The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will soon start cracking down on boaters who damage seagrass beds. Sea grass is a submerged, grass-like plant that inhabits the shallow coastal waters of Florida. It’s an important habitat for many of Florida's recreationally and commercially important marine life, such as fish, crabs and clams. A single acre of seagrass can support as many as 40,000 fish and 50 million invertebrates. Sea grass also provides critical habitat for animals such as wading birds, manatees and sea turtles and it improves water quality by filtering nutrients from stormwater runoff. Under new legislation aimed at protecting seagrass in Florida, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will begin citing boaters who intentionally destroy sea grass in a careless manner that scars sea grass beds within an aquatic preserve. It is a noncriminal infraction. Before officers start writing tickets, however, they will first try to educate boaters on the importance of seagrass. Wildlife officials recommend that boaters be watchful for the deep green sea grass beds and if a boater does run aground on a sea grass bed or sees the propeller is stirring up plant and sand debris, stop the boat. Then tilt the engine, and push, paddle or pole the boat to deeper water, before trying to restart the engine.
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