Seahorses are beautiful creatures of the shallows, both in Florida waters and around the world. Most often I use glass as my artist’s medium, as if to say of the seahorse, “fragile, handle with care,” or “look, but don’t touch.” But why have I chosen seahorses as a muse?

Most Floridians live near the coast. Our seahorses live in these coastal waters, just minutes from our homes. This includes the Indian River Lagoon, not far from my own house and art studio.

The Indian River Lagoon is a unique estuary of sealife. According to the EPA, it has national significance. A healthy Lagoon relates to healthy water, translating into healthy people and a healthy economy.

Locals have seen sharks, a variety of fishes, jellyfish, stingrays, an occasional sea turtle, and dolphins flipping by. The 156-mile-long Lagoon, this shallow area of brackish water, is part of a barrier island system covering about 40% of Florida’s east coast. The Indian River Lagoon belongs to the Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Brevard counties.

The Lagoon hosts mangroves, oyster beds, seagrasses, sandy areas, and salt marshes. In all, 3500 species of animals and plants live there.

Within this unique ecosystem live three types of Florida seahorses: the Dwarf Seahorse, the Lined Seahorse, and the Slender or Long-Snouted Seahorse. Native seahorse populations are a marker for Indian River Lagoon vitality.

Seahorses are vulnerable. As they decline, we can know that our Lagoon is declining as well. Threats to seahorses generally include coastal development and pollution.

Seahorses use seagrasses as their habitat. Typically, they’ll use their long tails to anchor themselves to the grass. With their long snouts, the creatures suction in tiny animals that live among the grass. No grass means no food for the seahorses.

Algal blooms have been a plague across the Indian River Lagoon. In 2015, the Florida Oceanographic Society reported that Florida’s estuaries, which included the Indian River Lagoon, was “one of the most endangered ecosystems on the planet.”

Seahorses also need to see to catch their prey, but when algal blooms block sunlight, their vision is blocked as well.

In 2018, environmental reporter, Tyler Treadway of Treasure Coast Newspapers (TCPalm for you online folks), published an article about the fragility of the Indian River Lagoon after Lake Okeechobee discharges. Locals reported that the seahorses had begun to disappear.

The most important thing that can be done to improve the Indian River Lagoon seahorse populations is to do what is necessary for healthy seagrasses.

Seahorses are precious. They are vital markers of the life of our waters. The Indian River Lagoon is in transition. It can either be left to falter as it has been doing because of irresponsibility or it can be responsibly supported.

Project Seahorse states “that if we can get it right with seahorses, it will help save coastal seas.”

Little things matter. If the Lagoon had been cleaned up in several ways, manatees and other sea life would not have succumbed to death by environment.

I have seen a seahorse pulled from the river just across from the House of Refuge. Will my grandchildren know the wonders of the water as I have? Will yours?

I urge you to consider the future of the Indian River Lagoon and make changes to protect our seahorses.

The Mosaic