Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative

In 2000, the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) adopted a National Action Plan to conserve coral reefs. With guidance from the USCRTF, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission coordinated the formation of a team of interagency and non-agency marine resource professionals, scientists, resource users and other stakeholders. This team, known as the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI) Team, first gathered in May 2003 to develop local action strategies targeting coral reefs and associated reef resources from Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Martin counties to improve the coordination of technical and financial support for the conservation and management of coral reefs. SEFCRI is targeting this region because the coral habitats are close to shore and co-exist with intensely urbanized areas that lack a coordinated management plan (like that of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary).

The SEFCRI Team is comprised of four focus teams, each responsible for addressing one of the four focus areas of concern:

• Awareness and Appreciation
  
  
• Fishing, Diving, and Other Uses
  
  
• Land-Based Sources of Pollution and Water Quality
  
  
• Maritime Industry and Coastal Construction Impacts

Video Transcript

The SEFCRI focus teams have identified issues and threats to coral reefs and have developed and are implementing Local Action Strategies (LAS) for their component of the SEFCRI. This includes defining and revising goals, objectives and actions, priority setting, budget development, building implementation teams and tracking progress. Numerous stakeholders participated in the development of Florida’s LAS, using a facilitated process including public review and input. The outcome is a coordinated plan to address causes of coral reef degradation and provide a roadmap for successful conservation and management.

More detailed information about SEFCRI and its programs can be found at www.southeastfloridareefs.net/.