Florida reefs are our sanctuary, says conservation leader
(Florida Keys aerial photo courtesy of NASA and published here: floridakeys.noaa.gov/ocean/limestone)
Sarah Fangman, Superintendent of NOAA's Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS), and her team work to balance conservation with human enjoyment of Florida's natural treasure: 2,900 square nautical miles of FKNMS-protected ecosystems. There, vast coral reefs and thousands of wildlife species amaze visitors and fascinate scientists, including Mote Marine Laboratory researchers who have worked closely with FKNMS for years. In this episode, Sarah tells hosts Joe and Hayley: what it was like to join FKNMS just as Hurricane Irma arrived; how coastal systems like reefs and mangroves can help protect communities during storms; why science is important to a healthy marine sanctuary; and how public-private partnerships can support key efforts such as studying a coral disease outbreak, restoring and monitoring coral reefs, informing FKNMS management goals, and more.
Learn more about FKNMS: floridakeys.noaa.gov
Have fun while benefiting Keys coral reefs during Mote's Ocean Fest on April 14 at NOAA's Eco-Discovery Center & Truman Waterfront in Key West: mote.org/oceanfest