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Destruction of Offshore & Nearshore Reef Complexes – Essential Fish Habitat

Destruction of Offshore & Nearshore Reef Complexes – Essential Fish Habitat. REEF IS NOT “JUST ROCK”. Town of Palm Beach officials refer to near shore reefs as “lifeless rocks”. More than 40 species are visible in this cross-section, including juvenile Stone Crabs.

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Destruction of Offshore & Nearshore Reef Complexes – Essential Fish Habitat

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  1. Destruction of Offshore & Nearshore Reef Complexes – Essential Fish Habitat

  2. REEF IS NOT “JUST ROCK” Town of Palm Beach officials refer to near shore reefs as “lifeless rocks”. More than 40 species are visible in this cross-section, including juvenile Stone Crabs. Photo taken at Phipps Park August 2005, before reef was buried.

  3. UNNECESSARY PROJECTS : Elimination of reef & family fishing at Phipps Park Phipps Park was a stable beach, not eroded, and popular for its reefs Despite 5 years of activism and National Marine Fisheries Service dissent, the reef was buried, and Mitigation failed

  4. Carlin Reef, Jupiter Destroyed 1. Deepwater mitigation was not kind-for-kind habitat. 2. Home to 537 Species destroyed 3. Safe swimming hampered by murky water 4. Surfing areas were degraded badly BEFORE AFTER

  5. Independent Scientists Ignored

  6. SEDIMENT INCOMPATIBILITY “Fine sediments are rarely suitable to place on the beach, and they won’t behave the same in the surf zone. Once they’re placed in a high energy environment they break apart, release fine sediments into the surf zone, and migrate rapidly along with the silt component back offshore.” – Dr. Hal Wanless, Chair of Geological Sciences, University of Miami

  7. STATISTICS • Reports are often ACOE generated or written by paid consultants • 45 Florida Anglers with combined 1150 years fishing experience unanimously decried the impacts • 15 peer-reviewed studies document serious impacts on beaches and nearshore reefs from unsuitable or poorly placed material

  8. Turtles and Recreation • Existing beaches are more than adequate width/height for turtle nesting • Nearshore Reefs provide forage and cover for juvenile turtles listed by EPA as Endangered Species • Recreation will be eliminated, not “augmented”, due to loss of: • Surfing, • Fishing • Safe swimming • Snorkeling opportunities, plus, • Impacts to offshore scuba diving

  9. SEA TURTLE IMPACTS So-called “beach nourishment” hurts turtles in many ways

  10. Boynton Inlet Sand Transfer Plant Alternatives to mining

  11. Alternatives to mining Boca Raton Inlet dredge, placing clean sand on down drift beach via flexible pipe segments

  12. Valuable Recreational & Natural Resources At Risk

  13. Destruction of Offshore & Nearshore Reef Complexes – Essential Fish Habitat

  14. Inland mine west of Vero Beach

  15. Inland mine west of Vero Beach

  16. Classic native sand beach

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