Tampa BAY is one of the few international examples of a coastal ecosystem in recovery despite continued urbanization within its watershed

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) will receive $103,503 through September 2023 under a cooperative agreement from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science, Observation, Monitoring, and Technology program (CFDA 11.451). FFWCC will support ongoing efforts to manage and recover seagrass ecosystems in Tampa Bay, which have faced setbacks from recurring harmful algal blooms that inhibit light penetration and challenge water quality targets. As part of its role in the Tampa Bay Nitrogen Management Consortium, FFWCC will address impediments to seagrass recovery from Pyrodinium bahamense blooms through proactive management and research. Outcomes will advance the NOAA program's goals of ensuring long-term Gulf Coast ecosystem sustainability through science-based restoration activities.

Baywide seagrass coverage now exceeds 1950S levels, primarily as a result of nitrogen load reduction projects implemented across multiple sectors by the tampa BAY nitrogen management consortium (TBNMC). However, setbacks in recovery have been observed, primarily in the northern management segment, old tampa BAY (OTB). These setbacks are partly attributed to recurring high biomass blooms of pyrodinium bahamense, a toxic dinoflagellate that has been observed almost annually in tampa BAY since 2000. High biomass blooms of this alga (>100,000 cells L-1) inhibit light penetration in the water column and pose ongoing challenges to meet tampa BAY estuary program (TBEP) chlorophyll-a management targets, which are implemented to ensure an adequate light environment for seagrass recovery. The TBNMC is committed to proactively manage emerging impediment