Biscayne Bay: Saving our Blue Backyard
Why Biscayne Bay is so important
People in southeast Florida are so lucky to have Biscayne Bay as their collective backyard. We have a responsibility to care for the Bay, which supports our economy, provides critical wildlife habitat, and is a big part of what makes life in Miami special.
Biscayne Bay supports incredible biodiversity in its mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and coral reefs. More than 30 threatened species call Biscayne Bay home, including the Endangered smalltooth sawfish. The Bay is also critical habitat for more than 100 species important to recreational and commercial fisheries, including spiny lobster and stone crab.
All of these ecosystems are fighting for survival in the shadow of Miami, which relies on the Bay to generate $6 billion in direct income (10% of income in the county) each year, and to provide more than half a billion dollars in annual tax revenue.
People in southeast Florida are so lucky to have Biscayne Bay as their collective backyard. We have a responsibility to care for the Bay, which supports our economy, provides critical wildlife habitat, and is a big part of what makes life in Miami special.
Biscayne Bay supports incredible biodiversity in its mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and coral reefs. More than 30 threatened species call Biscayne Bay home, including the Endangered smalltooth sawfish. The Bay is also critical habitat for more than 100 species important to recreational and commercial fisheries, including spiny lobster and stone crab.
All of these ecosystems are fighting for survival in the shadow of Miami, which relies on the Bay to generate $6 billion in direct income (10% of income in the county) each year, and to provide more than half a billion dollars in annual tax revenue.
16.5 million people visited Miami-Dade in 2018 and our beaches were the most popular attraction. © Julia Wester
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Our research has recently identified Biscayne Bay as a nursery for juvenile great hammerheads (Sphyrna mokarran). © Julia Wester
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Key threats and how to help
The population of Miami-Dade County doubled between 1970 and 2020, far outpacing growth in the rest of the US. The increasing impacts of development have threatened Biscayne Bay ecosystems with collapse in recent years.
Fixing these problems will demand both individual actions (listed below under "What YOU can do") as well as collective policy action and civic engagement (listed under "What WE can do").
The population of Miami-Dade County doubled between 1970 and 2020, far outpacing growth in the rest of the US. The increasing impacts of development have threatened Biscayne Bay ecosystems with collapse in recent years.
Fixing these problems will demand both individual actions (listed below under "What YOU can do") as well as collective policy action and civic engagement (listed under "What WE can do").
Many fish and invertebrate species spend some part of their life cycle in mangrove habitat. © Cliff Hawkins
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Seagrass beds are sensitive to water quality changes. Here a yellow ray (Urobatis jamaicensis) swims past. © Cliff Hawkins
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1. Stormwater runoff
Heavy rains in Miami, which are common in summer, wash nutrients, debris and pollution directly into Biscayne Bay. Pollution in stormwater often comes from human and pet waste, lawn fertilizers and pesticides. Especially combined with high water temperatures, fertilizers and waste contribute to harmful or toxic algal blooms, which can deplete oxygen and lead to die-offs of fish and other marine life. What YOU can do:
What WE can do:
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A typical summer downpour over downtown Miami. © Field School
The marine life in Biscayne Bay ranges from small invertebrates to large marine mammals like these bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), all right next to the developed coastline. © Field School
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2. Sewage and septic pollution
Aging water treatment infrastructure and septic tanks are a major threat to water quality in the Bay. As sea level rises, the soil filtration layer separating septic tanks from groundwater is shrinking, allowing human waste to pollute Biscayne Bay and our drinking water. We need to upgrade our water system to prevent leaks and spills, and avoid their consequences—including harmful algal bloom and dangerous e. coli contamination, which can lead to beach closures and illness. What YOU can do:
What WE can do:
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From dense downtown and the port, to coastal suburbs and public beaches, the coastline encircling Biscayne Bay is home to multiple, competing uses. © Julia Wester
Most of our tropical marine ecology research occurs within one mile of the developed coastline of Miami. Here a juvenile nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) was caught and released after a quick scientific work-up. © Julia Wester
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3. Plastic pollution and marine debris
Our research team encounters plastic and marine debris every day on the water. Debris accumulates in the roots of mangroves, endangering critical nursery habitat for reef fish and other marine life. What YOU can do:
What WE can do:
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Captain Nick frowns after pulling a large bunch of birthday balloons out of Biscayne Bay. © Jake Jerome
A team of volunteers celebrates after pulling several bags of trash out of mangroves along the bay. © Diego Espinosa
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4. Physical damage to habitats
Biscayne Bay habitats are also damaged directly through human activities. Propellers and anchors can damage seagrass beds and coral reefs, and trimming or illegal removal of mangroves may destroy vital habitat. Species in these ecosystems are often slow-growing, and can take decades to recover from damage that may only take a few seconds or minutes to inflict. What YOU can do:
What WE can do:
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A mooring line safely secures vessels to the bottom near reefs without threatening coral with anchor damage. © Field School
A large prop scar is visible through a seagrass bed near downtown Miami and Virginia Key. © Nick Perni
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5. Fishing pressures
Legal commercial and recreational fishing is allowed throughout Biscayne Bay, including in Biscayne National Park. Fishing impacts populations through the removal of targeted species, the unintended capture of non-target species (“bycatch”), and when animals die even when released alive. What YOU can do:
What WE can do:
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We frequently remove recreational fishing gear from sharks caught as part of our research program. © Field School
Animals can suffer serious injury when entangled in fishing gear that is not removed or left in the ocean. © Julia Wester
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Final steps and staying involved:
The health of Biscayne Bay depends on our continued and collective commitment to reduce our impact and protect these vital ecosystems that provide so much to our community. In addition to the above, it is important to stay informed and involved.
If you would like to learn more some resources are linked here:
The health of Biscayne Bay depends on our continued and collective commitment to reduce our impact and protect these vital ecosystems that provide so much to our community. In addition to the above, it is important to stay informed and involved.
- Sign up for our newsletter here to learn about opportunities to help protect the bay and donate to our research and conservation efforts here.
- Several great organizations are working tirelessly on this issue including Miami Waterkeepers, Debris Free Oceans, Rescue a Reef, and Miami Surfrider. Follow and support these efforts as you are able.
If you would like to learn more some resources are linked here:
- Miami-Dade Grand Jury report on Biscayne Bay collapse.
- Biscayne Bay semi-annual Marine Health Summit website.
- NOAA's Biscayne Bay Habitat Blueprint.
- Miami-Dade Biscayne Bay Task Force.
- Economic evaluation of Biscayne Bay by Miami Waterkeepers.