In their wet suits and masks, scientific divers carry oxygen tanks, underwater cameras, measuring tape, and about 50 pounds of equipment into Biscayne Bay to restore Miami-Dade's coral reefs.

The task is necessary, as boaters moving in shallow waters toss anchors overboard that cut through corals and harm fragile seagrass areas, said Stephen M. Blair, chief of environmental restoration with the county's Department of Environmental Resources Management.

Seeing the damage and decline of coral species, Blair leads a team of divers that is installing mooring buoys in five coral reef areas from just north of Biscayne National Park to the Miami-Dade-Broward County line. The work is part of a year-long project that started this month.

``When somebody damages a coral, its recovery can take several years to even decades,'' said Blair, during a recent diving expedition near Key Biscayne. ``Even after we restore a coral with cement, it will never be the same.''

The new buoys will allow boaters to find recreational diving and fishing spots and secure their boats to these locations -- protecting the endangered species and making the divers' job easier. The program is one of the department's new environmental protection initiatives.

Three to four times a week, DERM biologists collect data, measuring corals and taking photos. One dive usually lasts about a half-hour, said Melissa Sathe, biologist and field coordinator for offshore activities.

By deploying the buoys, Miami-Dade will join Broward and Monroe counties, which have been protecting coral reefs for several years.

The county received grants totaling $50,000 from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection coral reef program and NOAA to maintain the mooring buoys for one year.

Foundations for the buoys have already been built at the North Canyon, South Canyon, Pillars, Graceland and Emerald reefs. The installation will be completed by a private company, Sathe said.

Mooring sites were chosen based on their popularity and in consultation with the local fishing and diving communities, said Sara Thanner, environmental resources project supervisor with DERM.

``The idea is to protect coral reefs, which are fragile organisms that have been impacted by human activity and changes in the environment,'' said Thanner, as she drove a DERM boat to a 27-foot-deep area near Emerald Reef.

As the three biologists prepared to go underwater, they said coral bleaching has become more prevalent.

``Corals normally go from tan to brown colors to purples. When conditions are very poor, what is left is a white clear tissue,'' Blair said. ``Bleaching indicates a change in the environment that has been modified in a way that is not healthy.''

Ship groundings, hurricanes, oil and contaminant spills can adversely affect coral reefs, Blair said. Many other human activities such as fishing, diving, mining and construction have also contributed to their damage.

In particular, the elkhorn and staghorn corals have shown a drastic decrease throughout South Florida, the Caribbean, the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas. In 2006, those corals became the first species to be listed under the Endangered Species Act because of vulnerability to global warming.

In the last five years, DERM has seen some improvement in the reef system. There are a number of areas where these corals have increased, Blair said. But it is hard to tell whether this has been as a result of the department's conservation and protection efforts or as a result of global warming.

``We would like to think that this is associated with positive changes that have come with the collective efforts of everyone to try to improve the coastal conditions,'' he said.

DERM has launched an ``Adopt-a-Buoy'' project, in which local groups, corporations and individuals can also donate money to sponsor further installation and maintenance of buoys. The department plans to add more moorings at several sites as funding becomes available.

``Everybody can have an impact on the ocean,'' Blair said. ``What people put on the lawn, on the ground or what they throw in the street can eventually end up here.''

To learn more about how to help the buoy program, go to www.miamidade.gov/derm/buoy_adopt.asp.

Join the discussion

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

     Showing: Oldest first Newest first Most-recommended first Least-recommended first

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.repliedToText@

@Nyx.replyAnswerText@

Reply to this Comment @Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@