Seagrass – the linchpin of Florida's coastal marine food web – is dying throughout the Sunshine State, with decades of progress wilting away seemingly overnight, taking many livelihoods with it. Scientists from state agencies who map seagrass say in recent years, the maps show seagrass receding in every coastal corner of Florida, at levels seldom if ever seen before. Manatees who once feasted on the grasses are now starving. The decline is not just affecting manatees, but dolphins and other species of fish. Fishing charter captains and commercial fishers are finding the cost of gas, insurance and mechanical repairs outweigh their total seafood haul. One Florida tour boat captain said QUOTE “The backbone of Florida’s economy is built on clean water. Until we address the sources of nutrients, harmful algal blooms will continue to smother seagrass beds."