The aquatic preserves of Florida’s Nature Coast are home to extensive and relatively pristine seagrass meadows. However, physical damage to these seagrasses by boat propeller scarring (Fig. 1) is an issue of increasing concern to natural resource managers and stakeholders. The suite of management options to address propeller scarring includes regulatory no-motor or “pole-and-troll” zones, non-regulatory navigational aids, boater education, and active scar restoration. While effective restoration aquaculture techniques for propeller scar repair have been developed in other areas and demonstrated in the Nature Coast region, their implementation is expensive and must be considered in the context of ongoing impacts.
A holistic project supported by the NOAA Restore Science Program is using a stakeholder co-production model to address data gaps and integrate geographic, biological, logistical, and socioeconomic information towards an improved strategy for managing propeller scarring. One aspect of this project integrates spatial and temporal trends in propeller scarring as measured via analyses of aerial imagery with in-water monitoring of individual scars and broader sites. These data will aid in understanding the ecological impacts of propeller scarring and identifying those characteristics that determine whether or not a given scar will recover without restoration. The ultimate goal of this portion of the project is to prioritize propeller scar restoration locations and strategies in concert with other management activities aimed at reducing ongoing impacts. Scar recovery dynamics and ecological impacts will continue to be monitored through 2027 and this presentation will provide an overview and initial results.