Photo: Joe Marino
What is SEFCRI?
SEFCRI, or the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative, is a local action strategy for collaborative action among government and non-governmental partners to identify and implement priority actions needed to reduce key threats to coral reef resources in southeast Florida’s Kristin Jacobs Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Area (Coral ECA). The Coral ECA includes the sovereign submerged lands and state waters offshore of Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties from the St. Lucie Inlet to the northern boundary of Biscayne National Park.
The Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative was developed through the collaborative effort of many government agencies, non-governmental organizations, universities and private partners and is coordinated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Coral Reef Conservation Program (DEP CRCP).
Our Mission
To develop an effective strategy to preserve and protect southeast Florida’s coral reefs and associated reef resources, emphasizing the balance between resource use and protection, in cooperation with all interested parties.
Land Based Sources of Pollution Technical Advisory Committee Members.
Photo: Meredith Gibboney
Photo: Joe Marino
Members of the Coral Reef Conservation Program explain the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative and its efforts to members of the community at the Miami River Day.
Photo: FDEP
Our History
Following the establishment of the United States Coral Reef Task Force in 1998, the State of Florida recognized the importance of the need to protect and preserve the biodiversity, health, heritage, and socio-economic values of our reefs and the marine environment. With guidance from the Task Force, the FDEP and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission formed the SEFCRI Team: a group of marine resource professionals, scientists, and stakeholders from government agencies and other organizations. The SEFCRI Team first gathered in May of 2003 to develop local action strategies needed to protect the coral reef resources extending from Miami-Dade County through Martin County. This area of Florida’s Coral Reef is now known as the Coral ECA.
The Kristin Jacobs Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Area (Coral ECA) was officially established on July 1, 2018 and subsequently re-named in 2021. This re-naming honors the work and passion of the late Kristin Jacobs, a Florida State Representative who was a long-time environmental advocate.
What are Local Action Strategies (LAS)?
In 2002, the United States Coral Reef Task Force adopted the “Puerto Rico Resolution” which called for the development of Local Action Strategies (LAS) by each of its seven member U.S. states, territories, and commonwealths: Hawaii, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Florida. These Local Action Strategies are short-term, locally-driven roadmaps for cooperative action among federal, state, territory and non-governmental partners, which identify and implement priority actions needed to reduce key threats to valuable coral reef resources. Using a collaborative process based on local needs, concerns and capacities, each jurisdiction developed strategies that contain a variety of projects designed for implementation over a three- to five-year period.
The SEFCRI Team identified five focus areas for immediate local action to address those threats:
