Fort Pickens Aquatic Preserve
"Fort Pickens is a rare taste of old Florida, and its undisturbed natural beauty makes it one of my favorite places to visit on the Gulf Coast." - former U.S. Representative Jeff Miller
"Fort Pickens is a rare taste of old Florida, and its undisturbed natural beauty makes it one of my favorite places to visit on the Gulf Coast." - former U.S. Representative Jeff Miller
The primary role of Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves' (BBAP) role in managing bay resources has been to work as an informed source on ecological issues and cultural resources within and adjacent to the aquatic preserves, by coordinating with other resource management agencies. BBAP works to oversee activities that could potentially affect its natural resources, to ensure all laws are obeyed and enforced, and to ensure accurate information is available for management planning decisions.
The goal for public access management in Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves (BBAP) is to promote and manage public use of the aquatic preserve that supports the protection of the resources of the preserves.
Recreation
Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves' Education and Outreach Program consists of three target audiences - adults, youth, and educators.
Adults are taught about bay area habitats and species through public presentation forums throughout the year as well as team-taught coursework such as the 40-hour Florida Master Naturalist Courses.
An expansive geographic area and the challenges posed by protecting natural resources adjacent to the most populous county in the state means that fostering partnerships with other agencies is crucial. The information collected from these agencies forms the basis for the foundation for the ecosystem science program at Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves.
The main partnering agencies are:
Lignumvitae Key Aquatic Preserve (pronounced "lig-nem-VI-te"), is a 6,700-acre protected area located adjacent to Islamorada in the Upper Florida Keys. The aquatic preserve spans a unique transitional zone between Florida Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. This vital productive area includes seagrass flats, mangroves and hardbottom communities, which support a wondrous diversity of life.
Coupon Bight Aquatic Preserve is a 5,400-acre protected area located south of Big Pine Key in the lower Florida Keys. The aquatic preserve spans a unique geological transition zone between the upper and lower Florida Keys. It boasts a diversity of underwater habitats that support an amazing array of life.
Biscayne Bay is home to two state aquatic preserves, collectively known as Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves (BBAP). The first, Biscayne Bay-Cape Florida to Monroe County Line Aquatic Preserve was designated in 1970. Much of the submerged lands and islands originally included within the boundaries are now within either Biscayne National Park (BNP) or within the larger preserve, Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve.
"Alligator Harbor is one of the world's largest feeding grounds for the Kemp's ridley turtle, which is the rarest and most endangered of all marine turtles. The area's abundance of blue crabs, jellyfish, shellfish and seagrass provide an important food source for all sea turtles. The unspoiled waters and beaches are valuable breeding and nesting grounds for marine sea turtles. Alligator Harbor, in addition to being a valuable natural resource, is also archaeologically rich with several Miccosukee/Seminole Indian artifacts and burial mounds surrounding the harbor."
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