The Journal
Stories from the field
Stewardship, conservation, and the people working to keep our neighborhoods clean.
Governor Ron DeSantis Announces $100 Million for Springs Restoration and Alternative Water Supplies
Governor DeSantis announced $100 million for 45 Florida water projects, pairing springs restoration with new water supplies for Tampa Bay and Polk County.
Conservation
Florida Anglers as Conservation Partners
NOAA Fisheries is funding two Florida habitat projects that put recreational anglers to work removing debris and restoring seagrass. They show how conservation and fishing can pull in the same direction.
Conservation
Healthy Oyster Reefs and Working Communities Belong in the Same Conversation
Florida's oyster story is about more than seafood — it is about habitat, working waterfronts, and families whose livelihoods depend on productive coastal waters. From Apalachicola's decline to Mosquito Lagoon's restoration work and a growing aquaculture industry, here is what the evidence says about protecting both the resource and the people who depend on it.
Conservation
36,187 Lionfish Removed: Florida's Record-Breaking Conservation Success
FWC's 2026 Lionfish Challenge set new records, with 533 divers removing 36,187 invasive lionfish from Florida waters — proof that conservation works best when people become part of the solution.
Conservation
New Florida Research Offers Hope for Earlier Detection of Harmful Algae
New research from USF and FAU shows how portable DNA sequencing could help scientists identify harmful algae in Florida's coastal waters earlier, before blooms become visible.
Conservation
A Stable Community, a Changing Bay: What Ten Years of Sarasota Dolphins Can Teach Us
A decade of surveys shows Sarasota Bay's bottlenose dolphins form a stable resident core, with seasonal changes driven by movement, not decline. The lesson for stewardship: act on demonstrated threats, and don't claim more than the evidence supports.
Stewardship
The Pick Up Project: Stewardship, Conservation and People
The Pick Up Project was built around a simple idea: taking care of the places we live, work and enjoy should not be complicated. We believe in responsible stewardship, practical conservation, and keeping people at the center of the work.
Conservation
Five ways to protect your local watershed
Practical, everyday habits that keep litter and runoff out of the creeks and rivers near you.