Miami-Dade County Launches Fertilizer Awareness Week, Imposes Seasonal Ban to Protect Biscayne Bay Ecosystem

Miami-Dade County is once again stepping up its environmental game with Fertilizer Awareness Week, urging locals to hold off on the nitrogen and phosphorus starting mid-May. According to Miami-Dade County, hefty May to October rainfall can wash these nutrients straight into Biscayne Bay, upsetting the local ecosystem and throwing nature off-balance. Use of these chemicals will be strictly prohibited from May 15 through October 31, as part of a preventive effort to curb harmful algal blooms, which pose serious environmental threats beyond their unsightly appearance.

Mayor Daniella Levine Cava pointed out the importance of this prohibition during Fertilizer Awareness Week, noting that residents and businesses alike bear a "critical role" in safeguarding the bay's waters, "As we mark Fertilizer Awareness Week, it’s essential to remember the critical role we all play in protecting our waterways," she said according to the county's statement.

This issue goes beyond water clarity, it's about safeguarding marine ecosystems. Miami-Dade has already seen the impact, with past fertilizer runoff triggering algae blooms and widespread fish kills. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus in the water feed algae growth, which blocks sunlight and suffocates seagrass, a critical habitat and food source for marine life.

For more information and safer alternatives, visit www.miamidade.gov/fertilizer.