Florida Reef Tract
General Information
- 160 miles long
- Curves to the east and south of the Florida Keys
- Classified as a barrier reef or barrier-like reef
- Largest area of coral reefs in the US
- High biodiversity
State of Florida Reef Tract
The coral reef's health has declined over the past 30 years. Live coral coverage has decreased, coral diseases have become abundant, inhabitants that once lived there have now disappeared, and the area of reef covered in algae has expanded. This is mainly due to human impact.
Causes of Degradation
- Overfishing
- Fertilizer run-off
- Sedimentation onto the reefs from dredging
- Sewage pollution from boats
- Hurricane damage
- Decline in algae grazing sea urchins
- Damage from boat anchors