Did you know the ocean is known as the “lungs of the earth?” Most of our planet’s oxygen comes from seaweed and other sea-faring microorganisms. And the waves are a beautiful sight!
Those reasons and more are why we celebrate National Ocean Month in June. Here in the Southeast, our coastal areas give us a unique connection to the sea — and a unique position to help it. Pollution, overfishing, temperature rise, and other problems threaten the ocean and its shores.
But the good news is that several Southeastern organizations have public programs for education and outreach. Here are four of our region’s most prominent — and fun! — conservation programs.
Georgia — The Coastal Steward Program
Like most of America’s waterways, Georgia’s coastal environment is shifting — and it’s happening fast. Population increase, development, and pollution are a few of the myriad problems facing the coast and its residents.
The University of Georgia’s (UGA) Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, maintained through a federal partnership, has addressed these concerns for more than 50 years through research and outreach. But in 2017, it launched a new public education effort — the Coastal Steward Program.
The Coastal Steward Program is a series of environmental workshops for all people, from children to adults to families. With several events a month, each workshop is not only fun but educational, too. One day, you might walk the beach on Tybee Island, searching for horseshoe crabs. On another, you could shadow a UGA Aquarium employee as they check on the turtles, snakes, and fish, in the morning.
Most workshops cost about $10-20 per event. Some are even free! You can find the workshop schedule here.
The Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant also offers other public conservation opportunities. The Marine Debris Community Science Program, for example, is looking for volunteers to remove marine debris from local barrier islands, salt marshes and tidal creeks along the Georgia coast. To learn more about the Georgia Sea Grant’s programs, visit its website here.
Alabama — Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Since 1971, Dauphin Island Sea Lab has been a hub for research and education exploring marine sciences. Alongside professional and university programs, the lab has plenty of community events, too.
On the first and third Wednesday of every month, Dauphin Island Sea Lab hosts free Boardwalk Talks. An educator strolls with visitors and talks about a special science topic, from shoreline light pollution to how local fisheries work. But if you’d rather have a more hands-on experience, the lab also offers three excursion trips — salt marsh; beach, dune, and maritime forest; and a boat trip. For $12 per person, you’ll get to explore and learn about the environment of your choice with a professional.
The lab is home to an on-site aquarium, which you can enjoy as a regular visitor or as part of a special tour. Once a month, the aquarium hosts Sea Lab Science Friday, a series of ocean learning classes for students 10 and up. And students can also enjoy the lab’s multiple summer camps, where different age groups go on a daily excursion or overnight adventure to learn more about local waterways.
Dauphin Island Sea Lab also offers citizen science programs. You can call the Manatee Sighting Network to help scientists understand manatee population and migration patterns — or join the Citizen’s Archive for Mobile Bay Estuarine Organisms, where citizen volunteers help gather fish data on a research boat.
At Dauphin Island Sea Lab, education opportunities are almost endless. You can learn more about the lab and its programs here.
South Carolina — The South Carolina Aquarium
Like any marine museum, the South Carolina Aquarium is a place to meet countless creatures. You can pet stingrays, watch alligators, and even spot a feathered friend or two. Yet the aquarium is also involved in conservation — and it welcomes the public to join.
If you’re a boots-on-the-ground type, the aquarium has a few options. The South Carolina Aquarium Citizen Science app is a portal to many citizen science programs, where locals help scientists collect data on important topics.
For instance, the aquarium hosts Litter Sweeps weekly, where volunteers roam South Carolina coastlines to pick up trash. Volunteers are encouraged to log the items they find in the app. Through the app, you can also log flooding events near your home for the SeaRise project. Divers and anglers can even note lionfish sightings for Lionfish Watch, a project that looks to track and remove the invasive species.
But if you’d rather help with your wallet, the South Carolina Aquarium has many eco-friendly programs accepting donations. The aquarium’s Sea Turtle Care Center™ helps rescue, rehabilitate and release sea turtles. Sea Turtle Guardian donors receive many perks like patient updates from the care center team, a quarterly “Ask a Sea Turtle Biologist” Zoom call, and an invitation to the annual Sea Turtle Guardian Social.
You can even contribute by eating! The aquarium’s Good Catch program identifies restaurants and seafood retailers that offer local, sustainable seafood. Treat your family and friends to a meal that helps support those who are kind to the environment!
No matter how you choose to get involved, the South Carolina Aquarium is always flush with opportunities. To learn more, visit the aquarium’s website here.
Florida — The TrophyCatch Program
The health of the Everglades and the ocean are deeply intertwined because of issues like algal blooms and sea rise. And with its beautiful scenery and abundant catches, South Florida’s Everglades are a fan-favorite fishing spot — plus there’s also a way to help the environment while indulging your hobby.
The Everglades have been in danger for decades. Construction and invasive species hurt the delicate ecosystem, which provides drinking water for more than 8 million Floridians.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission manages several sections of the Everglades. These Water Conservation Areas balance urban use with ecological maintenance. Enter TrophyCatch, the Commission's citizen data collection program for largemouth bass.
Anglers who fish in Water Conservation Areas are invited to submit photos and videos of all bass catches heavier than 8 pounds. In three weight categories, winners receive monthly or annual prizes like a Bass Pro Shop gift card, Bajío Sunglasses, and a Shimano fishing rod.
The fisher who catches the most in the season, which runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30 each year, wins a two-night stay at Orlando’s Mission Inn Resort & Club. The trip also includes a fishing day with Tim Fredericks, a famous professional bass fisherman.
Scientists analyze TrophyCatch data to determine population rates and gauge ecosystem health. Your catches directly affect how Florida addresses its waterways — so why not cast a line? You can register for the program here and read its full rules here.
Save the waves
As Southeasterners, the ocean is wrapped around us, both geographically and culturally. Why not take a day or two this month to volunteer or learn more about the coast? The waves — and everything in them — will thank you!