Southeast Florida Reef News

New Reef Map Designed for Coral Reef Education Signs at Boat Ramps

By Christopher Boykin
Awareness & Appreciation Project Coordinator

A new map was recently designed for use on SEFCRI Awareness and Appreciation Project 32 signs (called wayside exhibits) which will be installed at regional boat ramps to increase reef awareness among southeast Florida’s boaters.  The new map (below) showcases the extensive nearshore coral reefs of southeast Florida and their proximity to major cities and inlets. The map will comprise roughly one third of the 4’ x 3’ signage area. Two smaller versions ( 8” x 11” and 4”x 6”) of the map were also created  for  the SEFCRI website and for inclusion in FDEP CRCP documents.

The rest of the content for the wayside exhibits is expected to be complete in early 2010, after comments from the SEFCRI team have been incorporated. Eighteen to twenty of the large signs and four to six of a smaller (36” x 18”) poster size version of the signs will be installed at boat ramps, marinas and the Lake Worth Lagoon Manatee Protection Kiosks in late 2010. The 24 candidate sites, which include boat ramps and marinas, were selected through a ranking process of high-use boat ramps near major ocean inlets. The ranking was conducted by FDEP CRCP staff and the SEFCRI team. Check future editions of the Southeast Florida Reef News for updates on this exciting and important project to inform boaters in the region about the Florida Reef Tract, which includes anchoring and fisheries regulations as well as other tips to protect one of Florida’s greatest natural treasures.



Newly designed map of southeast Florida and adjacent coral reefs. Map: Brian Walker, National Coral Reef Institute

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