Executive Director and Waterkeeper, Rachel Silverstein, provided a keynote address for Sierra Club Miami at their “Saving Seagrass” event at the Sacred Space Miami. Rachel discussed the state of seagrass in Miami as well as the Miami-Dade County Report on the ongoing seagrass die-off in Biscayne Bay.
Biscayne Bay is home to many ecologically important habitats, including seagrass. Seagrasses provide a host of benefits to the ecosystem, both directly and indirectly benefitting humans. They provide habitat and shelter for juvenile species of recreationally and commercially important fish. Both recreational and commercial fishers make their living on Biscayne Bay collecting species such as baitfish, stone crab, blue crab, shrimp, and lobster. Seagrasses support the diving industry in South Florida by providing habitat to juvenile fish that colonize reefs later in their development. Seagrasses enhance shoreline protection and prevent erosion by stabilizing sediments with their roots. In addition to this, they absorb nutrients. They attenuate wave energy from storms as well. Seagrasses help maintain water quality and clarity and are also a food source to several different species.
Originally published at https://www.miamiwaterkeeper.org/saving_the_seagrass