Diving and snorkeling are some of the best ways to visit Florida’s Coral Reef by coming face-to-face with the abundance of marine life. Unfortunately, these types of activities can cause physical damage to coral reefs. Click the link below to view responsible practices for snorkeling and diving at coral reefs.

The Sandpiper Key Preserve parcel is 34.1 acres purchased with the intent of protecting the mangrove wetlands that make up the majority of the parcel and add buffer protection to Lemon Bay Aquatic Preserve (LBAP). There are also environmentally valuable submerged lands that were included within the property boundary that are now protected as part of LBAP. The purchase consisted of three separate mangrove parcels, and two separate submerged parcels but from hereon out, it will be described as a single parcel.

The SEACAR Data Discovery site serves as the foundation of SEACAR’s products. It is user-friendly, uniform, and includes data for all five habitats in one database. Environmental data in the database is linked to spatial data, contributing program information, protocols and logos.

SEACAR is a stakeholder driven collaborative project working with local, state, and federal agencies, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations to utilize current knowledge and scientific data to assess the status and trends of submerged habitats and provide the best available science to help guide planning, management, restoration and policy decisions.

The Southeast Florida Action Network (SEAFAN) is a citizen reporting and response system designed to improve the protection and management of Southeast Florida's offshore coral reefs by enhancing marine debris cleanup efforts, increasing response to vessel groundings and anchor damage and providing early detection of potentially harmful biological disturbances.

Click on the link below to learn more or to report a concern.

The five counties along Florida’s Coral Reef have become Coral Reef Ambassadors and developed a regional program to help residents, tourists, boaters, fishers and divers understand how they can help conserve and protect our local reefs. By following the Coral Reef Ambassador’s simple guidelines, you can help defend the reefs too!

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) Coral Reef Conservation Program
(CRCP) presents the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI) 2024 Recap Newsletter.