May Update from the Apalachicola Bay System Initiative

Pathway to Recovery The Apalachicola Bay System Initiative Newsletter - May 2021 The ABSI mission: to gain insight into the root causes of decline of the Apalachicola Bay ecosystem with a focus on oyster reefs, and ultimately, with guidance from the Community Advisory Board and input from stakeholders and the public, to develop science-informed restoration and ecosystem-based management plans focused on the recovery of oyster reefs and the health of Apalachicola Bay. News from the Community Advisory Board The Community Advisory Board (CAB) met on April 21st and received briefings from Dr. Sandra Brooke (FSU) who gave an ABSI research and data collection update (see Science Update below) as well as an overview of estuarine metrics. Copies of the presentations can be found here. The Strategies Worksheet, (renamed the Draft Plan Framework on the website), reviewed by the CAB, a primary focus for each meeting, is in its final stages. This worksheet lays out strategy recommendations across a suite of goals and objectives, including ecological and socio-economic. The public will be asked for feedback on these strategies that will be incorporated where appropriate before the CAB finalizes its recommendations. CAB members spent a large portion of the meeting discussing the pros and cons of specific management alternatives. These alternatives include managing oyster reef harvest with specific metrics, implementing annual fisheries dependent and independent stock assessments, reducing bag limits, bag tags, and five day work weeks. Increasing a stronger FWC law enforcement presence was also discussed and at the June 16th CAB meeting, FWC's Capt. Charlie Wood will be in attendance to further discuss current and proposed enforcement strategies. The ABSI also hosted the second Oystermen's Workshop on Thursday, April 15th at the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve. A full summary report of the Workshop is available on the website here, as well as a video recording of the meeting. To ensure complete transparency, ABSI presents on the Community Advisory Board's website the entire history of the deliberations following from each meeting, copies of all presentations, and a recording of each meeting since March 2020. Note: Due to COVID-19, meetings of the CAB have taken place virtually using ZOOM since the May 2020 meeting and will continue to be virtual until further notice. Members of the public are welcome to call in during meetings. Directions for doing so are on the website. Next meeting of the ABSI CAB: June 16, 2021 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM ABSI Science Update ABSI staff continue to monitor subtidal and intertidal oyster reefs in the ABS; tracking oyster sizes, disease rates, reproductive condition, spat recruitment and water quality. At the end of this month and into early June, experimental reefs will be deployed in the ABS to determine which substrates will be most successful at recruiting spat and supporting their survival over time. Research on population dynamics of intertidal reefs using drones will be ongoing this summer. This approach allows us to cover large areas quickly, and will compliment the more detailed intertidal sampling. Sampling for food web studies and oyster population genetics continues. For an in-depth look into ABSI's progress over the past year, check out the 2020-2021 Annual Report. ABSI team members will be at the 30th Annual Carrabelle Riverfront Festival on June 12th. Be sure to swing by and say hello! ABSI Volunteers The Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory is in the process of re-opening to the public. As it re-opens, ABSI is looking for volunteers! If you are interested, please email: fsucml-absi@fsu.edu Miss an issue? Visit the newsletter archive here. Join the ABSI Newsletter  Mailing List We are always interested in hearing from you so if you have questions or comments, please send them to our email address, fsucml-absi@fsu.edu.  ‌  ‌  ‌

The Apalachicola Bay System Initiative | Florida State University Coastal & Marine Laboratory |, 3618 Coastal Highway 98 , St. Teresa, FL 32358

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