Imagine diving into the crystal-clear waters offshore of Miami, only to find yourself surrounded by a scene of devastation. A moonscape. The water, once teeming with life, is clouded with sediment, and vibrant coral reefs are now buried beneath a layer of sand. This is the grim reality made manifest by the PortMiami dredging project that occurred from 2013 to 2015. The project resulted in catastrophic damage to adjacent coral reefs, triggering legal action by Miami Waterkeeper and co-plaintiffs. Despite the dredging company’s initial attempts to downplay the environmental impact, subsequent scientific research uncovered extensive coral mortality, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has now released a report that supports our finding that millions of corals were likely killed and at least 278 acres of the Florida Reef Tract were severely impacted.
Positive news
It’s official: The blue whale population in California waters has regained 97% of its pre-whaling numbers! These whales were hunted to near extinction in the twentieth century, and remain an endangered species despite efforts to protect them in and beyond the Pacific Ocean. As policy changes and conservation initiatives develop, we’re seeing hopeful steps in the right direction for the recovery of blue whales 🐳 | Source: KarunaNews
