Released by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission …
We have a treasure here in our waters. Not from a shipwreck, but a living coral reef.
Many may reference the Great Barrier Reef, but did you know our Florida Reef Tract is one of the largest reef systems in the world? It runs along the Atlantic Coast from the St. Lucie Inlet to the Dry Tortugas and has 45 unique species of coral.
If you live in the Keys like me, or visit here, you know just how beautiful and awe-inspiring the reef is. It should be treasured for its aesthetic appeal alone. But it also supports an economic value of $8.5 billion.
A diver explores the coral reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary off Key Largo, Florida. (Photo: Bob Care, Florida Keys News Bureau)
It is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. And biodiversity means environmental health — from water quality to fish and wildlife populations and more. The reef is an excellent habitat for a variety of species. Sportsmen and women benefit daily from prime fishing and lobstering opportunities.
Additionally, it provides sources for life-saving pharmaceuticals.
Reefs provide coastal protection from storms, too. In fact, an estimated $130 billion in additional major storm damages would occur globally if the average reef height were reduced by even 1 meter.