✨This article is proudly brought to you in partnership with the UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station.✨
The UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station (NCBS) is gearing up for a busy fall season filled with hands-on citizen science, community cleanup efforts, and family-friendly marine exploration. Mark your calendars for these exciting events and volunteer opportunities happening across September, October, and November!
The International Coastal Cleanup in Cedar Key is on Sept 19, 2026!
🌊 41st Annual International Coastal Cleanup
Saturday, September 19, 2026
Check-in: Begins at 7:30 AM
Cleanup: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Cedar Key City Park
Join our island-wide initiative to keep Cedar Key's coastlines, marshes, and waterways healthy and debris-free. Organized globally by the Ocean Conservancy, this annual cleanup gathers volunteers to collect litter and gather crucial data on marine debris.
What to Expect: Supplies (trash bags and data cards) are provided, along with a free commemorative t-shirt and lunch for volunteers (while supplies last).
Citizen Science: Track what you pick up using paper cards or the Clean Swell app. The data gathered feeds into global conservation research.
What to Wear & Bring: Closed-toe shoes (sneakers or waterproof boots that can handle mud), work gloves, sun protection, and a reusable water bottle.
How to Join: No registration is required! Simply check in at Cedar Key City starting at 7:30 AM. Groups of 10 or more are encouraged to notify organizer Emily Colson via email (
[email protected]) in advance. Learn more about the 2026 Coastal Cleanup in Cedar Key.
🐚 Florida Horseshoe Crab Watch Program (Fall Season)
September – October 2026
Location: Nesting beaches in Cedar Key (Levy County) and Shired Island (Dixie County)
The fall horseshoe crab sampling season picks back up from early September through October during peak spawning cycles! Driven by tidal movements, this vital volunteer program helps scientists track local horseshoe crab populations through surveying, tagging, and reporting.
Why Horseshoe Crabs Matter
Living Fossils: Horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) have existed for hundreds of millions of years—far longer than most species on Earth!
Vital to Healthcare: If you have ever received a vaccine, medical injection, or surgical implant, horseshoe crabs have helped you. The FDA requires that all injectable medicines and prosthetics be tested using Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL), an extract found only in horseshoe crab blood.
Ecosystem Leaders: Their eggs are a critical food source for migratory shorebirds and marine life, and adult crabs serve as bait and ecosystem engineers along coastal shores.
Citizen Science in Action
Because horseshoe crabs take about 10 years to reach maturity, reliable data is essential to protect them from over-exploitation. Established right here in Cedar Key in 2016 by UF/IFAS NCBS, Florida Sea Grant, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the Florida Horseshoe Crab Watch relies on citizen scientists to walk beaches, count mating groups, and attach small, numbered vinyl discs to a subset of crabs.
Get Involved: To become a volunteer surveyor, take the virtual training and register by reaching out to Emily Colson at
[email protected].Report a Tagged Crab: If you spot a tagged horseshoe crab while walking the shorelines, you can directly contribute to ongoing scientific research by submitting a report through the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Tag Reporting Portal.
Learn More: Check out full details on the Florida Horseshoe Crab Watch Program to understand how these ancient sea creatures support coastal health.
Attention Beachgoers! Report tagged horseshoe crabs to 1-888-Limulus.
🦀 NCBS Open House at the Cedar Key Seafood Festival
Saturday, October 17, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: 552 1st Street, Cedar Key, FL
Admission: FREE
Looking to add a splash of science to your Seafood Festival weekend? The NCBS is opening its doors for its annual public Open House! Step inside their facility to meet local researchers and explore hands-on marine science exhibits:
Touch Tanks: Get up close with living marine creatures from local Gulf waters.
Family Activities: Interactive educational booths, games, and a scavenger hunt for kids.
Meet the Scientists: Discover current projects focusing on coastal fisheries, seagrass habitats, and ecosystem conservation directly from UF/IFAS scientists.
Read more about what's in store at Dive Into Coastal Science: NCBS Open House.
📲 Stay Connected
Follow along with real-time research updates, workshop announcements, and weather impacts on the UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station Facebook Page.
The UF Nature Coast Biological Station is located in the heart of Cedar Key.
About the UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station
Located right on the Gulf in the heart of Cedar Key at 552 1st Street, the UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station (NCBS) is a premier research and education hub dedicated to the conservation and sustainability of Florida’s coastal resources. As part of the University of Florida, the station serves as a vital bridge between world-class marine science and our local community. Through collaborative research, hands-on public workshops, and student training, NCBS plays an essential role in protecting the vast seagrass meadows, critical wildlife habitats, and unique marine ecosystems that make Florida's Nature Coast so special.
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