Key West Ocean Sanctuary

>> YOUR LINK HERE: ___ http://youtube.com/watch?v=K2wE7UH2lZI

Notes for the sequel to Beneath the Surface from Western Sambo Reef in the Florida Keys: • The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary protects approximately 2,900 square nautical miles (9,900 km2; 3,800 sq mi) of coastal and ocean waters from the estuarine waters of south Florida along the Florida Keys archipelago, encompassing more than 1,700 islands, out to the Dry Tortugas National Park, reaching into the Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Designated as the 1st underwater protected park in the USA, the Western Sambo Ecological Reserve contains the greatest habitat diversity in the Lower Keys. • Sambo is an ugly name for one of the most beautiful places on Earth. I suppose you could say that's where a lot of our problems begin -- written in our language and imprinted in our cultural expression. Perhaps what's most fitting about this New World title is how the appalling nature of its roots matches its current state of degradation and decay. • For centuries, this area has been admired for its significant coral features include spur-and-groove formations, bank reefs, and nearshore patch reefs. Western Sambo once had an outstanding array of elkhorn coral in the Lower Keys, a species once abundant throughout the Keys. Anemones, crabs, starfish, sea cucumbers, sand dollars, and sea urchins are found nearshore. Surgeonfish, bar jacks, foureye butterflyfish, rosy blennies, neon gobies, grunts, wrasses, angelfish, damselfish, striped parrotfish, butter hamlets, sharpnosed puffers, and schoolmasters are residents at the reef. Huge gray angelfish and hogfish meander the shallow areas of Western Sambo, where we snorkeled. • However, devastating changes are happening quickly to the USA's 1st underwater national wildlife sanctuary. Just last April, US authorities warned of massive coral bleaching events around the globe. Amid record-breaking ocean temperatures, coral bleaching has been documented in 62 countries and territories since February 2023, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said -- an increase of nine from its warning in April. • This event is still growing in size and impacts, Derek Manzello, coordinator for NOAA's Coral Reef Watch program, told a press briefing, adding: This is not something that would be happening without climate change. Abnormally hot ocean temperatures in the Keys related to climate change over the years have led to bleaching and a massive die-off. Marine scientists are scrambling to preserve samples of rare species of coral before, possibly, they're gone forever. • According to MOTE Laboratory, an independent, nonprofit marine research institution comprising world-class marine scientists, reported that the majority overall percentage of corals in the Florida Keys exhibiting signs of thermal stress was 76-100% with a few sites offshore throughout the FKNMS of up to 50%. Nearly all species including Brain corals, Encrusting/Mound/Boulder corals, Flower corals, Branching/Pillar corals, Fleshy corals, and Leaf/Plate corals showed signs of thermal stress at all sites and recent mortality at a several inshore and mid-channel sites. A few observations of corals regaining some zooxanthellae. Other observations included bleaching and mortality of Palythoa spp., Fire coral, and Gorgonians as well as several reports of coral disease, mainly the Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD), Rapid Tissue Loss Disease (RTL) and Black Band Disease (BBD). In plain terms: the world's 3rd largest reef is under tremendous stress due to human acitivities. • Always remember, while it is an integral part of our home planet, we are all only visitors in the sea. In addition to tropical reefs around the world, many places on land are already suffering from ocean heating, marine debris, as well as careless tourists damaging corals accidentally. It is vital for everyone alive that we treat the coral reefs, the lungs of the ocean and base of practically our entire food chain, with respect. Like our trees that reach up to the sky, without our coral reefs in the sea, humanity may cease to exist. • Coral Reef Etiquette: • https://www.thescubanews.com/2024/03/... • Coral Reef Health: • https://floridakeys.noaa.gov/zones/er... • Beneath the Surface/The Blue Marble Series: • https://www.carissawelton.com/ • More References: • https://www.barrons.com/news/global-c... • https://mote.org/media/uploads/meera/... • https://www.npr.org/2023/07/28/119082... • This video was made with Clipchamp editing tools.

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