Ecotourism Helps Our Economy, So Tread Lightly, and Protect Nature
Article by Alex Cotleur
Photography by Alex Cotieur and Carri Lager
March attracts thousands of winter-weary tourists to the paradise we call home. Spring training, spring break and spring-like weather make Jupiter THE place to be! Tourists come and go but our magnificent natural resources and their inhabitants remain. With the right knowledge and your help, they will continue to drive local environmental tourism.
One of the most iconic sights in our area is the gentle manatee. Admire manatees from a distance, respecting their protected status under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. It is tempting to touch them or feed them water from a hose, but that is both harmful and illegal. Crystal River is the only place in Florida where it is legal to interact with manatees under strict guidelines.
These slow-moving creatures can be found year-round grazing peacefully on lush seagrass beds. Seagrass is vital not only to manatees, but to the entire marine ecosystem by providing food and habitat for countless species. Seagrass beds are sensitive, it is best to avoid them, but if you can’t please tread lightly and avoid dragging anchors across them.
The Indian River Lagoon is the most bio-diverse body of water in the continental U.S. Cushion Stars and ninearmed sea stars line our Intracoastal Waterway, feeding on the extensive variety of mollusks, crustaceans, worms and fish. Cushion stars are protected and both species are incredibly sensitive to being handled; do not touch or pick them up so that these creatures have a better chance of survival for future generations to enjoy.
Jupiter real estate is in high demand and humans aren’t the only ones in the market! Consider leaving that empty shell you find on the sandbar, there is likely a hermit crab looking to expand from its current shell. Removing shells with living creatures disrupts the ecosystem and taking protected species like the Queen Conch can lead to hefty fines.
Our proximity to the Gulf Stream brings us some of the best fishing, as well as highly protected species migrating through our area. Most recently, right and humpback whales have been spotted offshore as they migrate south for calving, making any encounter a rare and awe-inspiring event. Living where others vacation is a gift and protecting what draws them here is our responsibility. Humans tend to protect what they love - connect with nature, let’s paddle!
