patrickbdevaney/mia9 · Datasets at Hugging Face

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Park Service reported more than 1.9 million visitors, collectively
spending $156 million, resulting in 2,089 jobs with a cumulative benefit
to South Florida’s economy of $225.4 million. The region’s local
governments have invested heavily in their respective county and
municipal park systems. In addition to state and municipal parks,
Miami-Dade County boasts more than 280 parks, with 55 in Broward
County, and 23 in Monroe County. In South Florida, the environment
is our economy.
Florida’s Coral Reef
Over the past five years, the South Florida and Treasure Coast Regional
Planning Councils have worked in close partnership with local, state,
and federal agencies, as well as academic, nonprofit, and private
leaders to further awareness, restoration, and protection of Florida’s
endangered coral reef. The seven-county Southeast Florida region,
with 122 municipalities and more than 6.8 million residents, is home to
Florida’s Coral Reef - the only living barrier coral reef system in the
continental United States.
Established in 2018, The “Kristin Jacobs Southeast Florida Coral Reef
Conservation Area” encompasses sovereign submerged lands and
state waters offshore of Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, and MiamiDade counties from the St. Lucie Inlet in the north to the northern
boundary of Biscayne National Park in the south was established by
the Florida Legislature after the multi-year, untiring efforts of State
Representative Kristin Jacobs of Broward County and regional
stakeholders. The SFRPC, TCRPC, and state and regional stakeholders
continue to work toward passage of the “Restoring Resilient Reefs Act”
by Congress as key legislation needed to secure funding and support
the restoration and conservation of the nation’s coral reefs.
Florida’s Coral Reef is experiencing a multi-year outbreak of stony
coral tissue loss disease. This disease is a new lethal disease first
reported in Florida in 2014. While the exact cause of the disease is
unknown, recent evidence points to a viral pathogen51 with
contributing, perhaps secondary, bacterial infections. Experts believe
that the disease can be transmitted by touch, water circulation, and
sediment transport52 and may be related, in part, poor water quality
from urban pollution including stormwater and wastewater runoff.53
This event is unique due to its large geographic range, extended
duration, rapid progression, and high rates of mortality including reefbuilding coral species listed under the Endangered Species Act. First
reported off the coast of Miami-Dade County in 2014, this outbreak has
spread along Florida’s Coral Reef and to reefs throughout the
Caribbean, including the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and 18 other
countries and territories.
Courtesy of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
55 \| Page
This highly contagious and lethal disease has affected more than 30
species of corals especially 20 or more of Florida’s approximately 45
species of reef-building corals including five species listed pursuant to
the Endangered Species Act.54 Once an infected coral begins to lose
living tissue, colonies will die within weeks or months absent active
intervention.
Healthy reefs are critically important ecologically and consequently
economically for many reasons, including the following:
Habitat for myriad organisms (including fish): biodiversity
repository and enhancement
• Source of food and new medicines
• Home to many ecologically and economically important species
like spiny lobsters, snappers, and groupers55
Jobs for local communities, local, regional, and national economic
impact
• Sport and commercial fishing
• Tourism and diving - reef- related diving and snorkeling
supports thousands of jobs in Florida, Puerto Rico and the USVI
• The 2020 Marine Industry Economic Impact Numbers - MIASF show
that Florida’s marine industry [remains] … an essential and
growing component of the state’s overall economy
• Extractive recreation (sport fishing) [$37.8 million in total
Saltwater license sales FY 19/20; $9.2 Billion in saltwater
recreational fishing; 120,000 jobs]
• Commercial fishing ($1 million in licenses; $197 million in
commercial food fish sales dockside; Florida’s commercial
fisheries generate $3.2 billion in income & 76,700 jobs)
• Tourism and diving - reef- related diving and snorkeling
support 8,668 jobs and generate about $902 million in total
economic output over the course of a year in Florida
Coastal Resilience & Flood Protection
• Healthy and resilient coral reefs safeguard against extreme
weather, shoreline erosion and coastal flooding. Florida’s Coral
Reef provides more than $355 million per year in flood
protection benefits and protects nearly $320 million in annual
economic activity. (Storlazzi et al.56)
• Coral reefs are one of the most ecologically diverse and
productive biomes in the world—they are also one of the most
threatened.
56 \| Page
Since 2017, the SFRPC has partnered with the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) to garner support from the region’s
Economic Development Organizations, private foundations, research
universities, and business leaders for the development of a
comprehensive economic development strategic plan focused on South
Florida’s Coral Reef propagation and restoration, technology,
including expansion of the South Florida “Blue Economy.” The
project’s purpose is to capitalize on increasing demand for coral
restoration in South Florida and other reef communities. This project
would fuel innovation and entrepreneurship in coral propagation and
restoration technology, create opportunities for job creation in both
tech and environmental restoration, increase investment and
employment opportunities, and advance a high priority environmental
and economic development initiative. This is a continuing priority of
the State, and the South Florida and Treasure Coast Regional Planning
Councils.
The development of a comprehensive strategic plan for South Florida

Park Service reported more than 1.9 million visitors, collectively

spending $156 million, resulting in 2,089 jobs with a cumulative benefit

to South Florida’s economy of $225.4 million. The region’s local

governments have invested heavily in their respective county and

municipal park systems. In addition to state and municipal parks,

Miami-Dade County boasts more than 280 parks, with 55 in Broward

County, and 23 in Monroe County. In South Florida, the environment

is our economy.

Florida’s Coral Reef

Over the past five years, the South Florida and Treasure Coast Regional

Planning Councils have worked in close partnership with local, state,

and federal agencies, as well as academic, nonprofit, and private

leaders to further awareness, restoration, and protection of Florida’s

endangered coral reef. The seven-county Southeast Florida region,

with 122 municipalities and more than 6.8 million residents, is home to

Florida’s Coral Reef - the only living barrier coral reef system in the

continental United States.

Established in 2018, The “Kristin Jacobs Southeast Florida Coral Reef

Conservation Area” encompasses sovereign submerged lands and

state waters offshore of Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, and MiamiDade counties from the St. Lucie Inlet in the north to the northern

boundary of Biscayne National Park in the south was established by

the Florida Legislature after the multi-year, untiring efforts of State

Representative Kristin Jacobs of Broward County and regional

stakeholders. The SFRPC, TCRPC, and state and regional stakeholders

continue to work toward passage of the “Restoring Resilient Reefs Act”

by Congress as key legislation needed to secure funding and support

the restoration and conservation of the nation’s coral reefs.

Florida’s Coral Reef is experiencing a multi-year outbreak of stony

coral tissue loss disease. This disease is a new lethal disease first

reported in Florida in 2014. While the exact cause of the disease is

unknown, recent evidence points to a viral pathogen51 with

contributing, perhaps secondary, bacterial infections. Experts believe

that the disease can be transmitted by touch, water circulation, and

sediment transport52 and may be related, in part, poor water quality

from urban pollution including stormwater and wastewater runoff.53

This event is unique due to its large geographic range, extended

duration, rapid progression, and high rates of mortality including reefbuilding coral species listed under the Endangered Species Act. First

reported off the coast of Miami-Dade County in 2014, this outbreak has

spread along Florida’s Coral Reef and to reefs throughout the

Caribbean, including the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and 18 other

countries and territories.

Courtesy of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection

55 | Page

This highly contagious and lethal disease has affected more than 30

species of corals especially 20 or more of Florida’s approximately 45

species of reef-building corals including five species listed pursuant to

the Endangered Species Act.54 Once an infected coral begins to lose

living tissue, colonies will die within weeks or months absent active

intervention.

Healthy reefs are critically important ecologically and consequently

economically for many reasons, including the following:

Habitat for myriad organisms (including fish): biodiversity

repository and enhancement

• Source of food and new medicines

• Home to many ecologically and economically important species

like spiny lobsters, snappers, and groupers55

Jobs for local communities, local, regional, and national economic

impact

• Sport and commercial fishing

• Tourism and diving - reef- related diving and snorkeling

supports thousands of jobs in Florida, Puerto Rico and the USVI

• The 2020 Marine Industry Economic Impact Numbers - MIASF show

that Florida’s marine industry [remains] … an essential and

growing component of the state’s overall economy

• Extractive recreation (sport fishing) [$37.8 million in total

Saltwater license sales FY 19/20; $9.2 Billion in saltwater

recreational fishing; 120,000 jobs]

• Commercial fishing ($1 million in licenses; $197 million in

commercial food fish sales dockside; Florida’s commercial

fisheries generate $3.2 billion in income & 76,700 jobs)

• Tourism and diving - reef- related diving and snorkeling

support 8,668 jobs and generate about $902 million in total

economic output over the course of a year in Florida

Coastal Resilience & Flood Protection

• Healthy and resilient coral reefs safeguard against extreme

weather, shoreline erosion and coastal flooding. Florida’s Coral

Reef provides more than $355 million per year in flood

protection benefits and protects nearly $320 million in annual

economic activity. (Storlazzi et al.56)

• Coral reefs are one of the most ecologically diverse and

productive biomes in the world—they are also one of the most

threatened.

56 | Page

Since 2017, the SFRPC has partnered with the Florida Department of

Environmental Protection (DEP) to garner support from the region’s

Economic Development Organizations, private foundations, research

universities, and business leaders for the development of a

comprehensive economic development strategic plan focused on South

Florida’s Coral Reef propagation and restoration, technology,

including expansion of the South Florida “Blue Economy.” The

project’s purpose is to capitalize on increasing demand for coral

restoration in South Florida and other reef communities. This project

would fuel innovation and entrepreneurship in coral propagation and

restoration technology, create opportunities for job creation in both

tech and environmental restoration, increase investment and

employment opportunities, and advance a high priority environmental

and economic development initiative. This is a continuing priority of

the State, and the South Florida and Treasure Coast Regional Planning

Councils.

The development of a comprehensive strategic plan for South Florida