This blog is dedicated to the environmental well-being of our Florida coastal habitat.

This blog is
dedicated to the environmental well-being of coastal habitat.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

State mulls extending permit rules

http://keysnews.com/node/17289
- KeysNews

Sarasota County’s Seagrass Survey program has won 3 awards!

Two notable awards from the National Association of Counties:
- an Achievement Award honoring its unique and effective program

- a Best of Category Award, which marks it as a model program for outstanding and creative
work.

In addition to these two awards the Environmental Protection Agency’s Gulf of Mexico Program honored the SEA Team with a Gulf Guardian Award for finding innovative solutions to improve the environmental health of the Gulf, in concert with economic development.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Pat Jones' Special Report: Mote Turtle Release

We couldn't stay away this morning even though it meant getting up before dawn AGAIN. This turtle has been in the sea turtle hospital since April when she washed ashore sick at Naples. She was first tagged in 1988 when she had to be at least 30 years old. Since then she's been tagged numerous times in Sarasota County, Casey Key. Without Mote's intervention she surely would have succumbed to her illness. You can read more about her and follow her path on seaturtles.org. It was an emotional experience, as always.

Vickie Lee in her corral before being prepped for her transmitter and release:
First you sandpaper an area on her carapace in preparation for the expoxy.
After sandpaper, acetone and water,
Dr. Tony applies a mixture of expoxy.

Next the transmitter is set.
Everytime she comes up for air the satellite will read her position.

Next anti-fouling marine paint is applied.
After about 30 minutes in the corral she's ready to go!
Good close-up. So pretty and clean - that won't last.
Soon she'll have barnacles.

Almost there. Tough crawl to the water.
She weighs 248 lbs. AND, she's about 50 years old!

Hooray! The Gulf of Mexico surf at last!

Good bye, Vickie Lee.
Have a nice long life. Come back to Sarasota County.

It's nice to have a happy ending. : )

Turtle tagged 21 years ago by Mote to be released Friday

http://mote.org/index.php?src=news&refno=298&category=Newsroom
- Mote Marine Lab