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Eco consulting firm revives historic aquatic nursery

Aquatech Eco Consultants is working with Aquaticus Plants on a new restoration project to revive its historic submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) nursery.

Everglades Aquatic Nursery was the first in Florida to raise tropical fish in dirt ponds and aquatic plants in concrete vats. The facility, now called Aquaticus Plants, has been certified by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as an aquaculture facility. When completed, it will be the largest fresh and saltwater “restoration aquaculture” facility in Florida.

“We are very excited about this renovation project and look forward to continuing our mission to help restore these vital resources for generations to come,” said Beau Williams, AquaTech’s founder and CEO. “With the decline of SAV worldwide, this nursery will allow us to grow SAV for planting in various estuaries, rivers, and lakes across Florida.”

Aquaticus Plants, the aquaculture facility, will be able to grow hundreds of different ecotypes of SAV, including Thalassia Testudinum (Turtle Grass), Syringodium Filiforme (Manatee Grass), and Halodule Wright (Shoal Grass), and freshwater Vallisneria Americana (Eel Grass). As the renovations allow, more aquatic vegetation will be grown, such as mangroves and marsh plants.