Rosenstiel School Library Special Collections subjectId: 690855

The histories of Miami and Biscayne Bay are deeply intertwined. Beyond its roles in food, industry, transportation, and recreation, the Bay offers enduring aesthetic value to those who live and work along its shores.

Biscayne Bay is a tropical lagoon stretching approximately 35 miles in length and up to 8 miles in width. It is geographically divided into three sections:

North Bay: The most urbanized area, bordered by barrier islands such as Miami Beach and encompassing the Miami business district.
Central Bay: Extending from Government Cut to the southern edge of Coral Gables, this area has been shaped by bulkheading and canal discharges.
South Bay: Largely preserved, aside from the Cutler and Turkey Point power plants, and includes the northwestern portion of Biscayne National Park.

Over a century ago, Hugh M. Smith of the U.S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries visited Biscayne Bay to assess its suitability for a marine hatchery and research station. He observed that “the water of Biscayne Bay is exceedingly clear,” with bottom features visible when the surface was calm. Since then, natural events and urban development have significantly impacted the Bay’s health and character. Activities such as dredging, sewage disposal, canal construction, flood control, hurricanes, and shoreline development have altered its waters.

Information about Biscayne Bay’s marine environment is frequently sought by students, researchers, engineers, planners, and the public.

The Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric and Earth Science Library at the University of Miami provides access to a comprehensive collection of resources, including books, scientific articles, theses, dissertations, book chapters, conference proceedings, reports, videos, and government publications. The bibliography excludes newspaper articles, public hearing records, personal correspondence, and popular boating or sports magazine content. Aside from nautical charts issued by the U.S. Defense Mapping Agency, only a limited number of maps are included.

Florida Sea Grant Publications, 1970–1988

Creator: Florida Sea Grant Program, Sea Grant College Program, University of Miami

Extent:

• Linear Feet: 8.42 ft
• Total Items: 215
• Digital Items: 159 (148 available online)

Languages: English

Summary

This collection documents nearly two decades of Florida Sea Grant–funded research on marine environments, fisheries, aquaculture, coastal management, and environmental policy. Materials include technical bulletins, special bulletins, field guide series, special reports, Coastal Zone Management Series volumes, Biscayne Bay Symposium publications, annual reports, and technical papers.

Collection Description

The Florida Sea Grant Collection reflects the work of NOAA Sea Grant and participating Sea Grant Colleges, highlighting marine research and coastal policy development from 1970–1988. Topics include marine ecology, fisheries management, aquaculture, pollution control, coastal hydrodynamics, Everglades ecology, shrimp and crab biology, shallow-water species guides, and socio-economic studies related to Florida’s coastal and estuarine environments.

Series 1: Sea Grant Technical Bulletins

Description: Scientific reports covering marine ecology, fisheries biology, hydrodynamics, aquaculture development, environmental impacts, and legal frameworks for ocean resources.

Series 2: Sea Grant Special Bulletins

Description: Policy-oriented reports and scientific workshop proceedings focusing on ocean jurisprudence, fisheries management, estuarine processes, and environmental regulation.

Series 3: Sea Grant Field Guide Series

Description: Illustrated field guides for students, researchers, and environmental managers.

Series 4: Coastal Zone Management Series

Description: Reports on coastal engineering, estuarine circulation, pollution control, ocean outfalls, and waterway planning.

Series 5: Sea Grant Special Reports

Description: Regionally focused environmental assessments, fisheries workshops, socio-economic profiles, wetland legislation summaries, and public-use studies.

Series 6: Sea Grant Technical Papers

Description: Later research publications focused on fisheries economics, artificial reef valuation, and species-specific studies (e.g., bait shrimp industry).

Series 7: Annual Reports (University of Miami Sea Grant Program)

Description: Annual summaries of project activities, research outcomes, staffing, budgets, and Sea Grant initiatives.

Finding aid Sea Grant Publictions v2