About Us
The Seagrass Outreach Partnership (SOP) is an informal partnership of citizens, educators, law enforcement officers and marine resource managers dedicated to reducing boating impacts to seagrass meadows through education. The Seagrass Outreach Partnership was organized in the Florida Keys in 1998 and expanded to include partners from across the state in 2001.
 In 1999, Seagrass Awareness Month (SAM) was created as a tool to educate boaters and others about the threats facing Florida's seagrass meadows. During Seagrass Awareness Month, usually held in March, counties and cities across the state issue proclamations recognizing the importance of protecting seagrass habitat. The awareness campaign went statewide when then Governor Bush issued the first proclamation for the state of Florida in 2001. Governor Charlie Crist carried on the tradition by issuing a proclamation for Florida Seagrass Awareness Month in March 2007.
During Seagrass Awareness Month, members accept proclamations issued by local governments, provide educational opportunities at festivals and events, generate media attention, and ask local radio stations to broadcast Public Service Announcements (PSAs). The Seagrass Outreach Partnership produces and distributes the Seagrass Toolbox CD, which contains all of the educational and outreach products featured on this website. To request a copy of the Seagrass Toolbox, send an email to floridakeys@noaa.gov.
The Seagrass Outreach Partnership welcomes new members interested in protecting this valuable resource. If you or your organization wishes to become a member (no charge), please contact the Seagrass Outreach Partnership by sending an email to floridakeys@noaa.gov. We hope that the resources provided here will serve to better educate boaters and help others disseminate information and generate awareness about the importance of Florida's seagrass meadows.
The Seagrass Outreach Partnership wishes to acknowledge the agencies, organizations, and individual photographers, videographers, illustrators, and educators who contributed products and activities to this website.
- Videographers:
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
- Bill Goodwin, John Dotten
- Photographers:
Everglades National Park, Florida Park Service; Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute; Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
- Harold Hudson, Amy Massey, Paige Gill, Heather Dine, John Halas, Alicia Farrer, Alex Harber, Nancy Diersing
- Educational Activities:
Chesapeake Bay, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Illustrator – Seagrass Critter
- Puzzle Illustrator: Kelley Grinter
News Releases and Newsletter Articles
Articles about Seagrass Outreach Partnership and related topics Monroe County Leads State in Seagrass Damage:
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