| 27 September 2010
As snook fishermen, we all recognize the importance of the inshore shallow water habitats – we fish for snook there, we catch bait in them and we boat past them on our way to our favorite fishing holes. Seagrass meadows are being devastated all throughout the State of Florida from several factors – one of the most prevalent is boat propeller scars.
As we lose more of these critical habitats, the ability for snook and many other inshore gamefish to continue to thrive is being drastically impacted. This year, these habitats are playing a critical role in the resurgence of snook as they fight to bounce back from the devastatingly cold winter. Seagrass is one of the juvenile habitats; it plays a vital role in the life cycle of snook.
Florida has lost 300,000 acres of seagrass beds since 1995. Degraded water quality and prop scarring are primary factors. Prevent prop scarring
Think back to the last time you visited your favorite grass flat - did you see prop scarring? If so, did you know that in many cases the most severe injuries do not restore themselves? In order to continue to enjoy snook in the waters of Florida (and elsewhere), we must take proactive steps to ensure the habitats snook depend upon are maintained and in the most pristine condition as possible.
Through programs like the one recently launched by Columbia Sportswear, seagrass meadows are being restored and helping to ensure that one of the fish we all seek, the snook, will be around for generations of dedicated anglers.
Grassflats offer mature and juvenile gamefish a buffet line of shrimp, crabs, worms, algae, echinoderms and other goodlies. Click on photo or link to more about fishing the grass flats.
Columbia Sportswear’s Website shows their dedication to this campaign – www.Columbia.com/Seagrass “Columbia is the first company in the outdoor industry to recognize the critical importance of seagrass to marine ecosystems, our economy and quality of life,” said Mark J. Spalding, President of The Ocean Foundation. “Together, we will educate thousands of online visitors about the importance of seagrass beds in protecting our oceans and our planet, as well as how to safely travel through them.”
We know that anglers, boaters, and other watersports participants have long been leaders in marine conservation. You value the bays, flats, estuaries, deltas and reefs as much as your own backyard (maybe even more). That’s why we’re asking you to join us as we urge all boaters to raise their props for seagrass.
Seagrass beds are home to dozens of animals, including fish, shellfish, eels, and seahorses. In fact, 70% of marine life is dependent on seagrass at some stage in their life cycle. Unfortunately, a single boat prop can create a scar that can eliminate an entire seagrass meadow.
These scars have led to closures of prime recreational fishing grounds around the globe. At Columbia we believe everyone should have access to the Greater Outdoors. The Seagrass Grow campaign is proactively restoring sections of damaged seagrass beds while educating boaters and other resource users on how to minimize their impact and raise their props. Together, we can ensure productive fisheries, healthy ecosystems, and continued access to our favorite “fishing holes.”
Gains have been made in Tampa and Sarasota Bays where aggressive efforts have been made to reverse decades of loss.Active restoration of seagrass has been successful and provides continued access to boaters who depend on these waters for their livelihoods and recreation. The SeaGrass Grow campaign will provide the funding needed to conserve and restore this critical resource.
The first recovery efforts will begin in the Gulf of Mexico, with Seagrass Recovery providing the restoration services. Kenny Wright (pictured right), Executive Vice President of Seagrass Recovery added, “Seagrass Recovery is thrilled to stand shoulder to shoulder with The Ocean Foundation and Columbia Sportswear on the front lines in the battle to curb critical habitat loss.
Through their efforts, we will be able to restore some of the most severe cases of propeller scars and vessel groundings, that without these restoration efforts, will not heal themselves.”
Join Columbia Sportswear’s efforts to restore the Great Outdoors by donating to SeaGrass Grow today!
For more information about this Seagrass Recovery, please visit: SeagrassRecovery.com
"For countless ages, man has taken from the sea. Now it is time for us to give back to this precious source of all our planet's life." William R. Mote, Founder of The Snook Foundation. Snook Foundation salutes Columbia's leadership as a recreational fishing industry representative taking the initiative to give back through habitat protection. Essential gamefish habitat preservation and restoration is one of the most effective ways to assure fishing's future,. Active angler involvement helps to maintain our rights to use them. Please join the Snook Foundation.
