We learn about a UF/IFAS Extension and Florida Sea Grant citizen science program called Eyes on Seagrass that has been collecting information about seagrasses in upper Charlotte Harbor and Lemon Bay since 2019 and is planning to expand into Lee County next year. Citizen Science is the collection and analysis of data relating to the natural world by everyday people who aren’t necessarily scientists themselves, typically as part of a collaborative project with professional scientists. In other words giving scientists more hands to collect the information they need to better understand whatever it is they are studying.
Sustainability depends on many factors including the species, location, time of year, how the organism is harvested and how the harvest is regulated. Here are some general guidelines.