Item R1M
C ounty of f Monroe
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
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Mayor David Rice, District 4
Th e Florida Keys
Mayor Pro Tem Sylvia J. Murphy, District 5
Danny L. Kolhage, District 1
George Neugent, District 2
Heather Carruthers, District 3
County Commission Meeting
January 17, 2018
Agenda Item Number: R.1
Agenda Item Summary #3819
BULK ITEM: Yes DEPARTMENT: County Administrator
TIME APPROXIMATE: STAFF CONTACT: Lisa Tennyson (305) 292 -4444
n/a
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of resolution in support of legislation (HB 53 /SB 232)
establishing a protective conservation area and management plan for the Southeast Florida Reef
Tract, the portion of the coral reef tract that extends from Miami -Dade to Martin Counties.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
The Florida Reef Tract, nearly 150 -miles long and 4 -miles wide stretching from the Dry
Tortugas in Monroe County to Martin County is the world's third- largest barrier reef, and the
only living coral reef in the continental United States.
The Southeast Florida Reef Tract comprises the northern portion of the reef tract, extending from
Miami -Dade to Martin Counties. The Florida Keys portion of the Florida Reef Tract is
recognized and protected by management plans of the National Marine Sanctuary, National
Parks, and National Wildlife Refuges, however, the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Tract remains
unprotected and without a State - adopted management plan addressing its future sustainability.
Additionally, the northern reef tract is experiencing a significant disease event that is spreading
quickly underscoring the need for protective measures. In the fall 2014, isolated sites with
significant coral disease were reported near Key Biscayne in Miami -Dade County, and by fall 2015,
widespread disease was confirmed across approximately 55 linear miles of reef, including locations
as far north as Pompano Beach in Broward County and as far south as Biscayne National Park.
Disease continued to spread north and south into the Florida Keys throughout 2016, and by summer
of 2017 reports of widespread disease were confirmed as far north as St. Lucie Inlet in Martin
County and to the southern boundary of the Upper Keys.
HB 53 is sponsored by Rep. Jacobs and SB 232 is sponsored by Sen. Book.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
CONTRACT /AGREEMENT CHANGES:
n/a
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval
DOCUMENTATION:
SB 232 Bill Analysis
SB 232 SE Florida Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Area
STAMPED Southeast Florida Reef Tract Resolution
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Effective Date:
Expiration Date:
Total Dollar Value of Contract: N/A
Total Cost to County:
Current Year Portion:
Budgeted:
Source of Funds:
CPI:
Indirect Costs:
Estimated Ongoing Costs Not Included in above dollar amounts:
Revenue Producing:
Grant:
County Match:
Insurance Required:
Additional Details:
If yes, amount:
n/a
REVIEWED BY:
Bob Shillinger Completed 01/09/2018 10:44 AM
Kathy Peters Completed 01/09/2018 12:10 PM
Board of County Commissioners Pending 01/17/2018 9:00 AM
The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources
BILL: SB 232
INTRODUCER:
SUBJECT:
DATE:
ANA
1. Mitchell
2. Reagan
I N
Senators Book and Farmer
Coral Reefs
December 6, 2017 REVISED
LYST STAFF DIRECTOR
Rogers
Betta
REFERENCE
EP
AEN
AP
Favorable
ACTION
Pre - meeting
I. Summary:
SB 232 creates the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Area. The
conservation area consists of the sovereignty submerged lands and state waters offshore of
Broward, Martin, Miami -Dade, and Palm Beach Counties from the St. Lucie Inlet to the northern
boundary of the Biscayne National Park.
The bill has no impact on state revenues or expenditures.
II. Present Situation:
Coral Reefs
Coral reefs are valuable natural resources. They protect coastlines by reducing wave energy from
storms and hurricanes. They serve as a source of food and shelter and provide critical habitat for
over 6,000 species, including commercially important fisheries. Many medicines, as well as
other health and beauty products, are derived from marine plants, algae, and animals found on
coral reefs.' Coral reefs in southeast Florida support a rich and diverse assemblage of stony
corals, octocorals, macroalgae, sponges, and fishes. These ecological communities run along the
coast from the northern border of Biscayne National Park in Miami -Dade County north to the St.
Lucie Inlet in Martin County.
People use coral reefs as a resource for recreation, education, scientific research, and public
inspiration. Millions of tourists and local residents enjoy scuba diving, snorkeling, and fishing on
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' The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Coral Reef Conservation Program, available at
http: / /www.dep. state .fl.us /coastal/programs /coral/ (last visited October 11, 2017); DEP, Coral Reef Conservation Program
2011 -2016 Strategic Plan, 3 (July 2011), available at
http: / /www.dep. state. fl. us / coastal /programs /coral /bub /CRCP Strategic Plan 2011- 2016.pdf (last visited October 4, 2017).
2 Id.
BILL: SB 232
Page 2
Florida's coral reefs. These activities provide a source of income for the state and its coastal
communities. The natural coral reefs in Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami -Dade counties
generate an estimated $3.4 billion in sales and income and support 36,000 jobs in the region each
year.
Coral reefs are vulnerable, however, to harmful environmental changes, particularly those
resulting from human activities. Coral cover on many Caribbean reefs has declined up to 80
percent over the past three decades. Southeast Florida's reefs, which are a part of the greater
Caribbean/Western Atlantic reef province, are being monitored for diseases, bleaching, and other
problems associated with human activities. Monitoring data from the Florida Keys revealed a 44
percent decline in coral cover from 1996 - 2005.
The United States Coral Reef Task Force identified eight specific and widely accepted threats to
coral reefs as being particularly important:
• Pollution, including eutrophication and sedimentation from intensive land use, chemical
loading, oil and chemical spills, marine debris, and invasive species;
• Overfishing and over - exploitation of coral reef species for recreational and commercial
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purposes and the resulting collateral damage and degradation to habitats and ecosystems;
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• Destructive fishing practices, such as cyanide and dynamite fishing that can destroy large
sections of reef,
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• Dredging and shoreline modification in connection with coastal navigation or development;
• Vessel groundings and anchoring that directly destroy corals and reef framework;
• Disease outbreaks that are increasing in frequency and are affecting a greater diversity of
coral reef species; and
• Global climate change and associated impacts including increased coral bleaching, mortality,
storm frequency, and sea level rise.
Corals are highly sensitive to even small temperature changes and can react through bleaching,
reduced growth rates, reduced reproduction, increased vulnerability to diseases, and die -offs.
Corals can tolerate only a relatively narrow temperature range and prefer water between 73 -84
degrees. Water temperatures over 86 degrees or under 64 degrees are stressful and are eventually
fatal for coral. In addition, corals have a mutually beneficial, or symbiotic, relationship with a
type of algae known as zooxanthellae. Zooxanthellae live inside the coral and provide the coral
with energy derived from photosynthesis. In turn, the coral provides the algae with shelter. When
the water gets too warm and the coral becomes stressed, they can expel their zooxanthellae
which results in coral bleaching. Although the colorless coral is still alive, it will eventually die
from starvation if the zooxanthellae do not return.
The Florida Reef Tract, which extends from Soldier Key, located in Biscayne Bay, to the
Tortugas Banks, possesses coral formations very similar to those found in the Bahamas and
3 Id.
4 DEP, Threats to Southeast Florida Coral Reefs, available at http: / /www.dep. state. fl. us /coastal / rograms /coral /threats htm
(last visited October 3, 2017).
5 U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, The NationalAction Plan to Conserve Coral, 3, available at
http:// www. coralreefgov /about/CRTFAxnPlan9.pdf (last visited October 12, 2017).
6 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Long Term Temperature Monitoring,
hitP:// myfwc .com/research/habitat/coral /crem /p creme temp - monitoring/ (last visited October 10, 2017).
BILL: SB 232
Page 3
Caribbean Sea. The tract is nearly 150 miles long and about 4 miles wide extending to the edge
of the Florida Straits. Massive, region -wide bleaching events have become more common on the
Florida Reef Tract. Since 1987, six extensive coral bleaching events have affected the entire
tract. Substantial mass coral mortality occurred during the global bleaching events of 1997/1998
and 2014/2015. Corals at the northern end of their range, such as those found on the Florida Reef
Tract, are also vulnerable to cold winter temperatures. A severe cold snap in 2010 resulted in
high mortality of certain coral species on shallow -water patch reefs throughout the Florida Reef
Tract.
Florida Coral Reef Programs
The Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) within the Florida Coastal Office (FCO) of the
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) oversees several programs and initiatives
to coordinate research and monitoring, develop management strategies, and promote partnerships
to protect the coral reefs, hard bottom communities, and associated reef resources of southeast
Florida. The CRCP implements and coordinates the following:
• The Southeast Florida Action Network — This reporting and response system is designed to
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improve the protection and management of southeast Florida's coral reefs by enhancing
marine debris clean -up efforts, increasing response to vessel groundings and anchor damage,
and providing early detection of potentially harmful biological disturbances.
• The Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative ( SEFCRI) — This program identifies and
implements priority actions needed to reduce key threats to coral reef resources in southeast
Florida through a local action strategy for collaborative action among government and non-
governmental partners. i i Groups associated with SEFCRI include:
• SEFCRI technical advisory committees, which may be convened to address specific
issues that need special attention or expertise. 12
• Our Florida Reefs Community Working Groups, comprised of local reef users, scientists,
and representatives from nongovernmental organizations and local, state, and federal
agencies. Two groups meet once a month to learn about Southeast Florida's living marine
resources, and develop a prioritized list of recommendations that can become part of a
comprehensive management strategy to ensure healthy coral reefs in the future. These
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groups are hosted by SEFCRI.
• Southeast Florida's Marine Debris Reporting and Removal Program —Through a partnership
with the DEP, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Palm
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Coral Reef-Information System: Florida,
hops: / /www.coris.noaa.gov /portals /florida.html (last visited October 9, 2017).
s Id.
9 DEP, Coral Reef Conservation Program, htt p:// www. dep.state.fl.us /coastal/brorams /coral/ (last visited October 11, 2017).
' DEP, Southeast Florida Action Network, http: // www. dep.state.fl.us /coastal/brorams /coral /seafan.htm (lastvisited
October 10, 2017).
" Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI), What is SEFCRI ?, hit p: / /southeastfloridareefs.ne //about -us /what -is-
sefcri/ (last visited October 9, 2017).
12 Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative, Team Charter (Sept. 2012) available at
https: // www. dep. state.fl.us /coastal/programs /coral /documents /SEFCRI_Charter.pdf (last visited October 12, 2017).
11 Our Florida Reefs, About, http: / /ourfloridareefs.org/about/ (last visited October 11, 2017).
BILL: SB 232 Page 4
Beach County Reef Rescue, this program encourages local divers and dive shops to report
marine debris. The partnership organizes reef clean -up events to remove the debris. 14
The Reef Injury Prevention and Response Program — This program leads the response to, and
management of, coral reef and hard bottom injuries resulting from vessel impacts such as
grounding, anchoring, and cable drag events. 15 Section 403.93345, F.S., otherwise known as
the Florida Coral Reef Protection Act, requires responsible parties to notify the DEP when
they run their vessel aground, strike, or otherwise damage coral reefs. The responsible party
must remove the vessel and work with the DEP to assess the damage and restore the reef. 16
The DEP may require the responsible party to pay the cost of assessment and restoration, as
well as pay a fine. 17
The Florida Reef Resilience Program (FRRP) — The FRRP addresses climate change and
coral reefs. Reef managers, scientists, conservation organizations and reef users across South
Florida have developed a Climate Change Action Plan for the Florida Reef System (2010-
2015) (Action Plan). The goals of the Action Plan are to increase coral reef resilience to
climate change impacts through active management of local reef impacts; enhance
communication and awareness of climate change impacts on coral reefs and reef users; and
conduct targeted research to increase understanding of climate change impacts and develop
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new intervention measures. 18
The Southeast Marine Event Response Program — This program responds to potentially
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harmful biological disturbances along the northern third of the Florida Reef Tract from the
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northern border of Biscayne National Park in Miami -Dade County to the St. Lucie Inlet in
Martin County. Upon notification of an event such as harmful algal blooms, fish kills, coral
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bleaching, or diseases, the DEP coordinates with regional partners to schedule initial site
assessments, implement event response protocols, and analyze samples, where possible and
appropriate.
The Southeast Florida Fisheries Independent Monitoring Program — This program builds
partnerships and obtains funding to implement fisheries - independent monitoring. Fisheries -
independent monitoring is a system -wide approach that evaluates marine communities and
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the populations of fish and invertebrate species that comprise them. Fisheries - independent
monitoring also investigates habitat conditions for purposes of learning more about system-
wide trends.
The FWC also plays a role in protecting Florida's coral reefs. Through the Coral Reef Evaluation
and Monitoring Project (CREMP), the FWC has monitored the condition of coral reef and hard
14 DEP, Southeast Florida's Marine Debris Reporting and Removal Program,
http: / /www.dep. state. fl. us /coastaUbrograms /coral /debrisl.htm (last visited October 10, 2017).
15 DEP, Reef-Injury Prevention and Response Program, http: / /www.dep. state. fl. us /coastal/programs /coral /ripr.htm (last
visited October 12, 2017).
16 Section 403.93345(5), F.S.
" Section 403.93345(6), (7), and (8), F.S.
18 DEP, Climate Change and Coral Reefs, http: / /www.dep. state. fl. us / coastal /programs /coraUclimate_chane.htm (last visited
October 9, 2017).
19 DEP, Southeast Marine Event Response Program, http: / /www.dep.state.fl.us /coastal /programs /coraUevent response.htm
(last visited October 10, 2017).
20 DEP, Southeast Florida Fisheries Independent Monitoring Program,
http:// www .dep.state.fl.us /coastaUprograms /coral /fisheries- independent.htm (last visited October 11, 2017).
21 Sarasota County Wateratlas, Fisheries Independent Monitoring,
http: / /www.sarasota. wateratlas. usf. edu / shared /learmnore.asp ?toolsection =lm fishindep (last visited October 11, 2017).
BILL: SB 232
Page 5
bottom habitats annually throughout the Florida Keys since 1996, southeast Florida since 2003,
and the Dry Tortugas since 2004. The CREMP has documented the temporal changes that have
occurred in recent years. 22
The Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Task Force (COTF) was established in 2012 through
enabling resolutions of the boards of county commissioners of Miami -Dade, Broward, Palm
Beach, and Martin counties. 23 The Task Force was charged with providing recommendations for
coastal ocean resources and conservation priorities and strategies. The membership of the COTF
included county commissioners and four city commissioners from Southeast Florida;
representatives from the DEP, the FWC, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration; and stakeholders representing recreational fishers, commercial ports, the dive
charter industry, and the marine industry. The final report was issued in 2015 and made
numerous recommendations for potential adoption by the affected cities and counties. 24
The Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund
cis
The Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund (Board of Trustees) holds state
lands in trust for the use and benefit of the people of Florida. 25 The Board of Trustees consists of
the Governor, the Attorney General, the Chief Financial Officer, and the Commissioner of
Agriculture. 26 This body may acquire, sell, transfer, and administer state lands in a manner
consistent with chs. 253 and 259, F.5.27 0
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The Board of Trustees authorizes several agencies to manage state lands including the
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the FWC, the Department of State, and the
DEP through the FCO and the Florida Park Service. Other entities may also manage state land,
subject to approval of the Board of Trustees. These agencies and other entities hold a property
interest in the land in the form of a management agreement, lease, or other property instrument. 28
State agencies wishing to manage conservation lands 29 must develop land management plans that
the DEP and the Board of Trustees must review and approve or disapprove. These land
management plans must meet several criteria including identifying key management activities,
land management practices, cost estimates, proposed public uses, and short -term and long -term
goals . Agencies must update land management plans every ten years, and regional management
review teams evaluate whether agencies are complying with their land management plans. 31
22 FWC, Coral Reef Evaluation and Monitoring Project (CREMP), http:// myfwc .com/research/habitat/coral/crem // (last
visited October 11, 2017).
23 Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Task Force, Final Recommendations Report (2015), available at
http: // 205. 166. 161.204 /docs/2016/CCCM/20161206 525 / 23351_ Exhibit %201 %20 %2000TF %20Report. — " (last visited
October 10, 2017).
24 Id.
25 Section 253.001, F.S.
26 Section 253.02(1), F.S.
27 Id.
28 Section 253.034(4), F.S.
29 "Conservation lands" are lands that are currently managed for conservation, outdoor resource -based recreation, or
archaeological or historic preservation, except those lands that were acquired solely to facilitate the acquisition of other
conservation lands; s. 253.034(2)(c), F. S.
so Section 253.034(5), F.S.; Fla. Admin. Code R. 18- 2.021.
11 Id.; s. 259.036, F.S.
BILL: SB 232
Page 6
The Board of Trustees governs sovereignty submerged lands by the criteria set forth in
ch. 18 -21 of the Florida Administrative Code. These rules include ecological preservation
requirements, limitations on the preemption of sovereign submerged lands, riparian rights, dock
and pier requirements, and forms of authorization to use sovereign submerged lands. 33
Aquatic preserves are exceptional areas of submerged lands. Aquatic preserves and their
associated waters are set aside to be maintained essentially in their natural or existing
condition. 34 Aquatic preserves consist only of land or water bottoms owned by the state, lands or
water bottoms owned by other governmental agencies as specifically authorized for inclusion,
and private lands leased by the Board of Trustees. 35
The Board of Trustees may establish aquatic preserves after public notice and a public hearing in
the area where the proposed preserve will be located. The Legislature must either confirm or
deny establishment of the aquatic preserve. 37 Except for private lands leased by the Board of
Trustees, only the Legislature may withdraw an area from an aquatic preserve designation. 38
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Under the direction of the Board of Trustees, the FCO manages forty -one aquatic preserves,
encompassing approximately 2.2 million acres. 39 The Legislature authorized the Board of
Trustees to adopt rules to regulate human activities within aquatic preserves so long as such rules
do not unreasonably interfere with lawful and traditional public uses of an aquatic preserve, such
as sport and commercial fishing, boating, and swimming. 40
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
The bill creates the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Area. The
conservation area consists of the sovereignty submerged lands and state waters offshore of
Broward, Martin, Miami -Dade, and Palm Beach Counties from St. Lucie Inlet to the northern
boundary of the Biscayne National Park.
The bill provides an effective date of July 1, 2018.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality /County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
31 "Sovereignty submerged lands" are those lands including, but not limited to, tidal lands, islands, sand bars, shallow banks,
and lands waterward of the ordinary or mean high water line, beneath navigable fresh water or beneath tidally- influenced
waters to which the State of Florida acquired title on March 3, 1845, by virtue of statehood, and which have not been
heretofore conveyed or alienated; Fla. Admin. Code R. 18- 21.003(61).
ss Fla. Admin. Code R. 18- 21.004 and 18- 21.005.
34 Section 258.37(1), F.S.
35 Section 258.40(1), F.S.
36 Sections 258.41(1) and (2), F.S.
37 Section 258.41(1), F.S.
38 Section 258.41(6), F.S.
s9 DEP, Florida's Aquatic Preserves, htWL//www.de p . state. fl. us /coastal / ro rams /aquatic.htm (last visited October 12, 2017).
40 Section 258.43(1), F.S. See also Fla. Admin. Code Chs. 18 -18, 18 -20, and 18 -23.
BILL: SB 232
Page 7
LTA
VI.
1V I I
VIII.
IX.
B. Public Records /Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
None.
C. Government Sector Impact:
None.
Technical Deficiencies:
None.
Related Issues:
None.
Statutes Affected:
This bill creates an undesignated section of law.
Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute — Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
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This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill's introducer or the Florida Senate.
Florida Senate - 2018 SB 232
By Senator Book
32- 00387 -18 2018232
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to coral reefs; establishing the
3 Southeast Florida Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation
4 Area; providing an effective date.
5
6 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
7
8 Section 1. There is established the Southeast Florida Coral
9 Reef Ecosystem Conservation Area. The conservation area shall
10 consist of the sovereignty submerged lands and state waters
11 offshore of Broward, Martin, Miami -Dade, and Palm Beach Counties
12 from the St. Lucie Inlet to the northern boundary of the
13 Biscayne National Park.
14 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2018.
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Page 1 of 1
CODING: Words men are deletions; words underlined are add
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION O. -2018
WHEREAS, from tourism to marine recreation and sport fishing, coral reefs are ail
important part of the State of Florida's ocean econorny, and play a central role in the economies
of Southeast Florida's communities, ISO A. suggests that coral reef-, in southeast Florida have an
asset value of $8.5 billion, generating $4.4 billion in local sales, $2 billion in local income, and
70,400 full and part-time jobs; and
WHEREAS, coral reefs are a significant habitat for fisheries; in the United States, about
half of all federally managed fisheries depend on coral reefs. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries
Service estimates the annual commercial value of U.S. fisheries from coral reefs to be over $100
million. Reef-based recreational fisheries generate over $100 million annually in the United
States; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Reef Tract, nearly 150-miles long and 4-miles wide and
to Marti t is the world s third-larc
barrier reef and the only living coral reef in the continental United States; and
WHEREAS, the Southeast Florida Reef Tract comprises the northern portion, extending
from Miami-Dade to Martin Counties; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Keys portion of the Southeast Florida Reef Tract is recognized
and protected by management plans of the National Marine Sanctuary, National Parks, and
National Wildlife Refuges; however, the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Tract remains unprotected
and without a State-adopted management plan addressing its future sustainability; and
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as
ISTIEREAS, massive, region-wide bleaching events have become more common on the
Florida Reef Tract.; since 1987, six extensive coral bleaching events have affected the entire tract.
Substantial mass coral mortality occurred during the global bleaching events of 1997/1998 and
2014/2016; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Coral Reef
Conservation Program confi rmed a significant disease event occurring 2014 to present that has
spread quickly and far. In the Fall of 2014, isolated sites with significant coral disease were
reported near Key Biscayne in Miami-Dade County, and by Fall 2015, widespread disease was
confi nried across approximately 55 linear miles of reef, including locations as far north as Pompano
as
Beach in Broward County and as far south as Biscayne National Park. Disease continued to spread
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north and south into the Florida Keys throughout 2016, and by summer of 2017, reports of
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widespread disease were confi rmed as far north as St. Lucie Inlet in Martin County and to the
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southern boundary of the Upper Keys; and
WHEREAS, at the December 12, 2017 meeting of the Florida Keys National Marine
Sanctuary Advisory Committee, it was reported that the Florida Reef Tract coral disease has reached
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the reefs off of Long Key; and
>
WHEREAS, Florida Reef Tract disease outbreaks are not - unprecedented - , this current
disease event is unique due to its scale, high infection rate, and rapid spread. The number of
coral species affected across such a large portion of the Florida Reef Tract is estimated to have
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resulted in the mortality of millions of corals and
WHEREAS, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that diseases
and diminishing health conditions among corals throughout the Florida Reef Tract have
dramatically increased; and
(D
WHEREAS, on October 20, 2017 the South Florida and Treasure Coast Regional
Planning Councils jointly passed a resolution which urged the Florida Legislature to enact
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legislation that would create the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Ecosystem Protection Area and
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authorize the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to partner with the Florida Fish
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and Wildlife Commission to develop a Southeast Florida Coral Reef Ecosystem Management
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Plan; and
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WHEREAS, in 2017, the Florida Legislature appropriated $1,000,000 in nonrecurring
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funds from the General Revenue Fund for the Coral Reef Disease Water Quality Monitoring
Program and
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WHEREAS, support for 13 53/SB 232 would be consistent with Monroe County's long
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history of championing protections for the Florida Reef Tract; and
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NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
Section 1. Endorse and support House Bill 53/Senate Bill 232 that would create the
Southeast Florida Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation/Protection Area.
Section 3. Encourage the Florida Legislature to appropriate funding in the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection's budget request to monitor the Florida
Section 5. This resolution shall become effective upon adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida, at a regular meeting held on the 1'7 day of January, 2018.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
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