South Florida divers need to keep an eye on these groups. Most are more
interested in regulating and collecting fees from divers than in
preserving the reefs.

I plan to be there.

...............................................

Sustainable Diving & Snorkeling Practices Workshop

December 1, 2004

3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Intercontinental Hotel ? Miami, Florida

Coral reefs are one of the world's most spectacular marine habitats, and
diving and snorkeling are excellent ways to explore them. As coral reefs
face
an increasingly uncertain future, divers, snorkelers and other coral reef
visitors can play an important role in helping to protect these fragile
environments.

Southeast Florida dive operators and other members of the diving and boating
community are invited to attend and participate in Sustainable Diving &
Snorkeling Practices, a workshop being held in association with the U.S.
Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) 2004 Meeting in Miami, FL. The workshop,
organized by the USCRTF Education & Outreach Working Group and the Southeast
Florida Action Strategy Team (SEFAST), will include presentations, a
question
and answer session and an opportunity for participants to provide
feedback on
local sustainable diving initiatives. No registration or fee is required to
attend.

Workshop Purpose

*   Increase awareness of diver/snorkeler impacts to coral reefs
*   Explore methods, programs and rationale for promoting sustainable
diving and snorkeling practices
*   Obtain feedback from the southeast Florida dive community (upper Keys
to Martin County) to assist in planning future workshops for dive operators
to be held in 2005, as part of the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative
(SEFCRI)

Workshop Topics

*   Do diving and snorkeling damage the environment?
*   CORAL Guide to Responsible Practices
*   Cost/benefit analysis of sustainable diving/snorkeling practices
*   Development of the Blue Star Program in the Florida Keys
*   Question & Answer/Discussion Forum

Workshop Location

Intercontinental Hotel

100 Chopin Plaza

Miami, FL 33131

(305) 577-1000

www.ichmiami.com <http://www.ichmiami.com/>

The United States Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) was established by
Presidential Executive Order in 1998 to lead U.S. efforts to preserve and
protect coral reef ecosystems. The USCRTF includes twelve federal agencies
responsible for aspects of coral reef conservation, seven state and
territorial partners, and three freely associated states. The USCRTF has
been
instrumental in building partnerships and strategies for on-the-ground
action
to conserve coral reefs. For further information on the USCRTF and the 2004
Meeting in Miami, please visit www.coralreef.gov <http://www.coralreef.gov/>
.

With guidance from the USCRTF, the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
coordinated the formation of a team of marine resource professionals (state,
regional, local, and federal), scientists and local stakeholders. This team,
named the Southeast Florida Action Strategy Team (SEFAST), first gathered to
develop local action strategies in May 2003 and is targeting coral reefs
from
Miami-Dade County up through Hobe Sound (Martin County). For further
information on the SEFAST, the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative or
this workshop, please visit www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/programs/coral/ or
call 305-795-1208.

=======================================
Chantal Collier
Coral Reef Program Manager
FDEP/Office of Coastal & Aquatic Managed Areas
Biscayne Bay Environmental Center
1275A NE 79th Street Cswy.
Miami, FL 33138
Phone: 305-795-1208
Fax: 305-795-3470
Email: Chantal.Collier@dep.state.fl.us
<mailto:Chantal.Collier@dep.state.fl.usW> Website:
www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/programs/coral/
=======================================