Protecting Biscayne’s
Underwater Treasures
Protecting Biscayne’s Underwater
Treasures.
• Problem: boat groundings, depreciative behavior,
(impacts to soil; impacts to vegetation; impacts to
water; impacts to wildlife); crowding; conflict
• Strategies: reduce the impact of use, harden resource/
experience
• Management Practices: facility development/site
design/maintenance; rules/regulations; information/
education
Protecting Biscayne’s Underwater
Treasures.
• The park
▫ 1968/1980
▫ 173,000 acres (95% underwater)
▫ Biologically rich coral reefs and seagrass meadows
▫ Shallow water
▫ Half a million visitors (boating, swimming,
snorkeling, fishing)
Biscayne National Park
Protecting Biscayne’s Underwater
Treasures.
• The park
▫ 1968/1980
▫ 173,000 acres (95% underwater)
▫ Biologically rich coral reefs and seagrass meadows
▫ Shallow water
▫ Half a million visitors (boating, swimming,
snorkeling, fishing)
• Damage from recreational boating
Protecting Biscayne’s Underwater
Treasures.
• Challenge of contacting visitors
• Information/education at docks, park website, press
releases
• How to use nautical charts, use electronic navigation
equipment, tide tables
• “brown, brown, run aground!”/”blue, blue, cruise on
through.”
• Markers and buoys
• Fines for grounding (and liability for cost of
restoration)
• How to deal with a grounding
Coral Restoration Program
• NPCA/Nature Valley
• Coral restoration in action