The Issue Vitality of reefs and associated organisms is widely accepted as declining due to effects of poor water management, urbanization, pollution, agricultural runoff, ship groundings, and wastewater discharged onshore but migrating offshore through porous limestone. Project and Program priorities are to provide resource managers with every type of information necessary to enable preservation and restoration of the reef ecosystem. Low percentages are expected off islands. Corals die faster off open tidal passes than protective islands.
Dead corals decay faster into sand than live corals.
Management requires Sanctuary-wide sediment composition data showing areal extent of variable reef vitality. Maps are used to gauge ecosystem status and develop resource plans to protect the Nation's only living coral reefs. Activities Data will contribute to State DEP interactive database established at FMRI and will form an important component of the Marine and Coastal Information Bank. FMRI is mandated by the bill creating the Sanctuary to maintain an interactive database for all Florida Keys research and monitoring. Data will be distributed in interim reports as needed, technical peer-reviewed journals, and national and local society meetings.