A porkfish swims through elkhorn coral, a threatened species, on a reef off Pompano Beach.
South Florida coral reefs face threats from pollution, anchor damage, high water temperatures
and other factors. The public is invited to comment on proposals to protect the region’s reefs
during two meetings Jan. 29 in Delray Beach.
Photo provided by Ana N. Zangroniz
By Willie Howard
Spearfishing with scuba gear could become a thing of the past in the waters off of Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Martin counties.
Coral reef education could become mandatory in South Florida schools.
Anglers who pass an online exam covering the Coral Reef Protection Act and basic boating laws could pay less for their fishing licenses.
Those are just a few examples of the dozens of recommended management actions that have been proposed through the Our Florida Reefs community planning process to protect the reef tract that stretches from Miami to Stuart.
The public is invited to comment on management options to protect the reefs during two meetings set for Jan. 29 at the Delray Beach Public Library. Meeting times are noon to 2 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at the library, 100 W. Atlantic Ave.
The Delray Beach reef meetings are part of a series of community workshops being held in the four-county area through Feb. 18 to gather feedback from boaters, divers, anglers and others on a variety of suggested reef-protection measures.
Other proposals being considered to protect the reefs would:
• Designate the reef tract off Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Martin counties as a “particularly sensitive sea area” to reduce impacts from tugboat and barge cables as well as ship groundings.
• Create coral reef “gardens” that could be closely monitored to promote the recovery, restoration and recruitment of corals and fish.
• Nominate the four-county area to be designated as a national marine sanctuary similar to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in Monroe County.
• Reduce from 12 to six the number of spiny lobster that divers could keep daily during the two-day sport lobster season in late July. (The six-lobster bag limit already applies in Monroe County and Biscayne National Park.)
• Require the tagging of lead lines for all cast nets over 6 feet and require commercial and recreational anglers to report lost nets within the St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park.
• Increase funding for the recruitment and retention of law-enforcement officers with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.
After the public has commented on the recommendations, community working group members — who have been discussing South Florida’s reef problems and developing proposed solutions since March 2014 — will produce a final report.
Final recommendations will be presented to agencies that would implement the reef-protecting measures, including the FWC and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. That’s expected to happen later this year, said Ana Zangroniz, awareness and appreciation coordinator for the DEP’s Coral Reef Conservation Program.
For details about the Our Florida Reefs planning process, go to www.OurFloridaReefs.org.
Triggerfish minimum size changed back to 12 inches
After increasing the minimum size for gray triggerfish to 14 inches in July, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission in November reduced the minimum size for triggerfish caught on Florida’s east coast back to 12 inches (fork length). The bag limit on the state’s east coast is 10 triggerfish.
Tara Eddings (third from left) with the Miss Britt team and the 104.6-pound yellowfin tuna caught Dec. 12
off Boca Raton while fishing for sailfish. The tuna set a weight-fish record for the Quest for the Crest
sailfish release tournament series.
Photo provided by Endless Imagery
105-pound yellowfin tuna taken off Boca Raton
Sailfish angler Tara Eddings was fishing off Boca Raton during the Operation Sailfish tournament in mid-December when something much larger than a sailfish hit her live goggle-eye, dangled from a fishing kite in 350 feet of water.
After a two-hour fight with Capt. Ray Rosher aboard the 39-foot Contender Miss Britt (during which the crew hooked two more sailfish), Eddings boated a 104.6-pound yellowfin tuna, caught on 20-pound-test line rigged with 40-pound-test leader.
Her tuna was the heaviest fish ever weighed in any of the Quest for the Crest sailfish release tournaments organized by Deerfield Beach-based Blue Water Movements.
Delray Beach Historical Society angles for fish tales
The Delray Beach Historical Society is asking Palm Beach County residents to share fishing stories, photographs and memorabilia for a fishing history exhibit planned for the spring.
The exhibit is expected to include fishing photos, mounted fish and fishing tales from throughout South Florida but will focus on southern Palm Beach County.
To participate, contact historical society archivists Janet DeVries or Michelle Quigley at 274-9578 or email: Archive@Delraybeachhistory.org.
Manatee dubbed “Morty” at Waterstone Resort
More than 200 people voted in person and online to choose the name “Morty” for the stuffed manatee mascot at the Waterstone Resort & Marina in Boca Raton.
The name selection was celebrated Dec. 20 with a manatee-naming party at the resort featuring a buffet lunch for kids, manatee cookie decorating and appearances by Santa and Morty.
The resort plans to offer a special package next year in which 10 percent of the lodging fee will go to the Save the Manatee Club and guests will receive a stuffed manatee when they check in.
Guests see real manatees from the porch of the waterfront resort near Boca Raton Inlet, spokeswoman Allie Weinstock said.
Coming events
Jan. 6-9: 79th annual Silver Sailfish Derby, a sailfish release tournament organized by the West Palm Beach Fishing Club. Captain’s meeting Jan. 6 at the club. Fishing Jan. 7-8. Awards dinner Jan. 9. 832-6780 or www.WestPalmBeachFishingClub.org.
Jan. 9: Basic boating safety class offered by Coast Guard Auxiliary in Boca Raton. Class will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the headquarters building at Spanish River Park, 3939 N. Ocean Blvd. Fee: $35. Register at door. Bring lunch. 391-3600 or www.cgauxboca.org.
Jan. 13: Snook symposium, a full-day discussion about snook research and management in Florida, Caribe Royale hotel, Orlando. 850-487-0554 or www.myfwc.com/snook2016.
Jan. 26: Brett Fitzgerald, director of the Snook & Gamefish Foundation, speaks to the Boynton Beach Fishing Club, 7:30 p.m. at the clubhouse by the boat ramps, Harvey E. Oyer Jr. Park, 2010 N. Federal Highway, Boynton Beach. Free. www.bifc.org.
Jan. 23: Basic boating safety class offered by Coast Guard Auxiliary, 8 a.m. in the meeting room at Harvey E. Oyer Jr. Park, 2010 N. Federal Highway, Boynton Beach. Fee $40. Call Sandy Meridy, 734-2244.
Tip of the month
South Florida boaters who take their vessels on the ocean and have a satellite beacon such as an EPIRB or a PLB in case of emergency probably know that the beacons must be registered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
But they might not realize that beacon registrations must be updated every two years.
If the boat or phone number associated with the beacon registration changes, the registration also must be updated with NOAA.
Updating a satellite beacon registration is simple: Go to www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov and use the beacon’s 15-digit ID number to update or confirm the information.
If an emergency beacon is sold, the seller should notify NOAA so the new owner can register it.
Owners who have questions about registering or updating their emergency beacons can call NOAA at 888-212-7283 or email Beacon.Registration@noaa.gov.
Willie Howard is a freelance writer and licensed boat captain. Reach him at tiowillie@bellsouth.net.
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