As the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary strives to assess impacts from Hurricane Irma, the public is asked to help by reporting conditions on and in the water. The observations will assist sanctuary staff in responding to immediate concerns and developing short- and long-term management actions.
First and foremost, be careful of on-water and underwater hazards when boating, diving and snorkeling. Water depths have changed in many areas and visibility may be impaired. To share observations about the sanctuary’s natural resources, use the online reporting tool for the Mote Marine Laboratories Community-Based Observations of Coastal Ecosystems and Assessment Network (C-OCEAN):
Shipwrecks and other cultural resources may have shifted during the storm and become unstable. Wrecks or new parts of old wrecks may be visible that contain important information about Florida’s maritime history and are protected under state and federal law.
To report changes in the sanctuary’s cultural resources, contact the Florida Public Archaeology Network. Send GPS coordinates and photographs to Associate Director Dr. Della Scott-Ireton at " target="_blank" rel="noopener"> or SE/SW Region Director Sara Ayers-Rigsby at " target="_blank" rel="noopener">.
Additional information for ensuring the appropriate agencies are notified can be found at http://floridakeys.noaa.
gov/report.html .
Source: Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Enlists Public’s Help in Post-Hurricane Survey – Keys Recovery