Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) supports healthy fisheries and habitat, including our coral reefs. When appropriate CCA has supported a number of spawning season area closures in the South Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico. CCA has an active habitat restoration and artificial reefs placement program. CCA's mission is focused on scientific approaches to sound fisheries management for present and future generations to enjoy the resource. Within the parameters, CCA supports angler access.
The Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI) has created the Our Florida Reefs,which has two geographically based working groups, both of which are comprised of local reef users, scientists, and representatives from NGOs and local, state, and federal agencies. The Our Florida Reefs community working group has preliminarily recommended a number of new marine management practices for the reef track in Southeast Florida. These proposed management practices range from creating a sanctuary for the entire reef track to requiring registration information on cast nets used within the St Lucie preserve.
The two proposals that are most concerning to CCA are:
First, Recommended Management Action (RMA) N-146 which proposes up to 28 marine protected areas (MPA) that in some cases will ban fishing over 20% to 30% of the reef track from the northern boundary of Martin County to the southern boundary of Dade County.
CCA does not support the establishment of MPAs unless, they are scientifically based, have stated goals and that MPAs are the last resort. The working group has proposed to use MPAs as a first stage management tool; Second RMA S65 seeks to create a National Marine Sanctuary for the entire Southeast Florida reef track. This is an unnecessary delegation of state authority over its sovereign waters to a Federal agency. The state has an excellent record of managing its fisheries and resources. The sanctuary process is cumbersome and there are existing procedures for
state action when needed.
The working group also came up with a number of good management tools, like N137 protecting the reefs by limiting damage from anchoring in areas designated as Particularly Sensitive Areas or Areas to be Avoided. This would discourage or possibly prohibit large
commercial vessels form anchoring in these areas. Likewise, if implemented correctly, the use of mooring balls for divers and recreational fisherman would create less disturbance on the bottom. Another positive recommendation N7 could be the establishment of an online education course for boaters as long as it did not affect the funding of the FWC. CCA is concerned that if a reduction of licensure fees were imposed, the funds earmarked to protect and manage our fisheries would be reduced and would negatively impact the very resources the RMA was intended to help. As opposed to implementing no take/no fishing zones or Sanctuaries, CCA would ask that spawning aggregations or limited time and area closures be considered if warranted by good fisheries management practices.
Our Florida Reefs will be hosting meetings during January and February in Southeast Florida. The group is asking for your comments either following their presentation or your comments can be sent to their website at www.ourfloridareefs.org/RMAcomment. This is a great opportunity for you to come out and learn more about the proposed MPAs and participate intheir small working groups. .
Attend one of the meetings below that will be held from 12 - 2 p.m. and 6 - 8 p.m. at each location. The meetings will cover the same information and they are working to get more input with two meetings during each day. Please contact me at taukeman@ccafloida.org if you have any questions or are able to attend.
Tuesday, January 26
Indian River State College
Chastain Campus
2400 SE Salerno Road
Stuart, FL 34997
Wednesday, January 27
Amara Shriner Temple Auditorium
3650 RCA Blvd
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
Friday, January 29
Delray Beach City Library
100 W. Atlantic Ave
Delray Beach, FL 33444
Tuesday, February 16
Holiday Park Social Center
1150 G. Harold Martin Drive
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
33181 Wednesday, February 17
Newman Alumni Center
UM/Coral Gables Campus
6200 San Amaro Drive
Coral Gables, FL
Thursday, February 18
Kovens Conference Center
FIU/Biscayne Bay Campus
3000 NE 151st Street
North Miami, FL 33146
The Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI) has created the Our Florida Reefs,which has two geographically based working groups, both of which are comprised of local reef users, scientists, and representatives from NGOs and local, state, and federal agencies. The Our Florida Reefs community working group has preliminarily recommended a number of new marine management practices for the reef track in Southeast Florida. These proposed management practices range from creating a sanctuary for the entire reef track to requiring registration information on cast nets used within the St Lucie preserve.
The two proposals that are most concerning to CCA are:
First, Recommended Management Action (RMA) N-146 which proposes up to 28 marine protected areas (MPA) that in some cases will ban fishing over 20% to 30% of the reef track from the northern boundary of Martin County to the southern boundary of Dade County.
CCA does not support the establishment of MPAs unless, they are scientifically based, have stated goals and that MPAs are the last resort. The working group has proposed to use MPAs as a first stage management tool; Second RMA S65 seeks to create a National Marine Sanctuary for the entire Southeast Florida reef track. This is an unnecessary delegation of state authority over its sovereign waters to a Federal agency. The state has an excellent record of managing its fisheries and resources. The sanctuary process is cumbersome and there are existing procedures for
state action when needed.
The working group also came up with a number of good management tools, like N137 protecting the reefs by limiting damage from anchoring in areas designated as Particularly Sensitive Areas or Areas to be Avoided. This would discourage or possibly prohibit large
commercial vessels form anchoring in these areas. Likewise, if implemented correctly, the use of mooring balls for divers and recreational fisherman would create less disturbance on the bottom. Another positive recommendation N7 could be the establishment of an online education course for boaters as long as it did not affect the funding of the FWC. CCA is concerned that if a reduction of licensure fees were imposed, the funds earmarked to protect and manage our fisheries would be reduced and would negatively impact the very resources the RMA was intended to help. As opposed to implementing no take/no fishing zones or Sanctuaries, CCA would ask that spawning aggregations or limited time and area closures be considered if warranted by good fisheries management practices.
Our Florida Reefs will be hosting meetings during January and February in Southeast Florida. The group is asking for your comments either following their presentation or your comments can be sent to their website at www.ourfloridareefs.org/RMAcomment. This is a great opportunity for you to come out and learn more about the proposed MPAs and participate intheir small working groups. .
Attend one of the meetings below that will be held from 12 - 2 p.m. and 6 - 8 p.m. at each location. The meetings will cover the same information and they are working to get more input with two meetings during each day. Please contact me at taukeman@ccafloida.org if you have any questions or are able to attend.
Tuesday, January 26
Indian River State College
Chastain Campus
2400 SE Salerno Road
Stuart, FL 34997
Wednesday, January 27
Amara Shriner Temple Auditorium
3650 RCA Blvd
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
Friday, January 29
Delray Beach City Library
100 W. Atlantic Ave
Delray Beach, FL 33444
Tuesday, February 16
Holiday Park Social Center
1150 G. Harold Martin Drive
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
33181 Wednesday, February 17
Newman Alumni Center
UM/Coral Gables Campus
6200 San Amaro Drive
Coral Gables, FL
Thursday, February 18
Kovens Conference Center
FIU/Biscayne Bay Campus
3000 NE 151st Street
North Miami, FL 33146
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