The United Waterfowlers of Florida (UWF) and the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) have brought hunters and anglers together to fight for Florida’s duck marshes, streams, lakes and coastal estuaries. The joint project’s goal is to remove all phosphates from common lawn fertilizers.

"Anglers and duck hunters share a mutual interest in protecting freshwater and estuarine habitats with a goal of removing phosphates and excess nitrogen from lawn turf fertilizers,” says Jim Donofrio, RFA Executive Director.

Phosphates and nitrogen are found in most turf fertilizers and contribute to the destruction of Florida's wetlands. Nutrient runoff is known to cause algae blooms, fish kills, anoxic sections of water, and has even been linked to red tides.

"Accomplishing these goals—reducing applications of unnecessary nutrients to urban turf—will require legislation, education of the public, and commitments from related businesses and industries," says John Hitchcock, UWF Vice President.

Their goals include creating statewide blackout periods for all lawn fertilizer applications during the 4-month summer rainy season and a measure that says products containing phosphates should only be used when a soil test determines the need for the nutrient.