Gulf Coast State College has announced the students named to the President’s and Dean’s Honor Lists for Gulf and Franklin County students

Gulf Coast State College has announced the students named to the President’s and Dean’s Honor Lists for Gulf and Franklin County students for the Spring 2025 semester.

The President’s Honor List includes all full-time students who earned a grade point average of 3.90 to 4.00.

The Dean’s List is awarded to students who earned a grade point average of 3.70 to 3.89.

Gulf and Franklin County students named to the President’s Honor List are: Erica Balzell, Jenna Barfield, Luke Hjort, Mazie Hodges, Rebecca Leyendecker, Skylar Mathews, Kaitlynn McGuffin, Elizabeth Paul, Hannah Riley, Karagan Roberts, and Jay Whitfield

Gulf and Franklin County students named to the Dean’s List are: Emma Burke, Samantha Childers, Destiny Gray, Judson Griffies, Joseph Hoffman, Jacob Jones, Chandlee Morgan, Jordan Pippin, and Sophia Salman.

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Franklin County is moving forward on a major project to design and build a new communication system for first responders and county departments

Franklin County is moving forward on a major project to design and build a new communication system for first responders and county departments.

Last year, the county was awarded 775 thousand dollars by Triumph Gulf coast to begin the planning and design of the project.

Earlier this month, the county agreed to move forward on the first step which is hire a consultant to conduct a comprehensive countywide radio system needs analysis and recommendations.

The consultant will also assist with the development of the plans for the radio system and tower construction.

Once that is complete, the county can begin the construction, engineering and inspection services related to the construction of the telecommunication towers.

Once complete, the proposed communications system will provide much better and secure communications between local and state agencies including Franklin County EMS and Fire, Franklin County Sheriff's Office, Franklin County Road Department, Franklin County School District, Weems Hospital, Carrabelle Police Department, and the City of Apalachicola Police Department.

A fully operational radio communication system will require purchasing property and constructing radio communications towers, programming, base stations, and purchasing radios for all first responder groups.

Phase 2, which has not yet been funded, will include the purchase and installation of the system and staff training.

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The first sea turtle nests are beginning to appear on local beaches

The first sea turtle nests are beginning to appear on local beaches.

 

The first nest of the year was found on little St. George Island on May the 7^th – it is a loggerhead sea turtle nest.

 

There have also been four nests found since then on St. George Island.

 

Sea Turtle nesting season is in full swing now, which means sea turtles will be crawling onto local beaches at night to lay their nests in the dune line.

 

The vast majority of the nests are laid by loggerhead sea turtles, but very rarely we get a nest by the much larger Leatherbacks.

 

Sea Turtle nests look like piles of sand, and they are most easily recognized by the turtle crawl marks that are left when the female turtle pulls herself from the Gulf of Mexico to the dune line where most turtle nests are found.

 

If you should find an unmarked turtle nest this Summer, call the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 1-888-404-FWCC and they will make sure someone comes out to check and protect the nest.

 

You can also help by not using bright lights on the beaches at night – man made lights tend to disorient the turtles and keep them from nesting.

 

You can buy turtle safe flashlights for your nighttime walks – they are available at the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research reserve on Island Drive in Eastpoint and at the state park on St. George Island.

 

You can also purchase them at the lighthouse gift shop on St. George Island.

 

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Registration now open for the 2025 Florida Python Challenge™

Registration now open for the 2025 Florida Python Challenge™   Are you looking to help raise awareness about nonnative species and remove invasive Burmese pythons from our treasured Everglades ecosystem, all while getting the chance to win a share of $25,000 in prizes? Register for the 2025 Florida Python Challenge™!    The event, hosted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the South Florida Water Management District, features an Ultimate Grand Prize of $10,000 for the registered participant who removes the most pythons. An exciting addition to this year’s event is the inclusion of Everglades National Park as one of eight official Florida Python Challenge™ competition locations.  Registration opened today for this year’s 10-day competition, which kicks off on Friday, July 11 at 12:01 a.m. and runs until Sunday, July 20 at 5 p.m. Visit FLPythonChallenge.org to register for the competition, take the required online training, view the optional training opportunities, learn more about Burmese pythons and the unique Everglades ecosystem, and find resources for planning your trip to south Florida to participate in the 2025 Florida Python Challenge™.  “Every Burmese python removed from our iconic Florida Everglades means one less invasive snake negatively impacting our native wildlife,” said FWC Executive Director Roger Young. “This annual event encourages the public to get involved in removing nonnative species while raising awareness worldwide about invasive species and what people can do to help. The Florida Python Challenge™ is made possible thanks to the continued support from Governor Ron DeSantis and our partners with the South Florida Water Management District and the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida.”   “The Python Challenge is a great way to get people directly involved in the protection and stewardship of the Everglades,” said South Florida Water Management District Governing Board Member “Alligator Ron” Bergeron. “We continue to advance Everglades restoration efforts thanks to the support of Governor Ron DeSantis, and we’ll keep doing everything we can to protect this important ecosystem. Pythons disrupt the natural food chain and prey on native wildlife that depend on the Everglades. Removing pythons from this ecosystem is critical to the survival of the species that call this area home. The South Florida Water Management District and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission continue to have great success managing these invasive pythons. Long live the Everglades!”  “We’re excited to join our partners in the State of Florida for this year’s Florida Python Challenge,” said Pedro Ramos, superintendent of Everglades National Park, who oversees the South Florida National Parks and Preserve. “For years, we’ve worked alongside the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the South Florida Water Management District, and others to manage pythons and other invasive species while educating the public about their impact on the Everglades. This event marks another milestone in that collaboration as we include Everglades National Park in the Challenge.”   Prizes will also be awarded in the professional, novice and military categories, courtesy of our sponsors and the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida. We thank our two Platinum Level Sponsors – Inversa and Rotary Clubs of Florida – for donating $10,000 each to support conservation efforts in Florida through the Florida Python Challenge™. We also thank our three Gold Level Sponsors – Bergeron Everglades Foundation, Edison National Bank/Bank of the Islands and The Garcia Companies – for their donations of $5,000 each in support of conservation efforts through this event.   Last year, participants in the 2024 Florida Python Challenge™ removed 195 invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades, resulting in a total of 1,112 of the nonnative constrictors being removed cumulatively during all Florida Python Challenge™ competitions to date. In 2024, 857 people from 33 states and Canada registered for the 10-day competition.   In addition to python removal opportunities on 32 FWC-managed lands that are available year-round, Burmese pythons may be humanely killed on private lands at any time with landowner permission – no permit or hunting license required. The FWC encourages people to remove and humanely kill invasive pythons from private lands whenever possible.   About Invasive Burmese Pythons   Burmese pythons are not native to Florida and negatively impact native wildlife. This invasive species is found primarily in and around the Everglades ecosystem in south Florida where they prey on birds, mammals and other reptiles. A female Burmese python can lay 50 to over 100 eggs at a time. Since 2000, more than 23,000 Burmese pythons have been reported to the FWC as removed from Florida’s environment. For more information on Burmese pythons, visit MyFWC.com/python.

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NOAA Fisheries FishNews—May 15th

MAY 15, 2025

Highlights Conserving Long-Lived Species: The Importance of Monitoring Decades-Old Individuals Conservation and recovery of long-lived species requires continued monitoring of individuals. Meet some of the animals that have been known to scientists for decades.

Alaska Interactive StoryMap on Alaska’s Aquaculture Opportunity Areas Now Available The StoryMap, “Growing the Future: Siting Alaska’s Aquaculture Opportunity Areas,” documents the process of using mapping and modeling to boost Alaska’s working waterfronts and cultivate a thriving domestic seaweed and shellfish aquaculture industry.

West Coast Microsoft Provides AI and Cloud Computing for NOAA Project to Better Map Prime Salmon Habitat Microsoft Corp. awarded NOAA Fisheries researchers 2 years worth of high-powered computing time and expertise to develop an AI model. It will forecast how changing flows in the Columbia River Basin affect salmon habitat. Washington State River Restoration Project to Revive Salmon Habitat, Support Local Jobs With support from NOAA, partners are restoring salmon habitat on the East Fork Lewis River in Washington. Their work is improving fish passage, reducing flood and erosion risks, and generating economic benefits for the local community. Elephant Seal Pup Stabbed Multiple Times on Oregon Beach NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Law Enforcement is seeking information on the attack of an elephant seal pup in Neskowin, Oregon. The young elephant seal sustained multiple stab wounds but survived. New System at NOAA Lab Pumps Clean Seawater for Salmon and Shellfish Aquaculture Research A new system is now supplying clean seawater to the NOAA Fisheries Manchester Research Station in Washington. It replaces an older system prone to breakdowns, and ensures shellfish and other research projects have a reliable water supply.

Pacific Islands Monk Seal and Sea Turtle Research and Recovery: A Year in Review Fresh survey techniques, historic data retrieval, and rehabilitated new moms were just a few of the successes marked by the 2024 field camp season in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

Southeast Scientists Investigate Why a Sperm Whale Washed Up Along Hilton Head, South Carolina Earlier this month, a male sperm whale washed up along Hilton Head. A team of marine mammal experts from South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina mobilized to reach the dying whale. North Carolina Dolphin Found With Head Missing NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Law Enforcement is investigating the death and decapitation of a bottlenose dolphin on Lea-Hutaff Island. We are offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to a criminal conviction or the assessment of a civil penalty.

New England/Mid-Atlantic Eyes in the Sky for Aquaculture Farmers: Location Scouting Using Satellite Data Scientists at NOAA Fisheries and CoastWatch leverage remote sensing technology to help aquaculture growers. Using satellite imagery, they can collect data on a number of water quality parameters quickly and efficiently. As Fishing Season Opens, NOAA Implements Emergency Action to Ensure Uninterrupted Northeast Fisheries A NOAA Fisheries emergency action to open the Northeast multispecies fishery ensures the fishery can continue without interruption. It is based on the best scientific information for Atlantic groundfish fisheries including cod, haddock, plaice, pollock, and other fish species.

Upcoming Deadlines May 23: Comments due on Spatial Planning Study to Identify Draft Aquaculture Opportunity Area Options Within Alaska State Waters July 13: Priority applications due to participate in the Gulf of Maine Research Institute Marine Resource Education Program in the Southeast fishery region September 10: (deadline extended) Applications due for the Department of Transportation Maritime Administration’s 2025 Port Infrastructure Development Program December 1: Proposals due for the Gulf Council’s solicitation for Review of Fishery Management Councils’ Regulatory Process View more news and announcements

Upcoming Events May 17–18: Ocean Fun Days 2025 May 28: Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission Permanent Advisory Committee Meeting June 3–4: Gulf Fishery Management Council Meeting (relocated to Tampa, FL) June 3–5: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meeting June 5–10: North Pacific Fishery Management Council Meeting June 9–13: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meeting June 11–16: Pacific Fishery Management Council Meeting June 24–26: New England Fishery Management Council Meeting View more events

Federal Register Actions Visit NOAA Fisheries' Rules & Regulations web page to learn more about recently proposed and finalized regulations in your region.

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Tonight Learn about Electric Rays

Don't Miss Jack Rudloe's Lecture!

Join us for a special evening at the FSU Coastal & Marine Lab, TONIGHT! May 15, 2025 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Lecture by Jack Rudloe: “Electric Rays - Biological Batteries with Rocks in their Heads” 3618 Coastal Hwy 98, St. Teresa, FL 32358

Come hear legendary marine biologist and storyteller Jack Rudloe share fascinating insights into electric rays, drawn from decades of experience exploring the mysteries of marine life. From founding Gulf Specimen Marine Lab to publishing in National Geographic and Audubon, Jack brings a unique blend of science, storytelling, and passion for the ocean.

Refreshments provided Free admission! Don't miss this chance to dive into the world of marine biology with one of its most compelling voices.

Donate to Gulf Specimen Here

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Plans to build a new Emergency Operations Center in Eastpoint are moving forward

Plans to build a new Emergency Operations Center in Eastpoint are moving forward.

A new EOC has been a top priority for the county for a number of years.

The project is now in the final design stage and construction is likely to begin sometime next year.

The current EOC building is located at the Apalachicola airport – it once belonged to the National weather service but was converted to Emergency Management use when the weather service moved to Tallahassee.

The aging building needs to be replaced – it's almost 50 years old, it is too small for an Emergency Operation Center and it's located is in a flood zone.

The new EOC will be located on 3 acres on Highway 65 near the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.

The project is being funded through a 2.6-million-dollar grant from the Florida Division of Emergency Management, a 1-million-dollar congressional appropriation, and a million dollars from RESTORE’s Gulf Consortium.

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A project to upgrade the recreational facilities at the park at the St. George Island public beach is nearly complete, but much of the project is already open to the public

A project to upgrade the recreational facilities at the park at the St. George Island public beach is nearly complete, but much of the project is already open to the public.

The project, which is being done by a company called Premier Surfacing, included demolishing the existing basketball court and replacing it with a shared basketball/ pickleball court and adding an additional pickleball court.

Both the pickleball courts and the basketball court are open for play.

The job also includes constructing two new pavilions, a water fountain and a bicycle parking rack, which are also complete.

All that is left is a little bit of landscaping work, and once that is done, the county will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony sometime in June.

The 290-thousand-dollar project is being funded through the Franklin County Tourist Development Council under a provision that allows the TDC to spend up to 10 percent of its tax collections on beach park facility improvements.

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See you tomorrow for our last spring lecture 😍

FSU Coastal & Marine Laboratory Spring 2025 Lecture Series

Please arrive on time. The lecture will start promptly at 7:00 pm and the entrance gates will close at 7:30 pm. Thank you!

While we encourage in-person attendance, this lecture will also be available to be viewed virtually! Please use this link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/94670234768 Contact Jared Fuqua at jfuqua@fsu.edu with questions.

FSU Coasta land Marine Laboratory Visit our Website

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