Item K08BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: February 18, 2009 Division:Mayor George Neugent___________________
Bulk Item: Yes No X Department: BOCC District _____________________
Staff Contact Person: ___Mayor Neugent_____________
AGENDA ITEM WORDING:
Approval of a Resolution of the Monroe County Board of Commissioners supporting the creation of a Sanctuary
Preservation Area (SPA) within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) At the reef area known as
Snapper Ledge, Tavernier, Key Largo, Florida, requesting that the Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC) consider
and approve a similar recommendation for the purposes of providing lasting protection to this vital and unique
Sanctuary Resource, and providing for transmittal of this Resolution to the Chairman of the Sanctuary Advisory
Council and the Superintendent of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
ITEM BACKGROUND:
The reef known as Snapper Ledge, a popular dive site off of Tavernier in the Florida Keys, is home to some of the
most dense and diverse marine life populations in the area. Divers regularly report the presence of large schools of
grunts, snappers, and many other species of fish, including parrotfish, rays, lobsters, and more. Divers also report
that although the extreme density of marine life is present during the entire year, it is concentrated only in the
immediate area around what is commonly known as Snapper Ledge. Divespots.com describes Snapper Ledge as
follows: "Often, the schools of fish are so thick that you cannot see through them. You can usually count on seeing a
few nurse sharks along with green and spotted Moray Eels. Other frequent sightings include Goat Fish, Hog
Snappers, Trunk Fish, Sea Urchins, Crabs, Lobster, Nurse Sharks, Spider and Arrow Crabs, Rays, Octopus,
Corkscrew Anenome, Eel, Cleaner Shrimp, Butter Hamlet, and Hawk Fish. "One of the largest and healthiest
Boulder Brain Corals (Colpophyllia natans) in the Upper Keys can be found on Snapper's Ledge. This site is an
exceptional location for both snorkeling and diving -- a serious "Must Dive" site in the keys." Unfortunately,
Snapper Ledge has become the focus of some irresponsible spear and recreational fishing activities. On a number
of occasions nurse sharks have been the subject unscrupulous fishing activities such that mature animals have been
caught, gutted and left to die. By virtue of its unusually dense concentration of marine life and value as a marquee
dive site for recreational SCUBA divers, Snapper Ledge should be protected as a Sanctuary Preservation Area
(SPA), just as Molasses Reef and French Reef are protected. There are plenty of other places to spear and
recreationally fish off Tavernier and Islamorada, and to decimate the fish populations at Snapper Ledge is
extremely shortsighted.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
None
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
NA
__________________________________________________________________________________
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Approval
TOTAL COST: BUDGETED:
None_______________ Yes No
COST TO COUNTY:SOURCE OF FUNDS:
None
REVENUE PRODUCING:AMOUNT PER MONTHYear ____
Yes No
APPROVED BY:
County Atty X OMB/Purchasing NA Risk Management __NA__
DOCUMENTATION:
Included Not Required___X__
DISPOSITION:AGENDA ITEM #