Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve
The Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve (ANERR) encompasses 246,000 acres in North Florida’s panhandle region, making it the second largest of 24 existing in the National Estuarine Research Reserve system. Established in 1979, the reserve is managed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
The Reserve is intended as a protective blanket for the fragile wetlands, bays and coastal uplands which fall within its boundaries. It is administered from a local research and education center located at the north end of Market Street in Apalachicola. The center, open to the public Monday through Friday, houses many exhibits representative of the coastal ecosystem, including the Estuarine Walk, a popular educational exhibit of the plant and animal life found in this region, an aviary and live fish tanks.
The Reserve boundaries include a large section of the Apalachicola River and adjoining floodplains, all or portions of three barrier islands, Apalachicola Bay and associated sounds. Apalachicola Bay, the primary water body, is one of the most productive bays in the country. It is characterized by a series of rivers, bays, bayous, tidal creeks, marshes and barrier islands. The bay supports major fisheries for oysters, shrimp, crabs and finfish. Much of the local economy is directly connected to the bay. Seafood landings from the Apalachicola Reserve are worth $14-16 million dockside annually. At the consumer level, this represents a $70-$80 million industry.
The Apalachicola drainage basin boasts more than 1,300 species of plants, 103 of which are threatened or endangered. The basin also has more than 180 species of fish and the area is a tremendous spawning and nursery ground for important commercial and sports fish species. Endangered or potentially endangered species include the Atlantic sturgeon, blue stripe shiner, shoal bass and Suwannee bass. The highest species density of amphibians and reptiles in North America, north of Mexico, is found in the basin, including ten species considered threatened, endangered or of special concern.
The Reserve is one of the most important bird habitats in the southeastern U.S. with more than 315 species. There are also more than 360 species of marine mollusks found in the Reserve, many of these are also endangered. Fifty seven species of mammals are also found in the drainage basin including the Florida black bear, the West Indian manatee, the Indiana bat and the gray bat.
The major objectives of ANERR are research and education. The Reserve coordinates a myriad of research activities throughout the area. Past and current research is coordinated into an ongoing education program targeted at area schools.
For more information on ANERR or to plan a visit to research center, please visit http://nerrs.noaa.gov/Apalachicola/welcome.html or contact the reserve office at (850) 670-4783.