Moorings Bay

Moorings Bay is a densely-urbanized estuary with no public boat access ramps, and is considered a completely artificial waterbody due to its long history of alteration and development. Doctors Pass, which has a boulder-jetty on either side, is the only inlet that connects Moorings Bay to the Gulf of Mexico. The bay is also connected to Clam Pass at the north end through culverts. The bay provides recreational and aesthetic values for residents and visitors as well as aquatic habitat.

Water quality in Moorings Bay is monitored monthly. Trawling, which involves deploying a large net behind a boat to catch various fish and invertebrate species, is performed quarterly, and species caught are quantified and measured to further our knowledge on what inhabits these waterbodies. This data is used to assess trends and make environmental management decisions. See the pictures below for examples of species found in the bay.