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Our Florida Reefs - Your Voice, Our Future
- 1. Southeast Florida Coral Reefs October 12, 2015 Meghan Balling FDEP Coral Reef Conservation Program
- 2. Tonight you will learn about… 10/13/2015 Photos: Joe Marino 2 • Our local reefs • Importance of coral reefs • Threats to coral reefs • Response to threats
- 3. Southeast Florida Coral Reefs 10/13/2015 Photos: Dave Gilliam, Ph.D. 3 What are coral reefs? Coral Biology 101: • Corals are colonies of delicate polyps • They contain symbiotic algae within their tissues • They secrete a limestone skeleton • This skeleton creates large structures close to the sea surface, which we call reefs
- 4. Southeast Florida Coral Reefs 10/13/2015 4 Florida Reef Tract Facts: 1) Only barrier reef in the continental US 2) Stretches from Dry Tortugas up to St. Lucie Inlet 3) One of the largest barrier reefs in the world (about 350 miles) We focus on this areas
- 5. Southeast Florida Coral Reefs 10/13/2015 5 The northern third of the Florida reef tract… Contains reef systems that: • Are extensive • Are close to shore • Co-exist with intensely urbanized areas • LACK COORDINATED MANAGEMENT
- 6. Coral Reefs are Important: 10/13/2015 6 Habitat 43+ 37 600+70 517 Photos: Joe Marino & Dave Gilliam, Ph.D. Species of hard corals Species of soft corals Species of fish Species of invertebrates Species of sponges
- 7. Coral Reefs are Important: 10/13/2015 Photo: Bryan Clark 7 Income $8.5 Billion in sales and income 70,400 jobs Examples: • Commercial and charter fishing • Dive shops and charters • Seafood restaurants Just in southeast Florida!
- 8. Coral Reefs are Important: 10/13/2015 8 Coastal Protection The Nature Conservancy 1 meter of reef protects $47,000 worth of property value
- 9. Coral Reefs are Important: 10/13/2015 9 Coastal Protection Photo: Ken Banks, Ph.D. Waves break twice on inner reef and nearshore ridge, dissipating much of their destructive energy
- 10. Coral Reefs are Important: 10/13/2015 10 Food & Medicine Photos: Florida Sportsman/NOAA Recreational and Commercial Fisheries Saltwater Tourism Coral Reefs provide a primary food source for over one billion people worldwide. 50% of all current cancer medications are derived from marine organisms
- 11. Coral Reefs are Threatened 10/13/2015 11 Population = Stress Boynton Inlet Palm Beach County Haulover Outfall Miami- Dade county Lobster Mini-Season Ft. Lauderdale Ship Grounding Ft. Lauderdale Invasive Species Lionfish Marine Debris Lauderdale- by-the-Sea Air & Sea Show Ft. Lauderdale
- 12. Coral Reefs are Declining 10/13/2015 Photos: Phil Dustan & Billy Causey 12 Coral reefs are threatened globally and locally Carysfort Reef 2009 • Coral cover on many Caribbean reefs has declined up to 80% over the past three decades. Coral can come back when good practices are put in place.
- 13. What Does SE FL Think? 10/13/2015 13 • 2006 & 2013 Surveys Show: • Coral reefs, water quality, fisheries declined • Fewer desirable areas on the reef increased user conflict • If nothing changes, conditions will continue to deteriorate
- 14. Local Response 10/13/2015 Photos: Joe Marino & Steve Spring 14 2003: DEP and FWC coordinated the formation of SEFCRI Partnership of: • Agencies • NGOs • Academia • Divers • Fishers • Private Business • Local stakeholders Identified 4 priority threats to the coral reef resources of Southeast Florida:
- 15. Planning for the Future 10/13/2015 15 Goal: Comprehensive Management Strategy for Southeast FL coral reefs 2003: SEFCRI LAS Lacked necessary information and stakeholder input Today • 128 of 140 original SEFCRI projects completed or ongoing • Large body of knowledge on SE FL coral reefs • Better informed public
- 16. Planning for the Future 16 June 2013: COMPLETE March 2015- Fall 2015: IN PROGRESS January 2016: Martin County and Palm Beach County February 2016: Broward County and Miami-Dade County 2016
- 17. How you can help 10/13/2015 17 www.OurFloridaReefs.org Participate in Our Florida Reefs! Speak with your stakeholder group representative Join Friends Of Our Florida Reefs Submit comments online
- 18. How you can help 10/13/2015 18 When Diving… DO NOT TOUCH CORAL • Don’t let your gear dangle • Maintain proper buoyancy • Watch your fins Photos: Karen Lane & Enrique Jaramillo
- 19. How you can help 10/13/2015 Photo: Miami-Dade County 19 When Boating… DO NOT ANCHOR ON CORAL • Tie up to mooring buoys • Anchor on sand using the ESRI app
- 20. How you can help 10/13/2015 20 We’re All Connected ~ Keep It Protected
- 21. Support Our Florida Reefs 10/13/2015 Photo: Joe Marino 21
Editor's Notes
- Introduce Self. Tell groups a little about your background, experience in the field and your affiliation with this process. Disclaimer: this is a generalized presentation geared toward informing all stakeholder groups. It is not meant to target any one group (i.e. divers & fisherman) as not following the rules
- This presentation is designed to tell a story. First we will tell you a little bit about our local reefs and their importance Then we will talk about some threats facing our reefs and the general state of our coral reef ecosystem Finally we will talk about what’s being done to maintain or improve the health of the system and what you can do to help.
- This is a quick coral biology 101 lesson to get everyone up to speed. Corals are animals related to jellyfish and anemones and are made up of colonies of very delicate polyps CLICK Coral polyps secrete a hard limestone skeleton that forms the basis of our reefs CLICK They develop large structures close to the surface (reef) where there is food and light CLICK Contain symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) in their tissues that photosynthesize and provide corals with energy (gesture to picture and point to colored “dots” in the polyps, which photosynthesize to feed themselves and the coral host This algae is where corals get their beautiful colors. When corals are stressed, they release these algae making them appear white or bleached- also making it difficult to get enough nutrition In coral picture: stony (branching and boulder) octocoral (sea fan and sea rod)
- Florida Reef Tract Facts: Only barrier reef in the continental US Stretches from Dry Tortugas up to St. Lucie Inlet One of the largest barrier reefs in the world (about 350 miles) It is important to note the managed areas in this picture: Dry Tortugas National Park FL Keys Natl Marine Sanctuary (small rectangle of the Keys is Riley’s Hump a no take research area) Biscayne Natl Park CLICK Tonight we will focus on the northern third of the reef tract, circled here. This region has a lot of agencies that help to manage the area (FWC, FDEP, SFWMD) This region lacks the coordinated management of the other areas though so there is less overall protection to the region. Acronyms: FWC= Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission FDEP= Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection SFWMD= South FL Water Management District
- Northern third of the FL Reef tract: 106 miles long Run in three lines parallel to shore – Inner, Middle, and Outer reef, with nearshore hardbottom habitats between the inner reef and shoreline (Broward county) Range in depth from 15-90 feet You can see that the reef changes over the region up here terminating in Martin county with an extensive deep ridge complex (shown in red- gesture to the map on the left and explain that it changes from parallel reef in Broward to deep ridge complex up north in Palm Beach and Martin Counties) CLICK So you can see that this reef tract contains systems that are 1. Extensive 2. Close to shore (QUESTION/CROWD PARTICIPATION: ask to raise hands if beach/shore divers?) 3. Co-exist with urbanized areas **Lack Coordinated Management: unlike managed areas in Biscayne NP and FL Keys, northern third of FL reef tract lacks a comprehensive management strategy that facilitates coordinated management under a uniform goal of coral reef protection
- These coral reefs are an important source of HABITAT – The Southeast Florida reefs are home to more than 6000 organisms: CLICK: 43+ species of hard corals CLICK: 37 species of soft corals (including seafans) CLICK: 70 species of sponges CLICK: 517 species of fish (Stark, 1968)* 389 were coral reef fish (253 Reef Obligate, 136 Reef Opportunistic) *Kilfoyle et al (2014) recorded 266 species in 2012-2013reef surveys in the SEFCRI region CLICK: 600+ species of invertebrates All of these organisms make up an ecosystem with each species depending on each other for stability. Globally, coral reefs support approximately 25% of all known marine life…it’s basically a rainforest under water.
- Coral Reefs are an important source of income Statistic from NOAA 2011 estimate
- Reefs protect our shores - in fact, every meter of reef protects about $47,000 worth of property. This is because the rough surface of the reef helps to break up the energy of the waves coming into shore which helps prevent loss of life, property damage and erosion. Reefs also provide a source of sand to replenish our beaches and generally, coastlines with reefs are more stable than those without them. Erosion prevention is particularly important in coastal areas such as ours, where much of the shore is lined with homes, hotels and other buildings. Without reefs acting as a natural buffer system, strong waves can cause beach erosion, coastal flooding, and damage coastal property.
- This picture was taken during hurricane Sandy, (CROWD: Was anyone else on the beach that day?) *This picture shows waves breaking TWICE on the inner reef and nearshore ridge. As the wave breaks offshore, much of its energy is dissipated. By the time it reaches the shore, the wave is smaller and less powerful thanks to this natural buffer system.
- Fish and other marine life have been a primary source of protein for as long as people have lived along the coast. From small scale artisanal fisheries to major commercial fleets, harvesting of marine life is a major economic force in all of the world’s oceans. Local fisheries, such as lobster, stone crab, snapper and grouper, all directly rely on the reef for spawning and habitat. Other fisheries, such as tuna, dolphin and other big, open-water species, rely on the reef indirectly, through the bait fish that they consume. Coral Reefs provide a primary food source for over one billion people worldwide. Medicine – 50% of all current cancer medications are derived from marine organisms. Powerful anti-virals like AZT, anticancer agents, painkillers, anti-inflammatories and even sunscreen from sponges or corals have all been tested or developed. (CROWD: Does anyone use este-lauder moisturizers? Because they derive an anti-inflammatory ingredient from the secondary compounds of soft corals) *it’s like the rainforest of the sea- yet another good reason to protect it because we never know what it’s hiding in resources. Transition: Just like the rainforests on land, the coral reefs face a number of threats.
- Land-based sources of pollution Pollutants enter the ocean via inlets (Picture: Boynton Inlet) and outfalls (Picture: Haulover Outfall) – CROWD: does anyone recognize these areas? *By 2025, the SFWMD will attempt to phase out this level of pollution permitted to discharge Can lead to coral disease, algal blooms, fish kills, etc. *Inlet plume happens twice a day with the changing tide CLICK Fishing Diving Other Uses: (Picture taken in FLL during lobster mini-season) Fishing violations Overfishing Anchor damage and groundings by recreational vessels Fin kicks and gear drags by new or uninformed divers CLICK Maritime Industry & Coastal Construction Impacts: (Picture: ship grounding in FLL) Commercial vessel groundings and anchor/cable drags Unpermitted coastal construction *11 groundings in 10 years between 1990’s and 2000’s led to necessary changes CLICK Invasive species – REEF cookbook as a visual aid. Lionfish are delicious! Instead of fishing for species that are already overfished, catch lionfish and help protect the reef. CLICK Marine debris CLICK Lack of Appreciation & Awareness: (Picture: Air & Sea Show FLL) – CROWD: has anyone ever been to this event? (48%) Unaware of reef resources Unappreciative of human impacts As this population increases, so will the intensity of these threats. *Now picture all of those threats multiplied by this many people… CLICK *the analogy we use is the “death by 1,000 cuts”= alone each of these may not make too much of a difference but when you combine the threats and amplify the stress by increasing the population, corals find it difficult to recover. Example: break the mucus membrane on a coral colony is like breaking your skin…when you are healthy, you heal faster…when you are stressed out it take more time to heal and recover
- (Go through first three photos in the animation and then pause) Coral reefs face threats on a global and local scale. Since 1996, most of the loss of coral cover in the Keys resulted from back to back global coral bleaching events in 1997 and 1998 (right after the FL Keys National Marine Sanctuary management plan went into effect). 37% loss of coral cover in the Florida Keys since 1996 (global bleaching events), but there has been some recovery Fortunately, the Acropora palmata (elkhorn coral) on Carysfort Reef has begun to recover. Carysfort is now a Sanctuary Preservation Area in the Upper Keys (Key Largo near John Pennekamp State Park). CLICK (3 times slowly- continue through last two photos in the animation) As of 2009, one can now find healthy colonies growing on that reef. *this photo series was taken in the FL Keys National marine Sanctuary--through active management, this important coral species is coming back. The important thing to remember from this case study is that given the opportunity, corals CAN recover. Everything we do to try to protect these important ecosystems does matter and can make a difference.
- Some of the most important information we’ve learned from SEFCRI projects so far are the community perceptions of what’s going on with our reefs Surveys conducted in 2006 and again in 2013 of the main coral reef user groups showed that the majority of those interviewed: CLICK: perceive that coral reefs, water quality, and fisheries have been deteriorating in recent years CLICK: As resources have degraded, user groups have been forces to change locations, converging on the remaining stock. This has resulted in increased user conflicts – meaning more people are using the same reef area AND CLICK: Respondents indicated that they believe that if management doesn’t change, resource conditions will continue to decline
- Which is why in 2003, DEP and FWC coordinated the formation of a team of marine resource managers (from federal, state, and local agencies), scientists, and local stakeholders to address this growing concern This team, known as the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative, or SEFCRI, identified 4 priority threats to coral reef resources of SE FL CLICK: Fishing, Diving and Other Uses Land-Based Sources of Pollution Maritime Industry and Coastal Construction Impacts Lack of Appreciation and Awareness **DEP = Department of Environmental Protection **FWC = Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
- The SEFCRI priority actions could only maintain the status quo and keep things from getting worse. At the time that the LAS was developed, the SEFCRI team did not have the necessary information to develop a comprehensive management strategy to improve the condition of Southeast Florida’s coral reefs, hence the need for so much research. CLICK Fast-forward to today. 128 of the original 140 SEFCRI projects have been completed, and we now have a body of knowledge that is adequate to develop this type of plan. While the SEFCRI team was gathering this information, one project was kept in hibernation that could lead to the development of this type of plan CLICK– FDOU Project 26, aka Our Florida Reefs *now it’s time to make the transition from data collection to management action!!! This is how OFR came to be.
- 4 Steps Step 1: Hold community meetings to inform the public about OFR and Southeast Florida’s coral reefs, and recruit potential community working group members. 12 public meeting held in all 4 counties Introduced Southeast Florida coral reefs and their current status Introduced the Our Florida Reefs process Informed the public on ways to get involved Recruited potential community working group members
- The first thing you can do to get up to speed no the process is to visit www.ourfloridareefs.org. On this page you can find info about the process, history and upcoming events, you can locate the contact information for your SH group representative. You can become a Reef Champion! By getting informed and learn how to do outreach or give this presentation! Attend a meeting and speak directly with your SH group rep And if you are one of those busy people and nothing fits into your schedule… you can submit comments online 24-7. -this isn’t one of those electronic voids where you put in your comments and no one ever sees it again. It is the homework of every CWG to read every comment before every meeting to become more informed as to the concerns of the public. This is the only way that your comments can be added to the public record! Or, you can become a member of Friends of our Florida Reefs! (next slide)
- A lot of the time, and seasonally as most of you well know, you will see new divers in the water who haven’t quite mastered their buoyancy and underwater maneuvering. If you see anyone else doing these things find a way to nicely tell them why it is so destructive and to try next time to be more careful. Set a good example by not touching anything alive under water!
- Our staff developed an online, GIS-based mapping tool that enables you to see nautical charts, areas of interest, popular dive sites, mooring buoys and other coastal, ocean and habitat phenomena. Some other ways you can help include downloading the ESRI app to your phone. It’s a free app that allows you to pinpoint your location with GPS coordinates and determine if you are over reef or sand before you throw anchor. ESRI= Environmental Systems Research Institute= GIS-based GPS navigation system so you make sure to be anchoring on sand when you are in deep or low visibility water.
- DEP CRCP has a program called the Southeast Florida Action Network, or SEAFAN. With responsibility for managing over 100 miles of coral reef habitat in southeast Florida, it is impossible for us (DEP CRCP) to know what is happening everywhere, all the time. Through the SEAFAN program we rely on members of the community get involved in the protection and management of southeast Florida’s reefs by letting us know if you observe anything unusual or that may be a sign of trouble for coral reefs – this includes a range of marine incidents from vessel groundings, anchor damage and marine debris to fish kills, coral bleaching, algal blooms and invasive species, etc. This program requires no special training – all you need to do is report what you observed, when and where by calling a hotline phone number or filling out a form at www.SEAFAN.net. IF ANYONE ASKS: CRCP staff will add the report to our database, and depending on the type of incident, work with our regional partners (including other agencies, academic institutions, NGOs, etc.) to schedule a site visit and coordinate a response, if appropriate. Reporting by Internet is the best way to do this. If you see something, say something! It is everyone’s job to protect this valuable resource!
- QUESTIONS?