Common Sea Fans (Gorgonia ventilina) are one of several species of sea fans found in southeast Florida. Sea fans are also classified as soft corals or gorgonians.
Photo: Chantal Collier
Juvenile bluehead wrasses swim along the reef in Palm Beach.
Photo: Joe Marino
Jena Sansgaard
Reef Injury Prevention and Response Coordinator
During the 2012 Florida Legislative session, Florida’s Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) was granted increased authority to spend funds from the Ecosystem Management and Restoration Trust Fund (EMRTF). The EMRTF is the repository for monies recovered from injury to, or destruction of, coral reefs and other natural resources in the State of Florida (e.g., vessel groundings, anchor drags, etc.). The Florida Coral Reef Protection Act of 2009 requires monies deposited into the EMRTF resulting from coral reef injuries to be used for the following purposes:
Southeast Florida’s coral reef ecosystems have received various levels of impact from vessel groundings, anchor impacts, cable drags and other physical damages. Over the next three years, the CRCP will use the increased spending authority to evaluate existing damage sites for restoration potential, evaluate the success of previously conducted restoration, plan and execute underwater reconstruction and restoration, and to continue assessment of the sites to determine recovery rates and success of the restoration efforts.