Florida Oceanographic Society

Florida Oceanographic Society is a non-profit organization founded in 1964 and its goal is to inspire environmental stewardship of Florida's coastal ecosystems through education and research.[2]

Florida Oceanographic Society
Founded1964
FounderJames H. Rand and five community leaders.[1]
TypeNonprofit
FocusEducational, Research
Location
Key people
Mark D. Perry
Websitehttps://www.floridaocean.org

Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center

Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center is a 57-acre (23 ha) marine life nature center located on Hutchinson Island in Stuart, Florida, situated between the Indian River and the Atlantic Ocean. Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center offers educational programs and conducts research and restoration programs that lead to healthy coastal ecosystems.[3][4]

Research

The Florida Oceanographic Society conducts research, monitoring and habitat restoration in South Florida, particularly in the southern portion of the Indian River Lagoon. The Indian River Lagoon is home to more than 4,300 species of plants and animals, including 36 rare and endangered species.[5]

Research programs include the Florida Oceanographic Oyster Restoration program (FLOOR). Found mainly in estuaries, oyster reefs are compromised by human settlement, including development and boating activity. In South Florida, oyster reefs face an additional threat. Discharges from Lake Okeechobee have diluted the salinity levels in estuaries, threatening the survival of oyster reefs.

FLOOR began in 2005 with local citizens volunteering through Florida Oceanographic Society to grow oysters off their private docks. The group grew to over 100 volunteers actively cultivating oysters, and in November 2009, Dr. Vincent Encomio, Research Scientist at Florida Oceanographic, and a team of volunteers began the Oyster Shell Recycling Program.[6] Shells are acquired from local restaurants, quarantined for a minimum of three months, during which time they are composted and free of any potential living contaminant, and packaged in mesh bags for reef building.

In 2022, FLOOR used a 3D printer to create a concrete reef in Stuart, Florida.[7]

Education

Florida Oceanographic Society educates students from a four-county area (Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, and Okeechobee counties) with on-site programs, outreach curriculum, and on-line activities.

References
  1. "Wiser Earth". Archived from the original on 10 July 2009. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  2. "About us". Florida Oceanographic Society. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  3. Treadway, Tyler. "Florida Oceanographic Society plans multi-million-dollar upgrade at Coastal Center". Treasure Coast. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  4. King, Steve (2021-07-16). "Florida Oceanographic Society unveils new Ocean EcoCenter". WPBF. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  5. "Research". Florida Oceanographic Society. Archived from the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  6. Scientist honored for oyster bed work, TCPalm October 21, 2010 Archived April 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  7. Huberman, Dylan (2022-12-29). "3D printed concrete reef made for Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center's Gamefish Lagoon". WPEC. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
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