Less severe measures to be used to protect reefs
By David Fleshler, Sun Sentinel
[dropcap]B[/dropcap]iscayne National Park has dropped a controversial proposal to ban fishing across nearly 16 square miles of coral reef, after vigorous opposition from anglers and members of Congress.
Biscayne National Park shallow water coral reefs. Photo National Park Service.
The park, which encompasses southern Biscayne Bay, had proposed a no-fishing zone to help coral reefs recover from decades of heavy fishing that had devastated snapper, grouper, lobster and other creatures that make their homes in the park’s shallow, sunny waters.
The decision to drop the ban proposal was made public after a meeting earlier this month between representatives of the park and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the state agency that regulates hunting and fishing and that has usually opposed no-fishing zones as an infringement on the rights of the public.
Brian Carlstrom, the park’s superintendent, said the new plan will be released in detail in a few months. But in general, he said it would use such tools as restrictions on the catch of certain species and limits on the number of anglers, rather than an outright ban.
“It’s not going to restrict fishing altogether,” he said. “But it’s going to change how it’s done to give the reef a better chance to recover.”
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