Expanding Marine Sanctuaries

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Quite simply, Florida depends on healthy oceans. Florida’s oceans are home to endangered right whales and manatees, threatened species of sea turtles, and most of the shallow water coral reefs of the continental United States.  They provide recreational and commercial fishing for millions of anglers and draw tens of millions of tourists to Florida each year, forming the basis of our vibrant economy.

Some of Florida’s most vital ocean areas are already protected: The Florida Keys have a national marine sanctuary; Biscayne Bay is a national park and the Ten Thousand Islands are a state aquatic preserve. But many other areas are not protected from pollution or destructive activities like dredging, offshore oil drilling, and unsustainable fishing. 

Environment Florida’s plan would create a series of underwater marine sanctuaries—like the national parks and forests we have set aside on land. These marine sanctuaries would control all activities occurring within a certain area, including oil and gas drilling, bottom trawling and dredging.

Environment Florida’s upcoming report, “Pearls of the Ocean: New Marine Sanctuaries Will Heal the Ocean,” identifies several regions that should be designated marine sanctuaries:

1. An area along the Georgia-Florida border that is the critical habitat for calving northern right whales, whose world-wide population has dwindled to an estimated 300-350.
    
2. The Occulina Banks off the east coast of Florida where unique cold-water corals slowly grow and shelter a unique underwater ecosystem.

3. The Big Bend Seagrass area, which stretches for approximately 100 miles along the curve of Florida’s peninsula where it joins the panhandle. The area is habitat for at least two endangered or threatened fish species, several endangered or threatened turtle species and the endangered Florida manatee.

4. The area just north of the existing Everglades National Park on the western Gulf coast, including the Ten Thousand Islands area, which contains an immense variety of unique sea life.

Sanctuaries can heal damaged oceans and help to restore fish populations. Environment Florida is working with members of Florida’s Congressional delegation, including Sen. Nelson, to develop legislation to designate new marine sanctuaries off the Florida coast.  We are also working with coalition partners to strengthen existing protections for our oceans and to build support amongst key constituencies like recreational fishing groups, charter boat captains, and commercial fisherman for policies that will protect unique places off of Florida’s coast while allowing the public to enjoy this amazing resource.