Community
Marine Resources Council (MRC) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that is coordinating lagoon-wide efforts to Save the Indian River Lagoon. It takes a community to save the lagoon, working at all levels. MRC holds government workshops, coordinating diverse stakeholder groups, showcasing community leaders, and working with businesses and individuals to encourage actions that will help save the Indian River Lagoon.
Anglers for Conservations mission is to inspire new generations of marine stewards through education, conservation and fishing. By working through communities and teaching families, teenagers, veterans, and children angling basics, they encourage the use and respect of our water resources. Anglers for Conservation works with a network of like-minded civic organizations and clubs who volunteer to assist with their mission of teaching sustainable angling and habitat preservation.
Lagoon Loyal
Developed on behalf of Brevard County’s Save Our Indian iver Lagoon Program (funded by the ½ cent sales tax initiative), the Lagoon Loyal program connects residents and businesses through a cyclical rewards program to motivate and sustain long-term behaviors that improve the health and preservation of the Indian River Lagoon.
Sea Turtle Preservation Society
The Society’s goal is to help maintain the current sea turtle population and to prevent a potentially irreversible decline. A primary focus of the organization is to educate the public about marine turtles. STPS reaches thousands of people each year through public presentations, exhibits at area events, and by turtle walks during the sea turtle nesting season.
SeaTow Port Canaveral - SeaTow Daytona/Ponce/NewSmyrna - SeaTow Sebastian
With a focus on safe boating practices that result in fun on the water, the Sea Tow Foundation – a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization – was established in 2007 by Sea Tow Founder Capt. Joe Frohnhoefer. After his passing in 2015, Captain Joe’s legacy continues as the Foundation brings attention to the number of preventable boating-related injuries, deaths, and damage to property, that directly addresses prevention methods through education and awareness.
Brevard Zoo Sea Turtle Healing Center
Because the beaches of Brevard County are among the world’s most important nesting areas for sea turtles and the largest in the United States, a significant number of animals are found with injuries and illnesses each year. Brevard Zoo, in partnership with the Sea Turtle Preservation Society (STPS), opened its 2,400-square-foot Sea Turtle Healing Center in April 2014. The facility includes two separate holding facilities with a total of 12 tanks ranging in size from six to 20 feet. Prior to the opening of the Healing Center, the challenge the STPS faced was the great distance between our local beaches and existing sea turtle rehabilitation facilities. An in-county facility meant a shorter drive for patients, resulting in less stress and quicker treatment for distressed turtles.
The primary goal of this proposed restoration activity is to immediately initiate clam restoration in the IRL by repatriating hardy varieties of native clam species and assessing their survivorship under various environmental conditions. The impacts are far-reaching and include improvements to the reliability and feasibility of utilizing filter-feeders to restore water quality, and to reestablish clam populations for future recreational harvesting of wild clams. Foreseeably, will be a tremendous benefit to the local economy by increased recreational activities that will stem from a healthier lagoon.
CCA Florida STAR presented by Yamaha, boasts amazing prizes, is the largest family-friendly saltwater fishing competition in Florida and begins July 1. A unique combination of conservation, data collection and education, plus prizes and scholarships valued at over $500,000, makes CCA Florida STAR the state’s not-to-miss-summer-long fishing competition. No other fishing tournament in Florida has the ability to engage participants of all ages and experience levels, and even non-anglers can win, just by collecting trash and debris.
The Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition is a leading, independent advocate for a healthy Lagoon. The Coalition brings together organizations, businesses and individuals who share the goal of supporting restoration of the Lagoon. We are an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit, nonpartisan organization.
The Indian River Lagoon was nominated as an Estuary of National Significance and joined the NEP in 1990 under the sponsorship of the St. Johns and South Florida Water Management Districts and was formally established in 1991. The IRLNEP is part of a national network of twenty-eight estuary programs established under the Federal Clean Water Act and administered nationally by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Today, the IRLNEP is sponsored by the IRL Council, which was established in February 2015 as a special district of Florida. The IRL Council includes representatives of five counties bordering the lagoon (Volusia, Brevard, the Indian River County Lagoon Coalition, St. Lucie and Martin counties), the St. Johns River and South Florida Water Management Districts, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The U.S. EPA provides guidance to the Council.
FWCs mission is to conserve fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people. Being always mindful that Florida’s fish and wildlife belong to the people of Florida, and the FWC is entrusted by the people of Florida to take care of these precious resources. This responsibility is called the "Public Trust Doctrine," and they work hard every day to honor and uphold this public trust.
