Every year the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) creates a report card that gauges the health of the Bay based on four factors:
- Total Nitrogen
- Chlorophyll-a (Phytoplankton)
- Seagrass Meadows
- Macroalgae
Water quality data measuring these health indicators is gathered monthly for Total Nitrogen and Chlorophyll, bi-annually for macroalgae through the Eyes On Seagrass Program and seagrass acreage is mapped every two years.
The collective results of these four water quality indicators are used to give a healthy grade of A, B, C, or D for each of the five segments of the Sarasota Bay Watershed including Palma Sola Bay, Sarasota Bay, Roberts Bay, Little Sarasota Bay and Blackburn Bay. The lettered ratings signify:
A: All signs indicate healthy water quality, continue to monitor as usual
B: Most signs indicate healthy water quality, monitor carefully
C: One or more signs indicate concern: investigate stressors, check for compliance
with wastewater and stormwater permits and plan for management actions
D: All signs indicate water quality degradation; take management actions
The 2025 Ecosystem Health Summary was prepared by SBEP Executive Director, Ryan Gandy, and his staff and reveals the following:
Overall Bay Conditions:
Bay conditions remained stable and healthy across the region with expected variation between the larger northern bays and the smaller southern lagoons.
Seagrass and Macroalgae:
The region experienced historic seagrass recovery in 2024 with Sarasota Bay seeing a 24% recovery and a total of 9,000 acres of seagrass. Palma Sola Bay, the second largest seagrass system, remained stable with some gains in seagrass coverage.
Seagrass in the southern bays including Roberts, Little Sarasota and Blackburn increased overall, but remain below reference period highs in some areas. The trends are positive with recovery continuing following losses earlier in the decade. Macroalgae levels remained relatively low throughout all of the bays in 2025.
Water Quality Conditions:
Water quality measurements show that nitrogen and chlorophyll -a concentrations increased slightly at the end of 2024 in response to storm-related runoff, but declined in 2025. System-wide recovery was indicated with nutrient levels returning to reference period target values in most bays. Blackbern Bay is the primary exception posting increases in both nitrogen and Chlorophyll. While the nutrient levels remain well below regulatory thresholds, it warrants continued attention. Blackbern Bay is a lagoonal system with limited tidal exchange resulting in longer nutrient resident times and slower recovery following storm or rainfall events.
Following the reopening of Midnight Pass, Little Sarasota Bay experienced increased tidal exchange that contributed to declining nutrient concentrations in 2025.
Recovery and Long-Term Resilience:
While storm events and drought can cause short-term fluctuations in ecosystem indicators, healthy estuaries are inherently resilient and capable of recovery over time. Continued investment in nutrient reduction, hydrologic restoration and protection and the restoration of natural shorelines and habitats is essential to long-term ecosystem health.
To learn more about the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program’s State of the Bay Report, click on this link: https://sarasotabay.org/our-estuaries/report-card/
To get regular updates on the state of the bay, click on this link to get on the SBEP’s electronic mailing list: https://sarasotabay.org/get-involved/new-signup/sletter