Editor’s Note: Patrick Breshike is a Miami Beach resident, artist, and Ocean Advocate. He spends most weekends documenting life on the reef, painting, and playing pickleball. To find out more information about the reef or upcoming art events check out miamibeachmarinepark.com. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own.
Just East of the Miami Design Preservation League headquarters lies an underwater jewel, teeming with life and poised to help elevate Miami Beach as a family-friendly destination for not only our great Art Deco architecture but also aquatic architecture built by some of Miami Beach’s oldest residents – the corals!
Fort Lauderdale and the Florida Keys have done a wonderful job promoting and protecting their marine ecosystems as a way to preserve nature and facilitate healthy and fun activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving. Activities that both residents and tourists can enjoy. Miami Beach can replicate this, adding its own Ocean Drive flair, by creating a Marine Park from 12th Street to the South Point Jetty.
What does a Marine Park look like? No, not water slides and inflatable palm trees, but instead, minor changes to our current beach setup that will make it safer for people to visit the reef while also protecting the corals and colorful fish for generations to come. The reef is home to multiple endangered species, such as staghorn coral, green sea turtles, and queen conch. This endangered habitat is full of life and beauty. Large coral heads, beautiful tropical fish in bright colors, and resident nurse sharks are just waiting to greet divers. Reefs that can be reached directly from shore like this one are rare. They offer an unparalleled level of access. It can serve as an “Ambassador Reef” for the entire Florida Reef Tract, helping to convert our tourists into ocean conservationists.
The reef sits just East of the vessel exclusion buoys about 500 feet from the shore. The most important step is to move these markers to the far side of the reef so that boats do not drop anchor on top of the reef or accidentally run down a family of snorkelers enjoying their day trying to find Nemo.
Secondly, we are asking the city to enforce the rules already in place. For example, the existing prohibition of fishing from the South Point jetty. Snorkeling along the jetty is the perfect introduction to new snorkelers. You have the chance to swim with manatees, all sorts of colorful tropical fish, and even eagle rays – all right next to the jetty! One fisherman can effectively close this area due to the risk of being hooked with sharp, rusty fishing hooks. There is already a fantastic fishing pier located just south of the jetty that fishermen can be directed to. This wouldn’t be a fishing ban, this would be a safe way to promote both fishing and snorkeling in two separate areas since the two activities do not mix well.
After moving the buoys out further and enforcing the rules already in place, the city can incrementally work on additional features to improve access and protections for the area. Installing mooring buoys to the east of the new buoy line would benefit boaters. Mooring buoys are low-cost and prevent anchor damage to the seafloor caused by both anchor drops and anchors sliding along the sands as they try to get traction.
The city could also install floating platforms as a place for swimmers to rest on their way to and from the reef as well as a fun activity for kids to jump off of, or bask in the sun while being rocked by the sea.
The great thing about creating a marine protected area right off the sands of South Beach is that the reef is already there – no need to spend money building a new city attraction, the corals have been laying the foundation for over 100 years right in our own backyard. Join a group of Miami Beach residents working with one of Miami’s oldest Environmental Preservation groups – Urban Paradise Guild, to encourage the city to establish the Marine Park by signing the petition here and writing your commission indicating your support. If you would like to get even more involved, reach out to Urban Paradise Guild and sign up to be a volunteer for both this project and other environmental preservation and habitat creation projects around Miami Dade.
Petition · Protect the Miami Beach Reef: Create the Marine Park! – United States · Change.org
Urban Paradise Guild – Get Involved
