MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. — UCF marine biology students hosted their first "history harvest" Sunday, hoping that delving into the Indian River's Lagoon's past will preserve its future.
- UCF students interview Brevard residents about Indian River Lagoon
- "This used to be a huge fishing community," marine biology student says
- Students want to find out what was in the water up to 200 years ago
By gathering stories, pictures and documents from longtime residents, the students are hoping to record the historical ecology of the Indian River Lagoon.
According to the biology students, this part of the coast has not been surveyed in detail, and they want to know whether fishermen have noticed a difference in fish and water quality and marine life.
"This is a part of the coast that's not been surveyed. This used to be a huge fishing community," UCF marine biology student Laurens Verneulen said.
Throughout the history harvest, local residents came out to Field Manor Foundation to share their stories of the lagoon with the UCF students.
Bobbie Herlong, 74, explained to the students that almost 75 years ago, the water was clear almost year-round, and there were a lot of oysters and fish. Many people would go to the river for a fresh catch of the day.
But within the past 40 years, the water turned murky.
"It was beautiful. It was clear. I learned to swim there. I was on the river a lot," Herlong said. "(There were) lots of fish, and the schools and the meadows, you could see the bottom of the lagoon."
According to UCF biology professor Dr. Linda Walters, the data collected will help determine what was in the water about 200 years ago and how can the water-quality damage can be reversed.
"If we are saying that we are restoring oysters, and a lot of money is being put into it to restore oysters, there had to be oysters here before. Lots of people anecdotally have been telling us," Walters said.
