September 21, 2003, Fort
Lauderdale, Fl. New outbreaks of coral bleaching and disease, affecting a major
Florida coral reef, are currently underway in the waters off Broward County. The
surveys, conducted by Cry of the Water and Global Coral Reef Alliance, evaluated
the health of over 450 coral colonies in two separate areas. The reefs in question
are some of the best near shore coral reefs left in North America.
The 9/14/2003 studies
found 61.5% of all branching Staghorn coral colonies were adversely affected by
white band diseases (range 55% to 68%), and 48% of all massive corals were bleached
(range 39% to 57%). High water temperatures (85 degrees F) are the likely cause
of bleaching.
In addition to several
other coral diseases, the researchers report that Broward County reefs are overgrown
by the slimy cyano-bacterial mats typically found around sewage outfalls in South
Florida. This algae growth appears to be expanding.
Broward reefs are known
to have the largest living stands of the once common Staghorn coral remaining
in the Caribbean region as well as the highest density of ancient corals in North
America. These reefs in front of Fort Lauderdale are the only reefs in the continental
United States that can be easily reached by swimmers from shore.
Unfortunately, these reefs
have never been officially designated as a coral reef habitat and are legally
unprotected and threatened with imminent extinction from an unwise and short-sighted
plan by Broward County to dump-fill the adjacent beach with dredged sand.
The plan, approved by
Governor Bush and the Florida Cabinet, is due to start immediately after impact
assessments on corals at beach dredge-dump projects in Hollywood and Dania are
completed. These reefs have already been largely killed by mud and sand from repeated
previous beach dredge-filling and are not comparable to the still healthy reefs
in front of Fort Lauderdale. The latter reefs are close to shore and protect the
beach and protect the beach from erosion.
Recent surveys show that
the Broward County reefs are threatened by climate change, diseases, and water
quality deterioration, as well as from physical damage.
We call for immediate
monitoring of these Fort Lauderdale reefs for impacts due to increasing temperature,
diseases, water pollution (including nutrients and bacteria), and turbidity. In
addition, we suggest development of an emergency management plan to protect this
last ancient reef, a priceless national treasure, from being killed by mud and
sand dumping. We also call on all responsible federal, state, county, and municipal
authorities to preserve these reefs for future generations.
For more information please
see Broward County Reefs Threatened by Dredging at