They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing twice and expecting a different result. The Army Corps, after illegally wiping out over 250 acres of Miami’s reef during the dredging of the Port of Miami, has asked Congress for permission to do the same to Ft. Lauderdale.
Miami Waterkeeper (MWK) is thrilled to introduce Dr. Jessica Bolson as the new Director of Climate and Freshwater Programs. Jessica will focus on ensuring that climate and fresh water management decisions are based on the best available science and will work to develop resilience strategies aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change in vulnerable South Florida, while also supporting ecosystem and clean water protections. "Jessica's extensive expertise will help to guide Miami Waterkeeper's positions and actions on these critical and timely issues," said Rachel Silverstein, Executive Director and Waterkeeper.
The PortMiami expansion is nearly complete, making Miami the first port in the State of Florida capable of accepting the supersized ships that will soon sail through the expanded Panama Canal. But we do not believe that the PortMiami dredging project has been the unmitigated success its proponents claim it to be. The evidence is clear that the dredging operation, which began in November 2013, has deposited an asphyxiating blanket of sediment atop our coral reef: the same reefs that protect Miami Beach’s imperiled coastline from storm surges; support our teeming fish populations; and help sustain our booming tourist industry. Many Americans do not know that South Florida is home to the only coral reef tract in the continental United States: as unique as the sequoias of California or the geysers of Wyoming, and no less deserving of our protection.
We are thrilled to announce that Miami Waterkeeper, along with our partners at University of Miami and Florida Sea Grant, have been awarded the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Habitat Focus Area grant!
We are thrilled to announce the addition of our newest board member, Greg Clark. Greg has already been an incredible asset to Miami Waterkeeper, bringing his positive energy and diverse experience to the organization.
How much plastic have you used today? Chances are, quite a bit.
Plastic is found in products all around us and has become an integral part of our daily lives. Unfortunately, plastic is often not disposed of properly and is threatening the health of our oceans. From bottle caps and fishing lines to plastic bags and packaging, about 8 million tons of plastic enters the ocean each year. Most of this plastic is considered "single use" and is designed to be thrown away after just a few minutes.
Just how bad is the problem?
We are thrilled to announce that we were awarded a Rapid Ocean Conservation (ROC) Grant from the Waitt Foundation. These grants provide quick-turnaround funding to address emergent conservation issues. This type of funding is rare and critically important for conservation because these grants can be used to address sudden crises, such as algal blooms, oil spills, or coral bleaching. When environmental issues need an immediate response, waiting through a typical grant cycle be too slow.
Biscayne Bay Waterkeeper is thrilled to announce the addition of our newest board member, Phil Kushlan.
Phil is a Ph.D. student at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and received a Maytag Fellowship to study coral resiliency under climate change conditions.
Biscayne Bay Waterkeeper’s first peer reviewed journal article is out! BBWK partnered with Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch for this study that examines the sustainability of U.S. fisheries. We found that 98% of U.S., wild-caught fisheries are considered “best choice” or “good alternative” eco-friendly choices, according to Monterey Bay Aquarium”s Seafood Watch. While it was found that the majority of U.S. fisheries are rated “Best Choice” or “Good Alternative”, only 19% received the top “Best Choice” rating. This limitation was primarily due to bycatch concerns.
Biscayne Bay Waterkeeper is excited to announce our new partnership with the University of Florida Levin College of Law Conservation Clinic. UF law students will work with us to develop a comprehensive report examining the legal and policy-based framework that overlays Biscayne Bay and its surrounding areas. The report will focus on summarizing the federal, state, and local laws and policy, which govern Biscayne Bay.
Biscayne Bay is surrounded by diverse federal, state, and local entities, including one national park (Biscayne National Park), multiple state preserves and state parks (e.g. Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve, Oleta River State Park, Barnacle Historic State Park, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Bill Sadowski Critical Wildlife Area, and others), one county (Miami-Dade County) and over 30 municipalities. To the south lies the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, which includes Crocodile Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, and the Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park. We hope to examine these governance frameworks to show areas of overlap and dissonance between governance and interaction with the Bay.
