Links

Government Agencies

Environmental Health, Volusia County, Florida
EPA Office of Science and Technology
Florida Department of Health
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Healthy Swimming Information from Center for Disease Control
St. Johns River Water Management District
USGS -- Water Resources of the United States

Shell Fish Information

OPEN/CLOSED STATUS OF SHELLFISH AREAS FOR HARVESTING ATLANTIC COAST
From the Fort Pierce Inlet in St. Lucie County to the Tolomato River in St. Johns County

Frequently Asked Questions about Shellfish Harvesting, Aquaculture Farming, and Shellfish Handling.

What can I do to prevent poisoning by marine toxins?

General guidelines for safe seafood consumption:

1. Although any person eating fish or shellfish containing toxin or disease-causing bacteria may become ill, persons with weakened immune systems or liver problems should not eat raw seafood because of their higher risk of Vibrio infection (see Vibrio FAQ- http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/DFBMD/diseaseinfo/vibriovulnificus_g.htm).
2. Keep seafood on ice or refrigerated at less than 38° Fahrenheit to prevent spoilage.

Specific advice for avoiding marine toxin poisoning:

1. Keep fresh tuna, mackerel, grouper, and mahi mahi refrigerated to prevent development of histamine. Don't believe that cooking spoiled or toxic seafood will keep you safe. These toxins are not destroyed by cooking.
2. Do not eat barracuda, especially, those from the Caribbean.
3. Check with local health officials before collecting shellfish, and look for Health Department advisories about algal blooms, dinoflagellate growth or "redtide" conditions that may be posted at fishing supply stores.
4. Do not eat finfish or shellfish sold as bait. Bait products do not need to meet the same food safety regulations as seafood for human consumption.

Surface Water

National Estuary Program
USGS Surface Water Information Page
US Environmental Protection Agency - Oceans, Coasts, & Estuaries
Florida Water Resources Journal wastewater stormwater Crane

Data

STORET Homepage
STORET Commonly Asked Questions

Educator Links

GLOBE Educators Corner
http://www.globe.gov/fsl/html/templ.cgi?educorn&lang=en&nav=1

Classroom Earth
http://www.classroomearth.com/

Project WILD
http://www.projectwild.org/

Project WET
http://www.projectwet.org/

Make A Difference Kit (Free!)
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/students/choices.htm

DEP Educators site
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/mainpage/res/ed.htm

Kids Stuff

U.S. EPA Explorers Club
Yahoo! ScienceEducationK-12Fairs and Competitions

Kids Science Directory
http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/content/science/

For Kids Only! Earth Science Enterprise
http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/index.html

Girl Power! Science and Technology Section
http://www.girlpower.gov/girlarea/sciencetech/index.htm

Discovery School
http://school.discovery.com/

Cool Science for Curious Kids
http://www.hhmi.org/coolscience/

The Florida Aquarium
http://www.flaquarium.org/index.html

The Orlando Science Center
http://www.osc.org/

Reeko’s Mad Scientist Lab
http://www.spartechsoftware.com/reeko/

Ask Dr. Universe!
http://www.wsu.edu/DrUniverse/Contents.html

Ology
http://ology.amnh.org/