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 expression.
For centuries, this area has been admired for its significant coral features include spur-and-groove formations, bank reefs, and nearshore patch reefs. In recent times, it has become a fortress and strategic military base of various conquering regimes. A rectangular nine-square nautical mile area, Western Sambo Ecological Reserve begins at the water's edge off the sandy beaches and salt ponds of Boca Chica Naval Air Station. It continues through nearshore hardbottom and inshore patch reefs, out across midchannel reefs in Hawk Channel, over offshore patch reefs and the shallow bank reef, and ends at a depth of 60 feet.
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.
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:
www.thescubanews.com/2024/03/...
Coral Reef Health:
floridakeys.noaa.gov/zones/er...
Beneath the Surface/The Blue Marble Series:
www.carissawelton.com/
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