Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA) status for Snapper Ledge, Tavernier, Key Largo, Florida
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Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
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We the undersigned request the enactment of a law, regulation, and/or ordinance prohibiting the taking of any and all types of marine creatures, sponges, corals, aquatic plants and grasses from the waters around the dive site commonly known as Snapper Ledge, Tavernier, Key Largo, Florida Keys, Florida by any and all means. We the undersigned seek Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA) status for Snapper Ledge.
We request this action because this reef is a unique and popular scuba diving site that is well known internationally for its diverse and dense concentration of marine creatures. Unfortunately, the area is being depleted and destroyed by fisherman who kill fish for food, sport and pleasure using both spears and hooks.
Snapper Ledge, a popular dive site off of Tavernier in the Florida Keys, is home to some of the most dense and diverse marine life populations in the area. Divers regularly report the presence of large schools of grunts, snappers, and many other species of fish, including parrotfish, rays, lobsters, and more. Divers also report that although the extreme density of marine life is present during the entire year, it is concentrated only in the immediate area around what is commonly known as Snapper Ledge.
Divespots.com describes Snapper Ledge as follows:
"Often, the schools of fish are so thick that you cannot see through them. You can usually count on seeing a few nurse sharks along with green and spotted Moray Eels. Other frequent sightings include Goat Fish, Hog Snappers, Trunk Fish, Sea Urchins, Crabs, Lobster, Nurse Sharks, Spider and Arrow Crabs, Rays, Octopus, Corkscrew Anenome, Eel, Cleaner Shrimp, Butter Hamlet, and Hawk Fish.
"One of the largest and healthiest Boulder Brain Corals (Colpophyllia natans) in the Upper Keys can be found on Snapper's Ledge. This site is an exceptional location for both snorkeling and diving -- a serious "Must Dive" site in the keys."
Unfortunately, Snapper Ledge has become a popular destination for spear-fishing. It is common for recreational SCUBA divers to see the carnage left by spear-fisherman, many of whom are underwater simply to shoot animals for sport. Some divers have even reported spear-fisherman killing animals within mere feet of them.
Nurse sharks are a common target, and many divers have testified to seeing nurse sharks speared for sport and left to die prolonged deaths over the course of many days.
Professional underwater photographer and Key Largo resident Stephen Frink photographed a nurse shark -- still alive -- that had been "stabbed through the back and eviscerated." See Stephen's blog entry (link below) for his letter about the situation at Snapper Ledge, and for a photo of the eviscerated nurse shark.
We the undersigned seek Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA) status for Snapper Ledge.
By virtue of its unusually dense concentration of marine life and value as a marquee dive site for recreational SCUBA divers, Snapper Ledge should be protected as a Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA), just as Molasses Reef and French Reef are protected. There are plenty of other places to spear fish off Tavernier and Islamorada, and to decimate the fish populations at Snapper Ledge is both shortsighted and barbaric.
--- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON MARINE PROTECTED AREAS (MPAs) ---
A common misconception is that MPAs and SPAs reduce the availability of fish for fishing (including spear-fishing).
In fact, MPAs and SPAs can increase the productivity of local fishing grounds because "in the absence of fishing pressure inside reserves, fish are able to grow to maturity and to increase in overall abundance. This leads to increased reproductive potential inside reserves, and the subsequent increased production of eggs and larvae, which can be transported by currents of the reserves to replenish nearby fishing grounds."
Source: http://mpa.gov/helpful_resources/faqs.html#Fisherie_Enhancement
--- USEFUL LINKS ---
Snapper Ledge information, Divespots.com
http://www.divespots.com/scuba/spotID-147/view.divespot
Stephen Frink, on Snapper Ledge
http://stephenfrink.blogspot.com/2008/08/shark-dead-for-no-reason.html
National Marine Protected Areas: FAQs
http://mpa.gov/helpful_resources/faqs.html#Fisherie_Enhancement
We request this action because this reef is a unique and popular scuba diving site that is well known internationally for its diverse and dense concentration of marine creatures. Unfortunately, the area is being depleted and destroyed by fisherman who kill fish for food, sport and pleasure using both spears and hooks.
Snapper Ledge, a popular dive site off of Tavernier in the Florida Keys, is home to some of the most dense and diverse marine life populations in the area. Divers regularly report the presence of large schools of grunts, snappers, and many other species of fish, including parrotfish, rays, lobsters, and more. Divers also report that although the extreme density of marine life is present during the entire year, it is concentrated only in the immediate area around what is commonly known as Snapper Ledge.
Divespots.com describes Snapper Ledge as follows:
"Often, the schools of fish are so thick that you cannot see through them. You can usually count on seeing a few nurse sharks along with green and spotted Moray Eels. Other frequent sightings include Goat Fish, Hog Snappers, Trunk Fish, Sea Urchins, Crabs, Lobster, Nurse Sharks, Spider and Arrow Crabs, Rays, Octopus, Corkscrew Anenome, Eel, Cleaner Shrimp, Butter Hamlet, and Hawk Fish.
"One of the largest and healthiest Boulder Brain Corals (Colpophyllia natans) in the Upper Keys can be found on Snapper's Ledge. This site is an exceptional location for both snorkeling and diving -- a serious "Must Dive" site in the keys."
Unfortunately, Snapper Ledge has become a popular destination for spear-fishing. It is common for recreational SCUBA divers to see the carnage left by spear-fisherman, many of whom are underwater simply to shoot animals for sport. Some divers have even reported spear-fisherman killing animals within mere feet of them.
Nurse sharks are a common target, and many divers have testified to seeing nurse sharks speared for sport and left to die prolonged deaths over the course of many days.
Professional underwater photographer and Key Largo resident Stephen Frink photographed a nurse shark -- still alive -- that had been "stabbed through the back and eviscerated." See Stephen's blog entry (link below) for his letter about the situation at Snapper Ledge, and for a photo of the eviscerated nurse shark.
We the undersigned seek Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA) status for Snapper Ledge.
By virtue of its unusually dense concentration of marine life and value as a marquee dive site for recreational SCUBA divers, Snapper Ledge should be protected as a Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA), just as Molasses Reef and French Reef are protected. There are plenty of other places to spear fish off Tavernier and Islamorada, and to decimate the fish populations at Snapper Ledge is both shortsighted and barbaric.
--- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON MARINE PROTECTED AREAS (MPAs) ---
A common misconception is that MPAs and SPAs reduce the availability of fish for fishing (including spear-fishing).
In fact, MPAs and SPAs can increase the productivity of local fishing grounds because "in the absence of fishing pressure inside reserves, fish are able to grow to maturity and to increase in overall abundance. This leads to increased reproductive potential inside reserves, and the subsequent increased production of eggs and larvae, which can be transported by currents of the reserves to replenish nearby fishing grounds."
Source: http://mpa.gov/helpful_resources/faqs.html#Fisherie_Enhancement
--- USEFUL LINKS ---
Snapper Ledge information, Divespots.com
http://www.divespots.com/scuba/spotID-147/view.divespot
Stephen Frink, on Snapper Ledge
http://stephenfrink.blogspot.com/2008/08/shark-dead-for-no-reason.html
National Marine Protected Areas: FAQs
http://mpa.gov/helpful_resources/faqs.html#Fisherie_Enhancement
3050 Signatures
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Victor J. L
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Miami, FL 33156
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Harry W
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Dunnellon, FL 34433 USA
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Rich R
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Boca Raton, FL 33486
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Elena R
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Miami, Fl 33173
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Diane B
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- West Palm Beach, FL 33401, USA
- Comments
- The time is now to protect our natural world
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Brant S
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- San Anselmo, CA
- Comments
- Let's make it happen!
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ernesto p
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Miami, Florida, Dade
- Comments
- Great Job Stephen.
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JC C
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Cayman Islands
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Bess B
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Houston, TX
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Lindsay Z
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- West Palm Beach, FL 33411
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Miguel p
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Andrew W
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- South Pasadena, CA 91030 USA
- Comments
- This SPA makes sense for the fish and for the people: economically and environmentally.
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Tiffany P
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Salem, OR 97304
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Bill G
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Fond du Lac, WI 54937 USA
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JOSE R P
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- SALEM, OR 97304
- Comments
- PLEASE STOP THE DESTRUCTION!
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beth g
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- fairfax, virginia 22033
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Daniel B
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Mountain View, CA 94043 USA
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cherri b
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Steamboat Springs CO 80477
- Comments
- Please protect the sharks and other wildlife on this magnfiicent reef...!
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Kacey F
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- 32304
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Eric L
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Idaz G
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Key Largo FL 33037
- Comments
- Crimes against animals often escalate to humans-This must be stopped.
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Jerry G
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Key Largo FL 33037
- Comments
- This is one of my favorite spots to visit. Protection of Snapper Ledge is long overdue.
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Mark S
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Port Hueneme, CA 93041
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Sofia M
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- North Miami Beach, Florida, USA
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KC Nayfield D
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Crystal River, FL
- Comments
- As these natural wonders become more and more depleted through over use and over fishing it becomes more obvious for the need for conservation. Unfortunately this will mean off limits areas to prevent further destruction of natural habitat and its species.
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Peter Z
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Coral Gables, FL 33133 United States
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Nina S
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Miami, FL 33156
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Heather N
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- West Palm Beach, FL 33406
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George R. R
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Miami, Fl 33173 Miami-Dade County
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Erin P
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Carlsbad, CA 92008 USA
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Neil O
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Steamboat Springs, CO
- Comments
- Please protect what is left in the Keys.
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Doug T
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- 16742 Burke Lane Huntington Beach CA
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Jaime Q
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Miami, FL
- Comments
- В
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jeremy h
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- west palm beach, fl, 33401, usa
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Justin E
- Comments
- Sounds beautiful. Let's preserve it!
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Marcelo F
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Miami, FL 33133
- Comments
- Please pass this sanctuary!!!
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Anya E
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Key Largo, FL 33037
- Comments
- strongly support!
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Mario V
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Martin S
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Maitland, FL 32751, USA
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Paul Z
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Miami, Florida 33145
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John F
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Islamorada, Fl, 33036 USA
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Steve H
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Stuart, FL 34996
- Comments
- Best concentration of tropical fish I have ever seen!
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Mathew F
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Art S
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Ocala, FL, 34482, USA
- Comments
- This is a crucial step toward saving a immensely valuable part of Wild Florida. Please enact this ASAP.
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AGENOR C
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- coconut creek, fl, 33073
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Tracy S
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Ocala, FL, 34482, USA
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Jon B
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Warren, MI
- Comments
- I think the protection of Snapper Reef should be expanded to protect all appropriate reefs in the Florida Keys
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Patricia I
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- 5 Cindy Place, Key Largo, FL 33037
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Corky W
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Key Largo
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Barry C. Moore, P
- City, State, Zip Code, Country
- Pullman WA 99174 USA
- Comments
- Snapper Ledge supports an especially abundant and diverse community of marine organisms, most noticeably the rich fish community. Although I support opportunities for recreational fishing, both above and below water, it is clear that irresponsible practices have had a negative impact on this resource. Continuation of these practices could seriously impact the entire ecosystem by altering important food web relationships. Protection of Snapper Ledge will preserve the site for less invasive activities such as scuba observation and photography. Ultimately, protected fish populations are Snapper Ledge can create better fishing opportunities at other sites, as the protected community can expand, providing a refuge for expansion to other, nearby reefs. As an annual visitor to the Keys, I strongly support this proposal.
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3050
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