Hernando County created a partnership with the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) implementing a Sea Grant Program.  This partnership was created to assist the County in its efforts to both protect and enhance its vital marine resource, promote research in areas where there are data gaps, and conduct science-based evaluations to properly plan and select marine resource restoration and enhancement projects that will benefit both the County’s economy and ecological resources.

Highlights of the Program include:

• Marine Strategic Plan - oversee the contract with UF to prepare marine resource plans to be used for planning RESTORE Act funded enhancement projects 
• Creation of the Bayport / Linda Pedersen Paddling Trail - designed, permitted and installed markings for the trail within Jenkins Creek
• Coastal Cleanup events
• Seagrass Restoration
• Reef Ball Deployment
• Oyster and Marsh Grass Habitat Restoration