2. A unique location… Florida and Subtropical Counter Currents Tropical and temperate fauna Pelagic species Larval transport
3. Estuary - Lagoon System Important nursery habitats System results in highest number of marine and estuarine fish in North America
4. The St. Lucie Inlet The vital link between systems Adults come in to spawn Juveniles transition to offshore Flushing action keeps estuary healthy
5. Offshore Reef lines Composed of rock outcrop Support growth of attaching organisms Algae, Soft corals, Sponges, Hard corals, Hydroids, Polychaete worms and more Hard substrate provides shelter and food for reef fishes
6. Offshore Sand and shell hash Comprises up to 95% of bottom surface inside 150 ft. Home to 3 commercially important invertebrates Rock shrimp, pink shrimp and golden crabs Important food source to many reef fish “halo effect” Perfect substrate for artificial reef deployment Currently permitted sites comprise less that 0.1% of soft bottom
7. Estuaries St. Lucie River historically productive oyster habitat Lost 95% of oyster population in last 40 years Indian River Lagoon transformed Seawalls and hardened shorelines Impoundment of mangroves for mosquito control Important juvenile habitat lost Major impact on bird population – nothing to eat!
8. Socioeconomic Value of Reefs In Martin County Annual public expenditure $7.2 million Supports over 100 jobs Results in approximately $3.2 million in income
10. It is…… … one or more objects of natural or human origin deployed purposefully on the sea floor to influence physical, biological or socioeconomic processes related to living marine resources. (Seaman, 2000)
18. Acceptable Materials Natural Florida Rock Custom Fabricated Units Concrete - new or waste, w/wo additives Waste Disposal (material of opportunity) Metals - ships, planes, etc. Concrete structures –bridge material, culverts, construction debris, etc. Hybrids materials of opportunity combined into reef units
22. Florida Artificial Reef Development Plan, 1992 Acknowledged the: “Growing recognition of the potential of artificial reef as management tools for yielding long-term benefits to both the resource and the resource user.”
23. Martin CountyArtificial Reef Program Goal: Help a struggling environment Restore lost resources Create additional fishery habitat Reduce pressure on existing natural reefs by providing alternative recreational destinations Fuel a “green” economic engine Protect the Martin County way of life
25. Program Elements Construction of artificial reefs Monitoring Mapping Fish count Benthic identification Project assessment Public Education Grant acquisition
35. Estuary Restoration The loss of hard substrates has impacted the population of … benthic species… As living reefs grow, They attract other fish and shellfish by providing food and shelter. Indian River Lagoon – South Feasibility Study
41. One year later…… sponges, algae and tunicates . . . . . . and a shrimp but not big enough for dinner Photos 2006 by Kerry Dillon, Marine Consultant
42. Camp W.E.T. Is: A hands-on learning experience in which students explore and investigate ecosystems of south Florida, focusing on the Indian River Lagoon and Martin County.
57. "Who let the Reef Balls Out?"Bridget ConnerThe Walker School
58. "I felt like I was making a difference when I helped constrct a Reef Ball."Katey Ceccarelli
59. The River Reefs Project is just one aspect of the Martin County Artificial Reef Plan (MCARP). The MCARP is part of the State of Florida’s initiatives to restore and enhance our marine resources. These initiatives are a part of the great world-wide movement to sustain and maintain the oceans of our earth and all the vital resources connected to it. By becoming a participant of our River Reefs Project, you will be doing your part in aiding the preservation of our oceans, which contribute much of the living forces for sustaining our world.
60. Reef by Darrin(Grade 5/K)
61. Thank You Martin County Coastal Engineering Division www.martin.fl.us/GOVT/
62. Types of Artificial Reefs Individual Units each unit provides surface areas & void spaces all by itself each individual unit must be stable Rubble Mound (Stacked) Units spaces between units provides void spaces interlocking of units promotes stability
Setting the stage Atlantic Ocean with the gulf Stream and Florida currents moderate temperatures allowing both tropical fauna found to our south and temperate fauna found to our north to survive SLR and IRL provide important nursery habitats for fish from both of these climates – most of which spend their adult lives on the offshore reefs, and the St. Lucie inlet provides the portal The presence of the 2 currents also brings the pelagic species to the area as well as transporting larvae from the Bahamas chain. In the end the IRL and coastal waters around Martin County support the settlement and survival of the hightes number of marine/estuarine fish in North America.
Setting the stage Atlantic Ocean with the gulf Stream and Florida currents moderate temperatures allowing both tropical fauna found to our south and temperate fauna found to our north to survive SLR and IRL provide important nursery habitats for fish from both of these climates – most of which spend their adult lives on the offshore reefs, and the St. Lucie inlet provides the portal The presence of the 2 currents also brings the pelagic species to the area as well as transporting larvae from the Bahamas chain. In the end the IRL and coastal waters around Martin County support the settlement and survival of the hightes number of marine/estuarine fish in North America.
The inlet allows adult reef fish access to protected waters for spawning allows juvenile fish to transition to the offshore reefs at the proper point in their lifecycle provides the flushing action to keep the estuaries healthy and able to support their very valuable residents.
This is where the 3 main reeflines begin to disappear – from the southMC is transition area.
Between 1994 and 2006, decrease of 9% in finfish landing