PALM BEACH, FL-- If there's one thing we aren't short on around here, it's marine life.
But our carelessness can result in a loss of habitat for our underwater neighbors."Corals are somewhat fragile to injury, especially to physical injury" said Erin McDevitt, Marine Habitat Manager for Florida Fish and Wildlife.
So last week Florida Fish and Wildlife, and Palm Beach County Environmental Research Management, took another step toward saving our reefs, starting with the area right off the Breakers Hotel.
"We have received requests, both the county and FWC, from the public to have some mooring buoys in Palm Beach County, and also because we want to protect the reefs and provide an alternative to anchoring" said McDevitt.
One thing Florida Fish and Wildlife wants to emphasize is that the lines from these mooring balls aren't meant to tie off on your deck. Instead, once you get a hold of the mooring line, put your own bowline through the loop, and tie your own bowline off on your deck.
Funded by a state wildlife grant of eighty-seven hundred dollars, the six mooring buoys are ready to go, and your use of them could really help a lot.
"Even a small amount of damage from an anchor can eventually result in the loss of that coral" said McDevitt.
The buoys are for daytime use only, and are first come, first serve. They can make a day on the water a lot easier and more enjoyable.
"If this program is successful, if people like them, if the buoys work well, we hope to expand it and add more buoys in this location and all over Palm Beach County" said McDevitt.
