Middle Keys Snorkeling Report - Aug. 1 - Aug. 5, 2011
by Murray Camp
(Dallas, TX)
I spent last week snorkeling multiple locations on the Florida Reef Tract off Vaca Key and West Summerland Key (Marathon area). I spent 1 - 1.5 hours over nine different locations each. These reefs are classified as either part of a barrier reef system, or alternatively, a collection of bank and patch reefs. I did not dive on this trip due to a recent sinus infection.
The general areas observed were Sombrero Key, Looe Key and the Coffins Patch reefs and associated patch reef areas, and included reef structures both within and without the SPA (Sanctuary Preservation Area) zones.
Some previous estimates of 30-40 years ago placed the hard coral (scleractinian) cover at approximately 80% of the surface of the reef, an amount necessary to offset and exceed the biological and hydrological erosion processes affecting the reef substrate. My best guess was that stony coral cover ranged from less than 1% to (maybe) 5% in the areas observed, a clearly insufficient amount to constitute a growing reef system. If the reef, taken as a whole, is not growing, it's dying. The rest of the reef was populated, primarily, with gorgonians and sponges. Multiple causative factors for the die-off in scleractinian colonies have been discussed in the literature, and some of the die-off may be attributable to the recent (approx. 2 years ago) cold front that dipped adjacent waters into the sub-70 degree mark for a period of time.
On a lighter note, the main hermatypic species that seemed to be growing were Montastraea faveolata and M. annularis, with some species in the genera Siderastreidae and Poritidae also seen. As to acroporids, I saw a few colonies of A. palmata on Looe Key and Sombrero Key but nowhere else. I did notice some smaller colonies of this coral with healthy growth margins as well. I only observed a very few colonies of A. cervicornis, and only in the Coffins Patch area. I saw zero A. palmata or A. cervicornis outside the SPAs.
In terms of future conservation efforts, I think expansion of the SPAs is critical. In the non-SPA areas, evidence of physical damage to reef structures was abundant, especially anchor dragging.
In talking with some of the dive guides in the area, and based on my limited observations, enforcement of the existing SPA exclusions zones (no take, no anchor, no touch) is a joke. I personally observed fishing and anchoring within the SPAs, and was told that patrolling was virtually non-existent due to underfunding. I was in these areas for four days and did not see one patrol craft.
Also, I strongly encourage everyone to look at the Coral Restoration Foundation webpage, and support that group's efforts in any way you can. Ken Nedimeyer and his group are doing great work.
The ten-kerjillion pound elephant in the room is, of course, climate change, and its associated impacts (rising ocean temperatures, acidification and changes to the seawater aragonite saturation state) may make long-term restoration efforts futile in the long run. However, I, for one, am not throwing my hands up in surrender, and believe we should fight for the future of the reefs like our future as a species depends on it.
