Boating Safety: Part 2 of 16 – Safety Equipment
Both the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) have a required list of safety equipment that must be present on all vessels when anchored or...
View ArticleRules of the Road – Navigation Lighting; Part 3 of 16
Everyone understands that navigational lighting is required so that they are aware another boat is in the area, and that they see you as well, but WHY specific rules for specific lights? The answer is...
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Reducing Sanitary Sewage Overflows
As we continue to try and improve recreational water quality around the state we are constantly looking for the sources and solutions for the problem. Many environmental scientists would agree that...
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Boating Safety – Right of Way: Part 4 of 16
Like “Navigation Lights” (another post in this series) “Right of Way” are rules designed to avoid collisions on the water. With “Right of Way” there are actually different rules; Inland Rules, Great...
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Boating Safety – Anchoring: Part 5 of 16
Most boaters in our area have at least one story of an anchored boat that got away; I know I have a few. In most cases we are on the beach or in a situation where the incident is noticed before any...
View ArticleBoating Safety: Boat Handling – Part 6 of 16
There is a line from the film Captain Ron which is very true: “whatever is going to happen… it’s going to happen out there!” New boat owners and experienced ones all have a time trying to “feel out”...
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Boating Safety: Understanding Weather – part 7 of 16
I think everyone who has been on the water for a while has had an experience with an incorrect weather forecast. Honestly, forecasting the weather is not easy. One individual made the analogy that it...
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Boating Safety; Reading a Mariner’s Compass – part 8 of 16
In this day of inexpensive GPS many boaters have little or no need of a compass. However electronics sometimes fail and the smarter captain will have some knowledge on how to navigate with a mariner’s...
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Sea Turtles and “Leave No Trace”
In August of 2015 the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners adopted a new ordinance to address the issue of chairs, tents, coolers, and other debris left on the beach overnight. The issue with...
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It’s Happening… Red Tide
Many coastal Panhandlers woke up this week to the sight and smell of dead fish. Thousands of them washed ashore from Panama City to Pensacola. This mass die off included a variety of species including...
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Vanishing Vitex!
Beach vitex has over grown this yard on Pensacola Beach. Photo: Rick O’Connor In 2013 a local citizen in Gulf Breeze Florida alerted me that Beach Vitex (Vitex rotundifolia) was on her property and may...
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Enjoying Local Seafood; What’s in Peak Season for March?
Continuing our monthly series of “what’s in season for this month?” we take a look at March. Several species that were in season for February are still in season now – those include: Clams, Oysters,...
View ArticleWater Quality Update – March 25, 2016
FDEP only sampled one location this week – Bayou Texar – all is good ECHD – reported for both Bayou Texar and Bayou Chico – bacteria counts are good RED TIDE Background levels were detected in West...
View ArticleWater Quality Update – April 8, 2016
FYI – the March 28 samples were posted this week and there were health advisories issued for Bayou’s Grande and Chico. The bacteria count in Texar was elevated but not high enough to issue and advisory...
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Enjoying Local Seafood; What’s in Peak Season for April?
Continuing our monthly series of “what’s in season for this month?” we take a look at April. Several species that were in season for March are still in season now – those include: Clams, Oysters,...
View ArticleWater Quality Update – April 15, 2016
These samples were collected on Tuesday before the rain began – so all looks well… but you might be cautious around the bayous – we have had 3 straight days of rain since. Only 4 stations were sampled...
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They Call it “Sea Lice”
I have played in the waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico all of my life… but I have never heard of this – “sea lice.” It has been in the news recently and I have had a couple inquiries concerning it...
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FWC Lionfish Challenge – 2016
Most folks know we have a real issue with lionfish locally and that many community groups and agencies are trying to provide programs to help educate the public about the issue – as well as get rid of...
View ArticleWater Quality Update – June 17, 2016
FDEP did not sample this week; ECHD sampled Texar and Sanders Beach – no advisories Marine Science programs on summer vacation – LAKEWATCH data not in yet RED TIDE Background levels of Karenia brevis...
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Peak Seafood – June
To help locals and visitors find fresh local seafood, we post monthly “peak seafood” articles to let everyone know which species are in peak harvest season. Here is June. Shellfish Softshell crabs...
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