A Multimedia Campaign Highlighting
Florida's Marine Ecosystems
"Underwater Florida - Windows to Hope"™
Coral Reef Fish Assemblages • Seagrass Meadows • Mangrove Nurseries • Blue Water Pelagic Regions
This multimedia campaign is designed to assist stakeholders with community local action strategy planning in Southeast Florida and the Florida Keys. We are identifying linkages to reef health created by fish abundance, highlighting fisheries preservation, protecting spawning aggregations and focusing on the importance of diverse habitats such as coral reef fish assemblages, seagrass meadows, mangrove nurseries and
"blue water” pelagic regions.
Underwater Florida - Windows to Hope™ works to advise our Ocean Ecosystem Protection Program which saves endangered species, builds marine protected areas and is working to create varied MPA zoning in Southeast Florida with additional use applications for protecting endangered species in the Florida Keys.
Join us as we conduct field studies, carry out citizen science research expeditions and continue to create components for this one of a kind stakeholder multimedia campaign.
"blue water” pelagic regions.
Underwater Florida - Windows to Hope™ works to advise our Ocean Ecosystem Protection Program which saves endangered species, builds marine protected areas and is working to create varied MPA zoning in Southeast Florida with additional use applications for protecting endangered species in the Florida Keys.
Join us as we conduct field studies, carry out citizen science research expeditions and continue to create components for this one of a kind stakeholder multimedia campaign.
[Make sure to use Chrome or Firefox to get all the features.]
"The Florida Reef Tract has lost 90% to 95% of coral cover and we have witnessed a 95% decline in certain shark species. Many reef fish such as snapper have unsustainable <10% spawning potential ratio (SPR) levels in certain areas of the reef tract. Specific threats to this region we are addressing are injury to coral reefs from stressors such as disease, bleaching, overfishing and impacts of degraded water quality caused by fertilizers, pesticides, sedimentation from dredging, beach renourishment projects and other land-based sources of pollution. Threats to fisheries resources include lack of protection for dwindling species, impacts of climate change on spawning events and the need for place-based protection such as no-take zones. These threats are currently resulting in species mortality, altered and destroyed ecosystems and loss of productivity for portions of the Florida Reef Tract. Outcomes of this project will increase fisheries stability, save endangered species, protect South Florida ecosystems and help save the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States."
-Angela Smith, Founder, Shark Team One and Vice-chair NGOs Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative
-Angela Smith, Founder, Shark Team One and Vice-chair NGOs Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative
This project is generously supported by:
With additional thanks to supporters for matching funds.
Official campaign artwork poster by Harry W. Smith.
Photos on this page by Angela Smith, Philip DuBois, Billy Delph, Marie Dugan, Mike Smith.
This project is a part of Shark Team One's Ocean Ecosystem Protection Program.
Official campaign artwork poster by Harry W. Smith.
Photos on this page by Angela Smith, Philip DuBois, Billy Delph, Marie Dugan, Mike Smith.
This project is a part of Shark Team One's Ocean Ecosystem Protection Program.
Program partners include; Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI),
its member organizations and stakeholders. Full partner list coming soon.
its member organizations and stakeholders. Full partner list coming soon.
Join a Citizen Science Expedition:
