Anitere Flores and Holly Raschein: Legislature must provide money to protect The Florida Keys

When people think of Florida, they picture the Florida Keys with its clear water, warm sand and the quintessential laid-back lifestyle.

But, the Keys are much more than that, as it is home to the world’s third-largest barrier reef, a national marine sanctuary, national and state parks, wildlife refuges, state aquatic preserves, and unique marine life and ecosystems. This unparalleled environment is also home to numerous federally listed and state-listed threatened and endangered species, including sea turtles and manatees.

While the Keys is the only place where you can see a Key Deer and a Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit, you can visit a whole other world just under the clear and tranquil waters of the Keys. The waters house a one-of-a-kind marine ecosystem teeming with marine life, seagrass beds, corals, sponges and other invertebrates.

This habitat provides critical nursery habitat for finfish and shellfish stocks, including snapper, grouper, pink shrimp and spiny lobster; and its waters contain recreationally targeted species such as bonefish, permit and tarpon.

There is a reason we bring all of this up. This environment supports the Keys’ three most valuable industries – tourism, military, and commercial and recreational fishing. They all rely on this environment every day. The Keys’ three most valuable industries generate more than $200 million in sales tax revenue annually for Florida.

However, investments are needed to preserve this environment, protect the investments the state has already made in the Keys and ensure a legacy for future generations of Floridians.

With this in mind, we are championing the Florida Keys Stewardship Act, Senate Bill 770 and House Bill 447, this legislative session.

The Act will invest $25 million per year for 10 years into the Florida Keys’ most significant environmental needs, including near-shore water quality; restoration and protection through wastewater; storm water and canal water restoration; and water supply protection. It also includes money for land investment for critical habitat protection, public safety, property rights and military base protection.

And, while the Florida Keys’ environment is what draws people from around the world to see, experience and enjoy its distinctive beauty, its environment is also what makes the economic footprint of the area so significant.

Take into consideration the following:

— The entire Florida Keys’ economy generates more than $4.6 billion in economic activity;

— The Keys’ marine ecosystem is the lifeblood of the Keys’ commercial and recreational fisheries-based economy, as well as their tourism industry, which attracts more than 4 million visitors per year;

— The Keys’ marine ecosystem also provides feeding and breeding grounds that support a multi-million dollar commercial fishing industry, which is strategically significant to the local, regional and state fisheries-related economy;

— More than 80 percent of the spiny lobster harvested in the Florida is caught in Monroe County;

— United States military presence in Monroe County generates nearly $800 million in economic impact and nearly 8,000 jobs.

These numbers make it clear that the Keys’ environment has a high value not only for the local community, but for the entire state.

The Florida Keys Stewardship Act is a smart decision with a statewide return on investment.

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Florida Representative Holly Raschein, who is the sponsor of House Bill 447, serves House District 120, which covers all of Monroe County and part of Miami-Dade County. Senator Anitere Flores, who is the cosponsor of Senate Bill 770, serves Senate District 37, which consists of part of Miami-Dade County. Column courtesy of Context Florida.