Inside FWRI

A school of fish swim together underwater near the ocean bottom.

Western Dry Rocks Seasonal Closure Begins April 1

Since 2021, the Western Dry Rocks seasonal closure in the Florida Keys has protected an important multi-species fish spawning aggregation site. The closure runs April 1 – July 31, safeguarding species like snappers and jacks as they gather to reproduce.

What scientists are doing to study the closure
FWC researchers are actively monitoring fish populations at Western Dry Rocks. Since 2021, they have:

Acoustically tagged 250 snappers
Counted 91,656 fish underwater
Completed 35 aerial surveys
Recorded 555 hours of underwater video

…and much more!

How you can help
Have you caught a tagged fish near Western Dry Rocks? If you catch an internally, acoustically tagged reef fish, report it and return the tag to receive a $100 gift card!

Call/Text: 786-647-8908
Email: keys.fish@MyFWC.com

Science on Social Media

Seagrass Awareness Month
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March is Seagrass Awareness Month in the state of Florida.

Save the Florida Panther Day
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The Florida panther is the official state animal of Florida and have been listed as federally endangered since 1967.

Three birds on a beach eating out of the sand.

Shorebird and Seabird Nesting Season
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Florida shorebird and seabird nesting is in full swing from March to August!

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Featured Video

Recovery of Florida's Coral Reef

A look at FWC's Coral Rescue and Propagation Team's response to the stony coral tissue loss disease event which resulted in the rescue of ~3,000 corals of 20 different species from over 200 reef sites in Florida.

Publication Spotlight

Octocorals show resilience!

For over a decade (2013–2023), researchers tracked octocoral (soft corals) dynamics across Florida’s Coral Reef. While some species of hard corals have declined due to disturbances, this study found that octocoral populations can recover quickly!

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As the research division within FWC, FWRI operates programs statewide that focus on obtaining
the wide-ranging data and information needed by fish, wildlife, and ecosystem resource managers.

The Fish and Wildlife Research Institute recruits primarily scientists and science technicians. Business services and facility maintenance also require the expertise of qualified management, administrative, public information, clerical and maintenance staff. FWRI also offers both internships and limited volunteer opportunities.

MarineQuest

We invite you to join us for MarineQuest, FWRI's annual open house. This award-winning event is an opportunity for you and your family to learn about Florida's fish and wildlife and FWRI's exciting research.

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