last month Save the Manatee Club partnered with the Center for Biological Diversity and Defenders of Wildlife to file a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for failing to revise outdated critical habitat for Florida manatees and have put the Environmental Protection Agency on official notice of the groups’ intent to sue over failed water quality standards that have led to these massive seagrass losses.
The Club is also a founding member and fiduciary sponsor of a network of partners who help rescue and rehabilitate sick or injured manatees, including those that are severely malnourished.
Members of the public can do their part to protect seagrass and manatees by:
- Helping to reduce pollution from yard chemicals, which prevents 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;
- Resisting the urge to feed or give water to manatees which is illegal and teaches them to associate people and/or boats with handouts, changing their behavior and putting them in harm’s way.
- Reporting distressed, sick, injured, or dead manatees at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922);
- Contacting local, state, and federal elected officials to urge them to help manatees and restore the Indian River Lagoon.
Aquatic Biologist Rose concluded: “Everyone must act now—from the individual members of the public, to governmental and nonprofit organizations, to our elected officials—to disrupt the cycle of pollution in our waterways. We must 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.”
For more information about manatees and the Club’s efforts, visit savethemanatee.org
Marine Life & Conservation
Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Coast Leads the Way in Marine Conservation
Marine Life & Conservation
Aqaba’s Dive Operators Reduce Environmental Impact on Reefs

Green Fins initiative in Jordan achieves 51% reduction in threats to Aqaba Marine Reserve
Green Fins, the internationally recognised standard for sustainable diving and snorkelling, is delivering measurable environmental benefits to Jordan’s precious coral ecosystems. In just its second year of implementation, the programme has achieved a remarkable 51% reduction in threats to Aqaba’s coral reefs from marine tourism activities.
Led by Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) and supported by Green Fins’ international coordinator, The Reef-World Foundation, Green Fins Jordan is demonstrating how government commitment combined with industry action can rapidly transform a dive destination.
Measurable Environmental Improvements
The programme’s success is evident through several key metrics tracked during annual Green Fins assessments:
Elimination of anchoring damage from Green Fins Members
69% reduction in diver contact with fragile coral reefs
100% halt to the display and sale of marine life
46% improvement in waste management practices
28% reduction in chemical discharge into marine environments
27% increase in positive role model behaviour among dive guides
“This achievement not only attracts more divers to Aqaba but also honours ASEZA’s dedication to prioritising resources for this vital program,” said Nayef AL Fayez, ASEZA Chief.
Commissioner. “These remarkable improvements demonstrate that with proper guidance and commitment, the diving industry can reduce its environmental impact significantly. We’re proud to see the progress made by Green Fins Members, and this reinforces the importance of this initiative for our sustainability agenda. By choosing Green Fins operators, divers are directly contributing to the protection of our marine treasures for future generations while enjoying world-class underwater experiences.”
A Prime Destination for Eco-Conscious Divers
Aqaba has emerged as a leading destination for environmentally conscious divers, offering the rare combination of vibrant marine biodiversity with verifiable sustainability credentials. Divers now have a compelling reason to choose Aqaba: its commitment to sustainability directly translates to healthier, more vibrant reefs and an enhanced diving experience. The Aqaba Marine Reserve (AMR), which covers 30% of Jordan’s coastline, was recently recognised in the prestigious IUCN Green List of Protected Areas, confirming its status as an effectively managed protected area.
The designation of the Aqaba Marine Reserve in 2020 was made possible through the commitment and support of King Abdullah II, who considers marine conservation a national priority. This high-level backing has enabled ASEZA to implement effective management strategies, including Green Fins, ensuring that diving operations maintain the ecological integrity of this unique ecosystem.
“Divers are increasingly making sustainable choices,” noted JJ Jarvey, Operations Director at The Reef-World Foundation. “Aqaba now offers the compelling proposition of experiencing some of the world’s most resilient coral reefs while knowing their visit contributes to reef protection rather than degradation.”
Local Businesses Driving Global Impact
Eleven dive operators have achieved Green Fins certification in Aqaba, demonstrating their commitment to environmental best practices:
Red Sea Dive Center
Arab Divers
Deep Blue Dive Center
Coral Garden Diving Center
Aqaba Sharks Bay Divers
Royal Diving Club
Bait al-Aqaba Dive Resort
Hammerhead Diving Center
Rio Dive Center Aqaba
Red Coral Dive Centre
Sea Wonders Diving Center
These operators are pioneering a new standard for sustainable diving in the region, proving that environmental protection and business success can go hand-in-hand.
Recognising the Efforts of the Green Fins Assessor Team
Behind this successful partnership between dive operators and environmental standards stands a dedicated team of professionals. The recent success and continuity of the Green Fins programme would not have been possible without the commitment of the Green Fins Assessor team. Dom Wyszogrodzki and Tareq Al Salman played pivotal roles in ensuring the programme’s continued success. Their expertise and commitment have been instrumental in maintaining high standards, evaluating progress and supporting local dive operators in implementing best practices for sustainable marine tourism. Their contributions have been vital in strengthening the relationship between ASEZA and local dive operators and ensuring the long-term impact of the Green Fins initiative.
Future Plans for Expanding Green Fins in Aqaba
With this strong foundation established by the assessor team, Green Fins Jordan is now setting its sights on future growth. Building on the success of the current programme, ASEZA, in collaboration with The Reef-World Foundation, is working to expand the Green Fins programme to include the remaining Aqaba-based dive centres, ensuring that all operators in the region can contribute to the protection of Aqaba’s marine ecosystems.
In addition to expanding the programme, future initiatives will focus on conducting meaningful awareness sessions for both the local community and visitors. This will include citizen science-driven reef monitoring, where divers and local residents can actively contribute to the health and monitoring of coral reefs, as well as clean-up dives aimed at reducing marine litter and improving water quality.
“Divers are now looking for more than just an experience; they want to know that their activities are contributing to the preservation of our marine ecosystems. By expanding the Green Fins programme, we’re empowering more businesses and individuals to play an active role in protecting Aqaba’s reefs for generations to come,” added Dom Wyszogrodzki, Green Fins Local Management Team Leader.
Dive operators interested in joining the Green Fins programme can learn more at www.greenfins.net. For divers planning their next trip in Aqaba, choosing Green Fins-certified operators means experiencing extraordinary underwater environments while being part of the solution.
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