The Florida Reef Resilience Program (FRRP) completed a three-year, in-depth monitoring study of shallow coral reef conditions in Florida. The study resulted in a snapshot of the health of Florida's reefs from Key West to the St. Lucie Inlet. The findings were released in spring of 2008 at a conference in Key Largo.

Major Findings

• No area is immune to coral bleaching.
• Most large, healthy coral colonies are not protected from impacts that could be managed.
• Surprisingly, many healthy reefs are near shore—some in areas close to sources of pollution and development.
• There are no fully protected reef zones in Florida north of the Keys, the area that is home to Florida’s best known reefs. All mainland coral reefs, including those lying off Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Broward Counties and in Biscayne National Park, have no fully protected zones.

Next Steps

The following key strategies to increase coral reef resilience in south Florida are recommended by FRRP.

• Create a comprehensive marine zoning system with additional and larger protected areas.
• License and educate boaters.
• Minimize lobster and crab trap damage to reefs.
• Assess user fees to help pay the high cost of reef management.
• Significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions – the root cause of climate change and a major contributor to coral bleaching.

Who Depends on Coral Reefs?

The FRRP took a hard look at how different groups of people use and value the reefs. Both recreational and commercial fishers, as well as divers and snorkelers, agree that reef health and water quality are declining. But conflict between these groups has increased, and some protection options are quite controversial. We continue to seek valuable input from user groups.

The Nature Conservancy has also funded a study by the University of Massachusetts that looked at recreational divers and fishers—both resident and visitors—who use Florida Keys reefs. That data is currently being analyzed.

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © Jiangang Luo (diver monitoring coral); Photo © Craig Quirolo, Reef Relief/Marine Photobank (bleached coral).