Revitalizing Marine Life on South Florida’s “Forgotten Coast”
In a residential canal in Pompano Beach, a pilot project aims to restore marine life along the artificial seawalls of South Florida. Entrepreneur Arthur Tiedeman is installing two innovative containers designed to house mangroves on a concrete and vinyl seawall—a smooth structure that protects properties but depletes natural habitats. These containers, designed by Professor Keith Van de Riet, mimic the textures of roots and reefs to provide refuges for oysters, fish, and other organisms that depend on these areas.
Modern seawalls have replaced the original mangroves, eliminating the intertidal zone, a vital ecosystem. As old concrete seawalls deteriorate, they are often replaced with even smoother materials, exacerbating habitat loss. This project is part of a broader movement to integrate nature-inspired solutions, such as “living seawalls” or artificial reefs. Restoring the coastlines will, however, require ambitious policies and the commitment of private landowners.
The Return of the Globetrotting Owls
Do you remember the two burrowing owls that accidentally boarded a cruise ship leaving Miami for Spain? They were finally returned to Florida after a year of administrative and veterinary efforts. Spotted aboard the Allure of the Seas in February 2025, they traveled to Cartagena, Murcia, and Toledo, passing through several quarantine centers where they were fed and examined. Since the species is protected in Florida, their return required complex coordination between U.S. and Spanish authorities, including international permits, health checks, and multiple quarantines.
In February 2026, the birds were returned to Miami and then transferred to the Dinner Island Ranch Wildlife Management Area, south of Lake Okeechobee. Biologists prepared an artificial burrow there near an abandoned one to facilitate their reintroduction. Banded for tracking, the two owls were released on March 12. Their flight to a nearby meadow confirmed that they were resuming a normal life—a rare success story of international cooperation in wildlife conservation.
Jellyfish Museum Opens in Pompano Beach
On Friday, March 27, at 3 p.m., the first jellyfish museum in the United States will open its doors in Pompano Beach, at 199 N. Ocean Boulevard, just a few blocks from the Fishing Village and the pier.
The museum, which will house more than 25 species of jellyfish from around the world, features soothing deep-blue walls as well as illuminated aquariums in which jellyfish are displayed.
Yana Yanovsky, the museum’s owner, told the South Florida Sun Sentinel:
“People love jellyfish. The way they undulate in the water is fascinating. They have an almost hypnotic effect.” Ms. Yanovsky and her husband opened a jellyfish museum in Ukraine, their home country, in 2018. Now living in Florida, they wanted to open one here, and near the ocean.
The museum will be open daily, weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and weekends from 10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tickets start at $20, and admission is free for children under 3. www.jellyfish-museum.com
Spirit Airlines is reinventing itself: a scaled-down airline to emerge from bankruptcy
Fort Lauderdale-based Spirit Airlines plans to emerge from bankruptcy by summer 2026 as a much smaller airline. After filing for bankruptcy for the second time in less than a year, the airline has continued to operate while restructuring its operations. Its plan involves selling aircraft, not renewing certain lease agreements, and drastically reducing its fleet: it is expected to have about one-third fewer aircraft than a year ago. Spirit has already eliminated 200 routes, cut costs, and furloughed employees, several hundred of whom were recently recalled to replace those who left the company.
The fleet is expected to shrink to 80 aircraft, down from 131 at the end of 2025 and more than 200 two years ago, in order to reduce fixed costs. Revenue fell by 23% in 2025, but losses narrowed. Spirit expects to return to profitability in 2027 and reduce its debt to about $2 billion, down from over $7 billion before bankruptcy. Fuel prices, however, remain a major risk factor.
Coral restoration plan falters due to lack of funding
In 2023, Florida committed to restoring 25% of its coral reef by 2050, an ambitious goal requiring a massive expansion of land-based nurseries and coral breeding programs. But this promise is in jeopardy: the second phase of funding is not included in the proposed legislative budget, leaving more than a dozen restoration teams without the resources to maintain their operations.
According to WLRN, since 2023, $28.5 million has been allocated, but annual needs amount to $11.5 million, threatening programs led by institutions such as the Florida Aquarium, the University of Miami, Nova Southeastern University, and the Boy Scouts of America.
Laboratories, such as the one at the University of Miami, must now reallocate their budgets to retain staff, at the risk of losing essential experts. Field-based organizations, such as Sea Base in the Keys, will have to divert funds from other missions to continue coral planting.
This funding cut comes at the worst possible time, just as scientists were preparing to launch a large-scale restoration effort deemed essential to saving the Florida reef.
Reminder: Cirque du Soleil is in Miami through April 25
Cirque du Soleil’s LUZIA show is currently playing under the Big Top at Gulfstream Park in Miami through April 25. We invite you once again to attend in large numbers! Please note that there is a special rate for groups of 10 or more, and VIP packages are also available. Contact michael.ciaccia@cirquedusoleil.com or call 1-702-850-5211 ext. 5689 to reserve tickets. You can also book online at:
www.cirquedusoleil.com/usa/miami/luzia/group.
Here’s a quote from Émilie Laberge, Senior Director of Group and Corporate Sales for Cirque du Soleil: “LUZIA is an invitation to experience a unique moment of escape under the Big Top, in the heart of Miami. For Quebecers in Florida, it’s an opportunity to rediscover a cultural gem from home, in a different, luminous, and festive setting. […] It’s a powerful cultural experience that fits naturally into Florida’s entertainment offerings and promises to leave a lasting impression on audiences.”
