together we can make a difference
Our Initiatives
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The Gulf Conservation Alliance is working to reestablish and standardize slow-speed zones within 500 feet of Lee County’s public beaches to improve safety for swimmers, beachgoers, and boaters while protecting our coastal environment. Although similar restrictions have existed locally, changes to Florida law in 2009 established requirements for updating local ordinances and obtaining Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approval before zones can be marked and enforced.
Increasing vessel traffic creates safety concerns in busy nearshore waters and can disrupt tarpon migration while contributing to vessel strikes that injure and kill manatees and sea turtles. GCA is working with local government, FWC, and community stakeholders to advance this process and promote safer waterways, protect marine wildlife, and preserve our coastal resources for future generations.
Initiative Supported by: Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association, Barrier Island Parks Society, The Gasparilla Inn.
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The Gulf Conservation Alliance promotes responsible tarpon handling practices to improve fish survival and support a healthy fishery. Through social media campaigns, educational outreach, and advocacy events such as our Guide and Angler Get Together, we work with anglers and guides to encourage practices that minimize stress and injury to tarpon. This includes encouraging anglers to break fish off boat-side rather than handling them, reducing exhaustion and the risk of shark depredation. We also share best practices from Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) to help anglers make informed decisions that protect tarpon and support the long-term health of the fishery.
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The Gulf Conservation Alliance is partnering with the Barrier Island Parks Society to bring volunteers together for a coordinated cleanup of our local beaches and bay waters. With BIPS leading the beach cleanup and GCA organizing a boat-based bay cleanup, this initiative addresses marine debris across our shared coastal environment. Sponsored by Gulf to Bay Sotheby’s, the event brings our community together to protect local habitats, reduce pollution, and preserve the natural resources that make our coastal waters special.
Event Presenting Sponsor: Gulf to Bay Sotheby’s.
Bags and Trash Receptacles donated by Yogi Bins.
Our Efforts
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Awareness
Through educational campaigns, community outreach, and digital communications, the Gulf Conservation Alliance raises awareness of the challenges facing the fisheries, habitats, and coastal waters of Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound. We share information about local conservation issues, responsible fishing practices, habitat protection, and the importance of preserving our natural resources. By engaging anglers, residents, and visitors, we aim to build a more informed community and encourage a shared commitment to the long-term health of our Gulf fisheries and ecosystems.
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Advocacy
The Gulf Conservation Alliance advocates for the long-term health of our fisheries, habitats, and coastal communities by bringing together anglers, conservation organizations, industry leaders, and community members around shared priorities. We work to elevate local concerns, build relationships with key stakeholders, and amplify the voices of those invested in protecting Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound. Through collaboration and public engagement, we strive to build support for meaningful conservation efforts and ensure that the interests of our fisheries and natural resources remain a priority.
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Policy
The Gulf Conservation Alliance works to advance science-based policies and management practices that support sustainable fisheries and protect critical habitats in Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound. In collaboration with government agencies, scientists, and conservation partners, we engage in policy development and regulatory processes to address emerging challenges, improve fishery management, and conserve essential marine habitats. Our goal is to promote effective, forward-looking policies that sustain our Gulf resources and the communities that depend on them for generations to come.
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