Research and Monitoring
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary has research projects in place to study the effectiveness of its marine zones and the health of its marine resources. The sanctuary also runs long-term monitoring programs to document changes in reef and habitat health over time.
These long-term monitoring programs provide sanctuary managers with a big picture view of the health of the sanctuary and how it may be changing. By examining long-term trends in ecosystem health, managers can make scientifically sound decisions on how to best protect the sanctuary and determine the effectiveness of those strategies.
Water Quality Protection Program
Good water quality is critical to the health of coral reefs and all the habitats of the sanctuary. Changes in water quality, including increases in levels of specific nutrients, can have serious negative effects to marine life. More…
Marine Zone Monitoring Program
Since the sanctuary's marine zones were established in 1997, researchers have been studying the coral reefs and marine life inside the highly protected areas and comparing them to reference sites outside the zones. More…
Coral Disease and Condition Cruise
Since 1997, the sanctuary and partner agencies have been monitoring coral health along almost 200 miles of the Florida reef tract during an annual research expedition. More…
Benthic Habitats of the Florida Keys
This site reports the results of a seven-year cooperative effort between the National Ocean Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to map the types and extent of benthic habitats within the Florida Keys. More…
Socioeconomic Research and Monitoring Program for Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
Researchers examine what visitors and residents know about the sanctuary, how people use sanctuary resources, and the value of sanctuary use. More…
