Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is a U.S. National Marine Sanctuary in the Florida Keys. It includes the third-largest coral barrier reef in the world. It also has extensive mangrove forest and seagrass fields. The Marine Sanctuary includes a 2,800 square nautical mile (9,600 km²) area surrounding the Keys and reaching into the Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The Sanctuary was established in 1990.

Human Impact

Coral reefs are threated by human activities all over Florida keys. In southeast Asia more than 80% of the reefs are at risk from coastal development and harmful fishing practices. the humans do varies of effects to many coral reefs.

Population and Urban Development

Population growth and urban development are some of the greatest threats to Coral reefs. Development activities cause erosion, resulting in the run off of sediments that eventually reach the coral reefs. Also Storm water run-off carries fertilizers and sewage into the ocean, causing damage to the coral reefs. Increase of nutrient concentrations in the reef causes an increase of algae, which may smother the corals.

Overfishing

Along with human population growth, the harvest of resources from the sea is ever growing. Overfishing has changed the ecological dynamics of marine communities, allowing some organisms to dominate reefs, that were once controlled by large reef fish populations. Fishing practices can be just as damaging to the reefs as population decrease. In some areas indiscriminate fish traps are used while in other regions using dynamite and cyanide are common practice.

Tourism

The increase of tourism is responsible for the increase in reef damage. Divers and snorkelers may harm the corals by touching the polyps. While boats transporting tourists to the reef may damage it by dragging anchors. Although tourism is responsible for reef damage, if its managed and monitored carefully, it may help preserve these habitats.

Global Climate

Global climate change may increase the sea temperature and sea level as well as ocean currents patterns, which all can cause damage to reefs. Corals are very sensitive to water temperature changes, rises in temperature result in coral bleaching.

External links

* [http://floridakeys.noaa.gov/ Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuaries]