You don't need a science degree or a lobbyist. Every time you're on the water, you can make choices that protect the ecosystems you love. Here's how.
Your Impact Adds Up
Monofilament Line
600 yrs to decompose
Plastic Bag in Water
~20 yrs
Aluminum Can
~200 yrs
Glass Bottle
1M+ yrs
Decomposition time in aquatic environments — pack it in, pack it out
What Circle Hooks Can Do
J-Hook Deep Hooking
65%
Circle Hook Deep Hooking
12%
Circle hooks reduce deep-hooking mortality by up to 80%
On the Water
🎣 Practice Responsible Catch & Release
Catch-and-release fishing can have near-zero mortality when done correctly. Done poorly, it's a death sentence with a delayed fuse.
Use barbless hooks or flatten the barbs — faster removal means less tissue damage and stress. Circle hooks reduce deep hooking by 50–80%.
Handle fish with wet hands only. Dry hands strip the protective slime coat that shields fish from infection. Never use a towel.
Minimize air exposure. Keep the fish in the water as much as possible. A good rule: hold your breath when the fish is out of water — when you need air, so does the fish.
Avoid fishing during heat stress. When water temperatures exceed 85°F and dissolved oxygen drops, released fish survival plummets. Fish early morning or find cooler, oxygenated water.
Use appropriate tackle. Landing a fish quickly on properly sized gear reduces exhaustion. Ultralight gear on big fish makes for a fun fight and a dead fish.
Revive before releasing. Hold the fish upright in the water, facing into current if available, until it kicks away under its own power.
Florida's waterways accumulate an astonishing amount of human debris. Monofilament line is the single most dangerous litter for wildlife.
Collect all fishing line. Monofilament takes 600 years to decompose. It entangles birds, turtles, manatees, and dolphins. Use FWC monofilament recycling bins at boat ramps and tackle shops.
Pack out everything you bring in. Including bait containers, zip ties, and snack wrappers. Bring a mesh bag for trash.
Use designated launch points. Launching from unofficial spots erodes banks, destroys vegetation, and introduces sediment. If there's no ramp, carry your kayak.
Don't anchor in seagrass. Propeller scarring and anchor drag destroy seagrass beds that take decades to recover. Use seagrass-friendly anchoring practices.
Pick up what others leave behind. Bring a bucket and grab any trash you see. Organized cleanups are great, but spontaneous pickups have a massive cumulative impact.
🚿 Clean, Drain, Dry
This is the single most effective thing individuals can do to prevent invasive species spread between water bodies. It takes 10 minutes and prevents ecological catastrophe.
CLEAN: Remove all visible plants, mud, and organisms from your boat, trailer, motor, and gear. Check live wells, bilge, anchors, and trailer bunks.
DRAIN: Empty all water from the boat, motor, live well, bilge, and bait buckets before leaving the ramp. Never transport water between water bodies.
DRY: Allow everything to dry completely before launching in a new water body. Hydrilla fragments and invasive snail larvae can survive in moist environments for days.
Never release bait. Leftover bait fish, worms, or aquatic plants can establish invasive populations. Dispose of unused bait in the trash, not the water.
What you put on your body ends up in the water. What you use on your lawn flows to the nearest creek. These small choices compound across millions of visitors.
Use mineral sunscreen at springs and reefs. Oxybenzone and octinoxate — found in most chemical sunscreens — damage coral, harm fish reproduction, and degrade water quality. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide alternatives are reef-safe. Rash guards eliminate the need entirely.
Reduce lawn fertilizer. Florida law prohibits fertilizer application during the rainy season (June–September) in many counties. Use slow-release, Florida-friendly formulations. Better yet: replace turfgrass with native landscaping that needs no fertilizer.
Maintain your septic system. Have your tank pumped every 3–5 years. Consider upgrading to advanced nitrogen-reducing systems. Failing septic systems are a leading contributor to spring degradation.
Use phosphate-free soap if you wash your boat near water. Even "biodegradable" soaps are harmful to aquatic life in concentrations.
Report & Monitor
🐟 Fish Kills
Report fish kills — they can indicate pollution, low oxygen, or disease outbreaks that need investigation.
Join organized cleanups with groups like Surfrider Foundation, Ocean Conservancy, or your local Waterkeeper chapter. Most happen monthly and provide all supplies.
🌱 Habitat Restoration
Plant mangroves, remove invasive plants, or help restore oyster reefs. NOAA's Oyster Reef Restoration and local Audubon chapters run regular events.
🔬 Citizen Science
Monitor water quality with UF LAKEWATCH — Florida's volunteer water monitoring network. Or track wildlife with iNaturalist observations that feed into research databases.
Water policy is on the ballot every election. Support candidates who prioritize springs restoration funding, Everglades restoration, water quality standards enforcement, and land conservation. League of Women Voters Florida publishes voter guides with environmental positions.
💰 Buy a Fishing License
Even if you're exempt, purchasing a Florida fishing license directly funds FWC conservation programs — habitat restoration, fish stocking, law enforcement, and research. It's one of the most efficient conservation dollars you can spend. Get your license →
🏛 Support Conservation Orgs
These organizations fight for Florida's waterways every day:
Your Florida Water Management District holds public hearings on water use permits, minimum flows, and basin management plans. These meetings are often sparsely attended — your voice carries real weight. Find your district at DEP Water Management Districts.
Everyday Habits That Add Up
🚿
Conserve Water
Every gallon you save at home is a gallon that stays in the aquifer feeding Florida's springs. Fix leaks, use efficient fixtures, and water your lawn only when necessary.
🌿
Go Florida-Friendly
Replace turfgrass with native plants that need no irrigation or fertilizer. UF/IFAS Florida-Friendly Landscaping provides free guidance and plant lists.
🐶
Pick Up Pet Waste
Pet waste is a significant source of nitrogen and bacteria in urban stormwater. Always pick up after your dog — especially near waterways.
🚗
Prevent Stormwater Pollution
Don't dump anything into storm drains — they flow directly to waterways. Fix car leaks, wash your car on grass not driveways, and sweep rather than hose off sidewalks.
Share what you know. Most people don't realize how threatened Florida's waterways are. Every conversation plants a seed of stewardship.
Every Action Counts
Florida's waterways are resilient — but they need us to be their voice. The choices you make on the water, in your yard, and at the ballot box ripple outward.