Florida Sea Grant at UF IFAS Tropical Aquaculture Lab

02/17/2026

The Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival is one of our favorite events. Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage knows how to party with a purpose!

Community gathers to support local seafood industry with "boat to market" theme

02/06/2026

Can't wait! What better way to spend Valentine's Day weekend then sharing our love of working waterfronts??? Don't miss our Dock Talks in Cortez at the 2026 Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival!

01/22/2026

Oh yeah! Festival time! Come on out for a true taste of a real working waterfront. One of our favorites is listening to Dock Talks by Dr. Angela Collins at the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage Cortez Commercial FIshing Festival, Feb. 14 & 15. Lots of live music, good food and the best view!

What to Expect at Dock Talks & the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival

📍Dock Talks at the Fulford Fish House
Join us for Dock Talks featuring expert speakers who will share insights on marine life, commercial fishing techniques, and conservation. Learn why Cortez’s rich fishing history and working waterfront remain vital today. Enjoy hands-on learning with exhibits and potential live demonstrations.

📍The Festival Experience “Boat to Dock”
This year’s theme highlights the journey of seafood from the boats to your plate. Experience nautical arts and crafts, kid-friendly activities, incredible local seafood, and live music throughout the festival.

📍Why It Matters
All proceeds support FISH (Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage) and the FISH Preserve, helping protect Cortez’s fishing heritage for future generations.

📍When & Where
The Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival will be held in February 14–15th (10am - 5pm). Dock Talks take place at the historic Fulford Fish House.

Come learn, eat, listen, and celebrate the heart of Cortez’s commercial fishing community.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1985570672300356/?active_tab=discussion

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01/16/2026

Join us at the Florida Shellfish Aquaculture Association Toast to the Coast next Friday January 23! Lots of amazing sponsors including Florida Sea Grant and UF IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences SFFGS UF IFAS Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory. Come on out if you are able to support our Florida shellfish aquaculture industry. Yay for clams and oysters! 🦪🦪🦪

The Florida Shellfish Aquaculture Association teams with Proof Brewing for a "Toast to the Coast featuring 16 local oyster and clam farmers.

08/29/2025

Life Jackets Save Lives!🚤🦺

Most boat drownings happen on ☀️nice days—not ⛈️during storms. That’s why it’s crucial to always have a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket for every person on board your vessel.

✅Wear one anytime the boat is underway
✅Make sure it fits snugly and does not rise above the wearer’s chin or ears
✅Check yearly for buoyancy, damage or wear
✅Toss any that are waterlogged, damaged or worn-out

🦺Not all life jackets are the same—choose one that suits your activity and body type.

Learn more here about rules and regulations here: https://myfwc.com/boating/safety-education/wear-it-for-life/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExNW1LaTZYZHY3TGhJV0NGSgEeCiImBd6RBb6luoHhoY_DnfopQr5_A3OVq7Njyy8bWzvvRcaSM4uynmboW9E_aem_uohGHKV_tcky-EvKVmRkmA

And here: https://uscgboating.org/recreational-boaters/life-jacket-wear-wearing-your-life-jacket.php?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExNW1LaTZYZHY3TGhJV0NGSgEeXjhlM3eGHYFwiL76OKHAk-mNKGPt16dGomoaglErVlCXY7FXk9QV8eYhn0I_aem_7cy0sJILwXDmbDsyQ28MnA
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Florida Sea Grant UF IFAS Extension Manatee County MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife Myfwc Fish and Wildlife Research Institute

08/21/2025

🎣Fish without Fear using the Fish Rules App📱🐠

The MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife and the Gulf Council both recommend using the 📱Fish Rules App to stay updated on 🌊saltwater and freshwater fishing regulations for Federal and State waters.

This app can help you
✅See which fish are in season
✅Know how many you're allowed to keep
✅Understand size limits and regulations
✅Get location-specific info using your GPS
✅Identify your catch
✅Stay compliant even without signal

Download the Fish Rules App here: https://fishrulesapp.com

📸 Photo Credit: Nick Haddad

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Florida Sea Grant UF IFAS Extension Manatee County

08/19/2025

New Project Introduction!🌊🌱

Join UF/IFAS faculty and industry partners to get the scoop on a new project that is exploring the potential of macroalgae (seaweed) aquaculture in Florida!

Whether you're in the aquaculture industry, regulator, local government, or simply interested in the potential of seaweed culture, this webinar is for you!

📆Date and Time:
Thursday, August 21, 2025
2:00 – 3:30 PM ET

💻Online via Zoom
Online, ZOOM registration required: https://ufl.zoom.us/meeting/register/xYZQKH7ZQEaMJGyhvMuv1A #/registration
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences UF IFAS Extension Manatee County UF IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences SFFGS Florida Sea Grant

07/11/2025

🌊🤿It’s Scallop season here in Florida!

Scallops are an annual species, with most individuals living less than 2 years. These bivalves are sensitive to environmental conditions and require good 💧water quality and healthy seagrass habitats to flourish.

To enjoy recreational scalloping for years to come, it’s important to follow these best practices:

✅Don’t collect small scallops (those less than 2 inches) - while this is not legally required, throwing back small scallops allow more to reproduce.

✅Keep only what you will eat and make sure to stay up to date on the most current regulations.

✅Protect seagrass when boating.

✅Discard shells responsibly.
To learn more about scalloping or how to get your FREE scallop sorter tool, visit 👉https://www.flseagrant.org/fisheries/scalloping/

For Scallop regulations, visit 👉https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/bay-scallops/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExZmdSSGZqUGhmc3JORXAwagEeHHdHRJeB9iRQtc6IQfrLT9XeCiHHVEAtX23jVTOg7nYy6j5jKr0-IaDHcOw_aem_tGhMrNkEgiX0nwpXOvZl1A
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Manatee County, Florida Government Florida Sea Grant UF IFAS Extension Manatee County MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute

07/07/2025

Did you know❓that juvenile 🦪 oysters are called spat. Oysters need to attach to substrate once they have completed their larval phase, and lots of individuals settled together over generations form oyster reefs, which offer important habitat and shoreline protection. An 🦪 oyster can live up to 20 years, although in the wild most survive for only 6 or 7 years. Oysters can change their s*x multiple times during their lifetime. Oysters have gills, and they are filter feeders. A single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of 💧water each day (that’s as much water you will use in a 10 minute 🛁 shower!) They are also highly nutritious and support valuable commercial fisheries throughout the US.
To learn more about oysters in Florida, visit ➡️ https://www.fdacs.gov/Consumer-Resources/Buy-Fresh-From-Florida/Seafood-Products/Oysters

And here➡️ https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/shellfish/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExZmdSSGZqUGhmc3JORXAwagEeGkIg8zNlwFBNP3hIDtR5l6NOA3zG2xxDa0ATCjui4AV2ApWj4XIdVEIqmC8_aem_DCGngseZ5JQzwxJ5EXSUPg
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Manatee County, Florida Government Florida Sea Grant UF IFAS Extension Manatee County MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

06/30/2025

The most recent Census of Aquaculture results are in! Once every five years the US Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service, provides comprehensive data on the aquaculture industry at the state and county level. This year’s published census showed there has been a significant increase for Florida in both the number of aquaculture farms as well as the total sales, including all of these commodities: food fish, sport fish, baitfish, crustaceans, mollusks, ornamental fish and miscellaneous aquaculture as well as each sector’s total sales from the last census that was conducted in 2018.
Click here to view the complete 2023 Census of Aquaculture results➡️: https://www.nass.usda.gov/Newsroom/2024/12-16-2024.php

And here➡️:https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2022/Online_Resources/Aquaculture/aqua_1_001_001.pdf
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Manatee County, Florida Government Florida Sea Grant

06/25/2025

Is your boat 🛥️ready for hurricane season? The best way to prepare for hurricane 🌀season is to develop a plan before disaster strikes. Make sure to take pre-hurricane pictures 📸 of your boat for insurance purposes and make sure your policy is current. It’s helpful to make copies of important documents such as insurance policies, registration, titles or lease agreements, etc. and keep them in a safe and accessible location. Do you have the proper supplies and equipment needed to properly secure your boat 🚤such as rope, lines, chafing gear, anchors ⚓️and/or fenders? Never stay on your vessel during a hurricane or attempt to outrun the storm! After a hurricane, return to your vessel only when local authorities have cleared your area.

For a complete hurricane checklist for your vessel, visit some of these sites➡️:

👉https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/2018/05/21/is-your-boat-prepped-for-hurricane-season-five-ways-to-get-ready/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExU1FrS0EzSW9vYXQwSDJsegEewf01M9IRFNb8-dq6xUKL5Rc3ACMOOTcZPu7G8dn1p2VtHdWR2c9xuFksXfA_aem_DOT60M2imj4BE-b42afXag

👉https://myfwc.com/boating/safety-education/hurricane/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExU1FrS0EzSW9vYXQwSDJsegEewf01M9IRFNb8-dq6xUKL5Rc3ACMOOTcZPu7G8dn1p2VtHdWR2c9xuFksXfA_aem_DOT60M2imj4BE-b42afXag

👉https://www.leegov.com/hurricane/Documents/AreYouAndYourBoatReady.pdf?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExU1FrS0EzSW9vYXQwSDJsegEe2sOkOsriNebfhzwR7EJ7zXf5b6bVZJeYKCTtB4ISlfH5_VRTiOjHNmW1CV0_aem_zoFlDj9SR5b1ym4gNnk3Qg
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Manatee County, Florida Government FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife Florida Sea Grant UF IFAS Extension Manatee County