June 2, 2016 — A group called Our Florida Reefs is pushing for changes that would help protect 105 miles of South Florida’s coral reef, but it could come at a cost for the local fishing industry.
State officials and community leaders are meeting Wednesday and Thursday in Coconut Creek to discuss plans to help better manage local reefs.
The state’s Department of Environmental Protection set up the Our Florida Reefs project. For the past two years, group members have been researching ways to help dying reefs.
Members of the group are stakeholders from Martin, Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties. They include business leaders, dive professionals, fishermen, environmentalists and county leaders.