Where can I get more information about ’s FLORIDA’S coral reefs and the Protection Act ? To learn more, please visit: PROTECTION ACT www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/programs/coral/ and www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/programs/coral/ripr.htm Learn about this law and how it may affect you.

lorida’s Act went into effect on FJuly 1, 2009. The law increases protection of Florida’s endangered coral reefs by raising awareness of the damages associated with vessel groundings and anchoring on coral reefs. The law affects all vessels (commercial and recreational) that transit state waters within Monroe, -Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin counties, and holds those that injure reefs responsible for causing damage to, or destruction of, coral reefs.

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Vessel grounding and anchoring impacts (clockwise from top left): broken knobby law and how it may ( clivosa), severed giant barrel (Xestospongia muta), an abandoned anchor on affect you. the reef, and a healthy southeast Florida coral reef.

To report a vessel grounding or other coral reef injury in southeast Florida call: 1-866-770-SEFL(7335) FLORIDA’S The production of this brochure was funded in part by a Coral Reef Conservation Program grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric CORAL REEF Administration, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, and by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection through its Coral Reef Conservation Program. Photos provided by: Lad Atkins, Harry Booth, Joe Marino, Jennifer Podis, PROTECTION Rebecca Ross and FDEP. ACT What civil penalties are What does the Coral Reef What compensation does What alternatives exist so prescribed by the Coral Reef Protection Act require from the Coral Reef Protection vessel operators can avoid Protection Act? the responsible party - the Act authorize FDEP anchoring on coral reefs? owner, operator, manager or to collect from the For damage to a coral reef totaling less insurer of any vessel - that responsible party who has The preferred alternative is to use areas than, or equal to, 1 m2 - $150. where mooring buoys are provided for has injured a coral reef? injured a coral reef? vessel use. Mooring buoys are available • For the first offense, a warning letter in lieu of a in Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm penalty may be issued. The responsible party must: FDEP is authorized to collect from the Beach, and the St. Lucie Inlet Preserve responsible party: • With aggravating circumstances - an additional $150. • Notify FDEP within 24 hours of damaging or State Park in Martin County. Information • Within a state park or aquatic preserve - an otherwise impacting a coral reef. • The cost of natural resource damage about mooring buoy locations can be assessments and activities undertaken by, found online at the respective county additional $150. • Remove, or cause the removal of, a grounded or or at the request of, the resource trustees to website or Florida State Park website. anchored vessel within 72 hours of the incident, minimize or prevent further coral reef injuries, For damage to coral reefs totaling more unless prohibited by the U.S. Coast Guard or Another alternative for vessel operators 2 2 including staff time. than 1 m , but less than or equal to 10 m - extenuating circumstances such as weather or who wish to anchor near coral reefs is 2 $300 per m . marine hazards. • The cost of enforcement actions undertaken to place their anchor in the sand located • With aggravating circumstances - an additional by the resource trustees, including court costs, beyond the edge of the reef. • Remove, or cause the removal of, a grounded or $300 per m2. attorney’s fees and expert witness fees. anchored vessel in a manner that avoids further • Local knowledge of the area and holding • Within a state park or aquatic preserve - an damage to the reef and consult with FDEP in • The cost of replacing, restoring or acquiring the capabilities of the anchor are critical to additional $300 per m2. accomplishing this task. equivalent of the injured coral reef, including ensure a vessel is anchored in, and will remain Why is the Tract What effect do vessel compensation for the value of the lost use and in, the sand. important and how does the groundings and Anchoring For damage to coral reefs greater than • Cooperate with FDEP to undertake damage ecological services of the reef, as determined • Nautical charts, GPS navigation programs, dive Coral Reef Protection Act impacts have on Florida’s 10 m2 - $1,000 per m2. assessment and primary restoration of the injured through equivalency analysis. maps, and local dive shops can all be used help protect it? coral reefs? coral reef in a timely fashion. Assessment and • With aggravating circumstances - an additional restoration efforts must be conducted by qualified, • The cost of monitoring the injured, restored or to enhance local knowledge, but ultimately, $1,000 per m2. the vessel operator/owner is responsible for • The Florida Reef Tract provides habitat for • Vessel grounding and anchoring incidents can authorized individuals. replaced coral reef for at least 10 years if the 2 preventing violations of the law. over 6,000 marine species, protects South cause significant damage to reef , • Within a state park or aquatic preserve - an injury area is greater than 1 square meter (m ). Florida’s shorelines from tropical storms and potentially changing their biological composition additional $1,000 per m2. To view the Coast Guard’s hurricanes, and sustains Florida’s beaches, and as a result, the environmental health of federal requirements and safety boating tourism and recreation. coral reefs. For a second violation, the total penalty may please visit their website at: be doubled. • Coral reef development can only happen when • Although the damage caused to a reef by www.uscgboating.org/ certain factors such as water temperature, anchoring a single recreational boat may be For a third violation, the total penalty may nutrients and wave action are all present in small in comparison to the damage caused be tripled. To Learn More, Please Visit: just the right amounts. is the only by a large commercial vessel grounding, the For a fourth violation, the penalty may be www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/programs/coral/ region in the continental United States with the cumulative damages resulting from anchoring quadrupled. and right conditions to support coral reef growth. and other recreational boating impacts may The total of penalties levied may not exceed The Florida Reef Tract is the only barrier reef in be greater due to the sheer numbers of www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/programs/ $250,000 per occurrence. the continental United States. recreational boat users in Florida. coral/ripr.htm and • South Florida’s reefs are worth $6.3 billion dollars to the local economy and support more www.southeastfloridareefs.net/coral-relief/ than 71,000 jobs annually. FLORIDA’S coral-reef-protection-act/ • The Coral Reef Protection Act allows the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) CORAL REEF to better protect coral reefs through timely and The Florida Reef Tract provides habitat for over 6,000 marine species, efficient assessment and recovery of damages PROTECTION to coral reefs and to enter into delegation protects South Florida’s shorelines from tropical storms and agreements with other agencies to carry out the intent of the Act. ACT hurricanes, and sustains Florida’s beaches, tourism and recreation. Shattered great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa), resulting from a vessel impact.