Officials take closer look at artificial reefs

Florida Keys News - Key West Citizen

Friday, November 2, 2012

Officials take closer look at artificial reefs

If research is main focus, fishing will be prohibited

BY TIMOTHY O'HARA Citizen Staff
tohara@keysnews.com

Millions of dollars -- some coming from local taxpayers -- have been spent on intentionally sinking artificial reefs off the Florida Keys.

However, there has been debate about the benefits of artificial reefs and whether they create their own mini-ecosystem or take fish and other marine life away from the natural coral reef. Even National Marine Sanctuaries officials, who...

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Government Takeover

Submitted on Fri, 11/02/2012 - 2:41pm by jps2

If the Feds want a wreck to study let them sink their own and leave the rest alone. The only part they played in any of the sinkings was to hold the hoops they made the sinkers jump through to get government permits.

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What about the fishermen who helped sink these Reefs?

Submitted on Fri, 11/02/2012 - 8:35am by Even Keel

So after all these years of begging the sports fishing industry to help with the sinking of these ships. Now, they are going to cut them completely out of the picture by making them "No-Fishing Zones"?? "Thank You for your time, hard earned money and support, we got what we wanted from you. Now go pound sand!"

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No private Citizen "asks" for closed wrecks

Submitted on Fri, 11/02/2012 - 7:51am by trapper

At the meeting . the Sanctuary placed Council members in the discussion groups to "comment" and introduce the Council agenda as "public" input. Each group had at least 2 council members , skewing the discussion. Altering the gist of what the "public" wants. The Rep from the Audobon socioty ask for "flex management" meaning the Council would pass rulings without any public participation;The Sanctuary only wants to "take" but gives nothing in return. They just bought a $400,000 spy drone but can't coordinate with the Coast Guard to repair a ladder on Sand Key lighthouse so essential weather reports are available. Priorities are definately out of order here.