Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Communications Manager Julie Cheon joined Good morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about what’s going on in the sanctuary.
The newly installed Vanguard subsea habitat has been deployed at Tennessee Reef, about 4.6 miles south of Long Key, where it will eventually support scientific research and astronaut training.
“This is a brand new subsea habitat that just went in at Tennessee Reef,” Cheon said. “It will be utilized not only for training astronauts but also researchers.”
The habitat, operated by the international organization DEEP, sits approximately 56 feet below the surface and is supported by a buoy system providing air, communications and life support. Once operational, it will accommodate up to four researchers living and working underwater for several days at a time.
“They’ll be able to work in and out of that habitat for days at a time,” Cheon said. “For coral research and reef research, it’s a great opportunity to stay down there and continue your work without all that interruption.”
She said the habitat also continues the Keys’ role in preparing future space missions.
“I think it’s really kind of cool that your sanctuary down here is playing a part not only in coral research but in space exploration,” she said.
Cheon also provided an update on coral reef conditions, saying water temperatures have now surpassed those recorded at the same point during the devastating 2023 marine heat wave.
“The ocean temperatures have now exceeded the 2023 thresholds,” she said. “Some of the reefs have already reached or exceeded the coral bleaching threshold.”
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coral Reef Watch has placed the Keys under Bleaching Alert Level 1, indicating significant coral bleaching is expected if current conditions persist.
“We are expecting significant coral bleaching if these conditions continue,” Cheon said.
She said scientists remain hopeful that periodic cooling from the nearby Gulf Stream, along with wind and rainfall, could help reduce heat stress later this summer.
“Our coral practitioner partners are moving some of their nursery corals to land-based nurseries, moving others to deeper sites and testing shade structures over coral nurseries,” Cheon said. “They’ve got a plan, and they’re starting to execute that plan.”
Cheon encouraged divers to participate in Florida’s BleachWatch program by reporting both bleached and healthy coral colonies.
“Even if you don’t observe bleaching, we want you to report the healthy, unbleached coral,” she said. “That information is just as valuable.”
The sanctuary has also begun training Blue Star dive operators to help remove yellow-footed snails, native coral predators whose populations have become problematic as coral numbers have declined.
“The yellow-footed snails are a native coral predator,” Cheon said. “Their numbers are just too high, and they’re eating too much of the coral that we have left.”
Cheon recently joined one of the training sessions, where divers learned to identify and safely remove the snails while conducting reef surveys. During the initial training, 36 dive professionals representing 11 Blue Star dive shops surveyed reefs, documented more than 2,100 fish and 125 invertebrates, and removed 329 snails.
Once state permits are finalized, likely later this year, trained operators will begin offering public stewardship trips allowing recreational divers to participate.
“The community can come and actually help remove these yellow-footed snails,” Cheon said. “It’s really cool.”
Cheon also highlighted a Water Quality Protection Program steering committee meeting focused on coastal restoration, canal improvements and environmental education. Agenda items include updates on tidal restoration projects at Curry Hammock and Islamorada, recommendations from the reestablished Canal Restoration Subcommittee and NOAA’s Ocean Guardian School Program.
“Monroe County School District is only the second school district in the entire country to become an Ocean Guardian School District,” Cheon said. “They start teaching stewardship early, because it all goes hand in hand.”
Cheon encouraged residents to stay informed through the sanctuary’s website and social media channels, attend public meetings and properly use mooring buoys to help protect fragile coral reefs.
“We always welcome public comment,” she said. “We want to hear from the folks out there.”
For more information, click here: https://floridakeys.noaa.gov/