Eek! What is that Sheen on My Water?
Spring is a time of change. Spring brings changes in our waters as well. Some of these changes are visible on top of the water and cause concern among water users and viewers. Let’s dispel some of these concerns associated with the spring season. Sometimes, water...
Our Environment: Part 8 – We Need Food
With 8 billion humans on this planet there is a need for a lot of space and resources. In this modern world we can get lost in which resources we really NEED and those that we really WANT. We all need a space to live, but we do not necessarily need a 5000 ft2 home,...
Searching for Terrapins in the Florida Panhandle
When I began working with terrapins 20 years ago, very few people in the Florida panhandle knew what they were – unless they had moved here from the Mid-Atlantic states. Since we initiated the Panhandle Terrapin Project in 2005 many more now have heard of this...
Aquaculture 101: Aquaculture in The USA
As we mentioned in the last article, aquaculture is the practice of cultivating aquatic organisms such as fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants. Aquaculture has deep roots in the United States, evolving from small-scale pond operations into a vital industry supporting...
Marine Creatures of the Northern Gulf – Jellyfish
Many of the creatures we have written about in this series to this point are ones that very few people have ever heard of. But that is not the case with jellyfish. Everyone knows about jellyfish – and for the most part, we do not like them. These are the gelatinous...
Our Environment: Part 7 – Managing the Human Population
There are numerous websites that show the human population numbers changing “real time” – the last single digit constantly changing – possibly as fast as 4 new humans every second. How do we slow this down? As we mentioned in the last article, other creature...
Aquaculture 101: The History of Aquaculture
Aquaculture, the cultivation of aquatic organisms such as fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants, has a long and rich history that dates back thousands of years. As global demand for seafood has grown and wild fish stocks have declined, aquaculture has emerged as a...
Marine Creatures of the Northern Gulf – Sponges
Everyone has heard of sponges, and many know they grow in the ocean. But fewer are aware that sponges are actually animals. When we think of animals, we think of something that crawls around seeking food and laying eggs periodically. Sponges are not like that. ...
Our Environment: Part 6 – Human Population Growth
Following the textbook I used when I was teaching environmental science there were 6.7 billion humans on the planet in 2011. I remember when we hit 6 billion. There was a lot made of it in the media. Currently (2025) we are at 8 billion. The textbook I used was...
Introducing Okaloosa Waterwatch
Okaloosa Waterwatch is an opportunity to explore water quality data in selected locations spanning the Okaloosa County portion of the Choctawhatchee Bay. A site is selected each month, and available water quality data are summarized and explained. The purpose is to...