Location:
John
Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (JPCRSP) is located in Key Largo in the
upper Florida Keys in Monroe County. The park covers approximately 70
nautical square miles with 53,661 acres of submerged land in shallow,
tropical Atlantic waters adjacent to 2,350 acres of uplands. This was
the first park established in the United States for the protection of
submerged natural resources. The seagrass community in park waters consists
predominantly of turtle grass with some manatee and Cuban shoal grass
in mixed species beds.
Date of
Seagrass Protection Zone Authorization:
October, 1993
Authorization:
Closing of the areas for seagrass protection was authorized under
existing Florida State Park rules Sections 62D-2.014(8)(a) and 62D-2.014(16)(b),
FAC. Legislation establishing this authority includes, 258.007 (2), FS.
Subsection 62D-2.014(8)(a), FAC stipulates that no person shall operate
a boat in waters closed by the Division of Recreation and Parks (FDEP).
Subsection 62D-2.014(16)(b), FAC states that park management has the authority
to partially or entirely close an area to any use for any time period
for resource protection.
Wording
on Signs:
Signs consist of 55 standard regulatory spar buoys (cylindrical top
with broad floatation base) that have orange bands at the top and base
along with the international symbol for restricted area (a vertical orange
diamond with a cross inside) or 3x3 metallic signs on breakaway posts
with an orange border around the edges and an orange circle in the center
with a reflective off-white background. Wording on the buoys and signs
consists of permit numbers (FDEP, ACOE and County), regulatory ordinance
numbers (Chapter 62D-2.011, FAC) and "Area Closed to Combustible
Motor Operation".
Enforcement:
Enforcement activities are conducted by officers of the Florida Park
Patrol and the Florida Marine Patrol.
Enforcement
Action:
The enforcement strategy for this State Park works on a "warn
then cite" basis. On the first offense, a written warning citing
Careless Operation of the Vessel (violation of 327.33(2), FS) and Restricted
Areas/Closed (327.46(2), FS) is issued. On the second offense, a citation
for an infraction of the above referenced state laws is issued. On the
third offense, a second degree misdemeanor citation for violation of Sections
62D-2.014 (8)(a), FAC and 62D-2.014(16)(b), FAC is issued.
History:
Damage to seagrass communities related to watercraft access to shallow
waters around JPCRSP was recognized in the late 1980s. Park managers decided
to address this problem with three protective measures after damaged areas
were mapped. Areas that were identified as exhibiting the worst damage
(6370 acres) were closed to vessels operating with combustion motors in
October of 1993 to allow for resource recovery. These included Port Largo
flats, Garden Cove flats and the east side of Largo Sound (see
Figure). Additional regulatory channel markers were installed along
boating channels (natural and artificial) and adjacent to seagrass beds
in an effort to improve navigation. Educational brochures and interpretive
signs outlining the effects of vessel operation in seagrass systems were
also produced for public use and distribution. During the first mapping
effort, a total of 4,646 propeller scars totaling 136.6 acres were identified
within the closed areas. It was found that the severity of damage was
directly related to the level and proximity of vessel traffic and the
configuration of seagrass meadows and bordering vessel access channels.
Heavy propeller scarring was therefore concentrated adjacent to sharp
curves in the channel. Continued monitoring efforts have identified recovery
in protected segrass communities due to relatively good compliance with
the zones. Considerably less damage is occurring in the protected zones,
but some new propeller scars have been identified and are attributed to
poor navigational skills of watercraft operators.
Note: The success of the JPCRSP seagrass protection zones has prompted a request from the residents and fishing guides of the Ocean Reef Club to establish a zone in the shallow channel and nearshore waters off northern Key Largo off Ocean Reef Harbor north to Broad Creek, the southern boundary of Biscayne Bay National Park (see Figure). The authorization to do this lies with the existing JPCRSP seagrass protection regulations and permits. A total of 44 breakaway piling markers and signs with the same information and wording as current seagrass protection signs to the south will be installed in the Spring of 1998.
