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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
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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)
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