CALENDAR ANNOUNCEMENT 

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us 

INPUT SOUGHT AT OUR FLORIDA REEFS COMMUNITY MEETING IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

~Public invited to comment on recommendations for coral reef management
in Southeast Florida~

Our Florida Reefs discussing the future management of coral reefs in Miami-Dade,
Broward, Palm Beach and Martin counties.

WHAT:     Our Florida Reefs Community Meeting

WHEN:      Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016
                  Choose from two identical sessions: Noon-2 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.

WHERE:    Newman Alumni Center, University of Miami,
                  Coral Gables Campus
                  6200 San Amaro Drive
                  Coral Gables, FL 33146

WHEN:     Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016
                  Choose from two identical sessions: Noon-2 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.

WHERE:    Kovens Conference Center, Florida International University,
                  Biscayne Bay Campus
                  3000 NE 151st St.
                  North Miami, FL 33181

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Coral Reef Conservation Program and the Our Florida Reefs Community Working Groups are hosting a series of community meetings to share Recommended Management Actions (RMA) drafted during the Our Florida Reefs community planning process. These community meetings will provide the public an opportunity to learn about all 68 draft RMAs, ask questions and provide written feedback. The RMAs are available online here. The public is also invited to review and submit comments here until March 1, 2016.

Community Working Group members will review and evaluate this feedback and potentially incorporate pertinent information into the final prioritized list of RMAs. This RMA list will be included and distributed as part of the Our Florida Reefs final report.

Our Florida Reefs is a community planning process for Southeast Florida’s coral reefs that brings together the community of local residents, reef users, business owners, visitors and the broader public in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Martin counties to discuss the future of the offshore coral reefs in those four counties.

This planning process is designed to increase public involvement in the future management of Southeast Florida’s coral reefs by seeking input from community members on the development of recommendations that can become part of a comprehensive management strategy to ensure healthy coral reefs in the future. For more information, visit www.ourfloridareefs.org/events.

About the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Florida Coastal Office

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Coastal Office (FCO) is responsible for oversight of the state’s 41 Aquatic Preserves, three National Estuarine Research Reserves, the Coral Reef Conservation Program, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the Florida Coastal Management Program and the Outer Continental Shelf Program. It is the mission of FCO to conserve and restore Florida’s coastal, ocean, and aquatic resources for the benefit of people and the environment. For more information, visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLDEP/bulletins/13537b4