[Coral-List] Announcement for "Guidelines and Management Practices for Artificial Reef Siting, Usage, Construction and Anchoring in Southeast Florida".

[Walczak, Joanna]

Dear Coral-Listers,

The Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI) Maritime Industry and Coastal Construction Impacts (MICCI) Team is proud to announce the completion of the MICCI Local Action Strategy Project 18 & 19: "Guidelines and Management Practices for Artificial Reef Siting, Usage, Construction and Anchoring in Southeast Florida".

This report is the culmination of hard work from the MICCI 18 & 19 project team, contributing authors and editors, who consisted of representatives from the FDEP Coral Reef Conservation Program, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, University of Florida, as well as the Artificial Reef Program Coordinators from Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin counties.

As stated by the editors of the report, Drs. William J. Lindberg and William Seaman, Jr.: "This document is one means of putting into action concerns for the conservation and health of the important, valued and numerous coral reefs of southeast Florida. It addresses a specific type of undersea construction that has impacted coral ecosystems but also offers a tool for repair of damage to them. That tool is the deployment of structures on the sea floor to serve as artificial reefs. In fact, artificial habitat materials such as limestone boulders and concrete are already in use to "mimic" to varying degrees the natural structure and ecological function of coral habitats, and thereby hasten recovery and repair damage from accidental vessel groundings, as well as intentional disturbances such as occur with the laying of submarine cables. To the degree possible, state-of-the-art practices concerning artificial reef science and technology are presented in this document. In some cases, so-called "best practices" are based on solid research and in others it is a matter of relying on tried and true practical experiences that have evolved over time. As a first document of its kind in Florida, it offers a benchmark for developing future science-based guidance for the placement of artificial reefs in waters where coral reefs are found."

Currently, the final MICCI 18 & 19 Project report is only available online.

To download the report, please visit: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/programs/coral/reports/

For more information on SEFCRI see:
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/programs/coral/

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly.

Best,

 Joanna

**Apologies for cross-postings**

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Joanna C. Walczak, M.S.
Assistant Manager, Coral Reef Conservation Program /
MICCI Program Coordinator
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Biscayne Bay Environmental Center
1277 NE 79th Street Causeway
Miami, Florida 33138
Phone: 305-795-2111
Fax: 305-795-3470
Email: Joanna.Walczak at dep.state.fl.us<mailto:Joanna.Walczak at dep.state.fl.us>
Websites: www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/programs/coral/<http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/programs/coral/>
and www.southeastfloridareefs.net<http://www.southeastfloridareefs.net/>
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