Resilient Environment Department supported efforts for legislation
The Restoring Resilient Reefs Act recently signed into law by Congress will bring five years of federal funding to support coral reef management and restoration along the 360-linear mile Florida coral reef. It extends from the Dry Tortugas National Park, through the Keys, along 24 miles of Broward’s shoreline and north to the St. Lucie inlet. The County’s Resilient Environment Department supported efforts to get the bill passed which reauthorizes and modernizes the Coral Reef Conservation Program through Fiscal Year 2024.
Coral reef health is essential to the economic growth of the Broward community by providing shoreline storm protection, improved water quality, essential habitat for a healthy fishery and a source for recreation and tourism. The new legislation comes at an important time and will hopefully offset the reef decline due to an ongoing coral disease outbreak that has impacted over 90% of the reef since first reported in 2014.
“Florida’s coral reefs are a national treasure that have been deteriorating rapidly due to climate change, overfishing and pollution,” said Broward County Commissioner Beam Furr. “I have long championed the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act and the reauthorization of the Coral Reef Conservation Act to allow for the creation of federal programs to protect the vitality of coral reefs along our coast. As a Broward County Commissioner, I am committed to solving the crisis facing our coral reefs and support providing local funds and policy initiatives to benefit their survival.”
The County will continue to work with the State of Florida, local lawmakers and regional partners to develop programs to restore and conserve local reefs to so that they can continue to provide economic growth and quality of life now and for future generations.
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