International Symposium on Coral Reefs Underlines Added Protection

On Monday, the largest scientific conference relating to the nation’s coral reefs was held in Ft. Lauderdale. More than 2,500 scientists and federal, state and local officials attended the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium which is considered the most important conference of its kind.

The symposium is held every four years in worldwide locations as a medium for biologists, ecologists, economists, environmentalists, geologists and resource managers to share information and discuss developing knowledge and science-based strategies for protecting and sustaining the world’s coral reef systems. The 2004 symposium was held in the city of Naha, Okinawa, Japan.

It has been more than 30 years since the International Symposium was held on the mainland United States. This year, the Symposium was also the setting for the signing of landmark legislation by Governor Charlie Crist that will help to further protect Florida’s coral reef systems.

“Florida will continue to take steps, such as new legislation to reduce nutrients and other pollutants in the ocean, which will protect these sensitive ecosystems for generations to come,” said Governor Crist.

With the signing of Senate Bill 1302, Governor Crist officially put into gear a plan to eliminate the use of ocean outfalls for wastewater disposal in southeast Florida while reaffirming his commitment to protect Florida’s marine environment. Under the new law existing wastewater facilities will be required to develop a detailed plan to significantly reduce nutrients by 2013 and execute the plan by 2018. By 2025, the use of ocean outfalls as a primary disposal method for wastewater will be prohibited.

The law also prohibits the construction of new ocean outfall pipes or the expansion of the existing outfalls on the southeast Florida coast. There are currently six existing outfalls in southeast Florida that discharge nearly 300 million gallons of treated wastewater into the ocean each day.

Coral reefs continue to be degraded by many factors including climate change, overfishing, boat groundings and pollution. Destruction of these reef systems would upset the natural balance of the nation’s marine ecosystems, as well as have an adverse economic affect. In Florida alone, our beaches support a $53 billion tourism industry and a $14 billion marine and fishing industry with both local and international visitors choosing to swim, snorkel, fish and scuba in the salty waters.

Through the expertise shared at this year’s International Coral Reef Symposium, more effective management and conservation methods can be implemented to protect these rare underwater systems.

View image from the symposium.