WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en-US 00:00:03.400 --> 00:00:09.550 Welcome to Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, part of a nationwide system of sanctuaries 00:00:09.550 --> 00:00:14.930 and monuments managed by NOAA. We hope you enjoy your day on and in the water. 00:00:14.930 --> 00:00:19.250 But before you dive in, we’d like to share a few things about the amazing environment 00:00:19.250 --> 00:00:26.590 you’re about to experience, and how you can help protect it now, and for the future. 00:00:26.590 --> 00:00:32.759 As soon as you enter the waters of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, you’re in 00:00:32.759 --> 00:00:36.730 another world. It’s home to North America’s only barrier 00:00:36.730 --> 00:00:43.410 coral reef, over 6,000 species of marine life, some of the world’s largest seagrass meadows, 00:00:43.410 --> 00:00:51.170 and thousands of mangrove islands. The Keys have a rich and storied maritime history, 00:00:51.170 --> 00:00:56.780 much of it linked to the many shipwrecks discovered here, some with artifacts of early explorers 00:00:56.780 --> 00:01:00.540 and pirates. Managed by NOAA and the State of Florida, 00:01:00.540 --> 00:01:08.500 we need your help to protect the natural and cultural treasures of this special place! 00:01:08.500 --> 00:01:14.180 Coral reefs are important to the entire planet. They’re home to 25 percent of the world’s 00:01:14.180 --> 00:01:17.860 fish species. The beautiful fish you see while diving and 00:01:17.860 --> 00:01:22.751 snorkeling, and the fish you eat at local restaurants, are here thanks to the 00:01:22.751 --> 00:01:29.560 coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove forests. Though coral reefs may look like rocks or 00:01:29.560 --> 00:01:35.420 plants, each coral is actually a colony of thousands of tiny, identical polyps related 00:01:35.420 --> 00:01:39.950 to jellyfish. These soft-bodied animals build hard limestone 00:01:39.950 --> 00:01:44.930 skeletons, and over thousands of years, countless coral colonies have built the reef you see 00:01:44.930 --> 00:01:48.070 today. The coral animals, which live only on the 00:01:48.070 --> 00:01:53.930 colony surface, are extremely fragile. Their thin outer tissue, and the mucus layer that 00:01:53.930 --> 00:01:58.950 protects it, can be harmed by the slightest touch, so grabbing, bumping, or kicking the 00:01:58.950 --> 00:02:05.229 corals could injure or even kill them. You can protect corals by keeping extra distance 00:02:05.229 --> 00:02:10.450 between you and the reef. How you snorkel and dive can make a big difference. 00:02:10.450 --> 00:02:13.430 Let’s talk about how! 00:02:13.430 --> 00:02:18.260 If snorkeling, use a flotation vest. It’ll make you more comfortable in the water and 00:02:18.260 --> 00:02:22.049 reduce the chance of accidentally bumping coral. 00:02:22.049 --> 00:02:27.890 To adjust your mask or other gear, roll onto your back or move to deeper water. 00:02:27.890 --> 00:02:33.549 If you feel you need to stand to adjust your gear or catch your breath, return to the boat. 00:02:33.549 --> 00:02:39.329 Surge or boat wakes can easily push you on to the reef. Remember to keep a safe distance 00:02:39.329 --> 00:02:44.879 from the reef and avoid shallow areas. Swim horizontally to keep your fins away from 00:02:44.879 --> 00:02:52.040 the reef. A stray fin kick can easily injure or even break off pieces of delicate branching 00:02:52.040 --> 00:02:56.349 corals. And avoid stirring up sand with your fins. 00:02:56.349 --> 00:03:01.419 Secure your gauges and hoses before you jump in, and check them during the dive. Don’t 00:03:01.419 --> 00:03:06.610 let them hang below you, where they can drag or snag on the bottom. 00:03:06.610 --> 00:03:12.310 Do a buoyancy check once you jump into the water. Divers do most damage to reefs at the 00:03:12.310 --> 00:03:16.120 beginning of their dive. So a great way to protect the reef is to take 00:03:16.120 --> 00:03:21.439 some time to get comfortable before you explore. 00:03:21.439 --> 00:03:26.209 Avoid wearing gloves on reef dives; they actually make you more likely to touch or grab the 00:03:26.209 --> 00:03:33.090 reef. Another reason to steer clear of touching corals is that their sharp skeleton can cut 00:03:33.090 --> 00:03:39.510 you. Some, like fire corals, also have stinging cells and pack a painful punch. Keep 00:03:39.510 --> 00:03:44.760 your distance. Please help corals, fish, and other wildlife stay 00:03:44.760 --> 00:03:49.720 wild. At a reasonable distance, you’ll be more likely to see natural behaviors like 00:03:49.720 --> 00:03:55.319 feeding, cleaning, hunting, and courtship. Close encounters can stress the animals and 00:03:55.319 --> 00:04:01.080 also put you in harm’s way. Keep your hands and food to yourself. Animals 00:04:01.080 --> 00:04:06.760 fed in the wild lose their fear of people, act more aggressively, and become dependent 00:04:06.760 --> 00:04:10.719 on handouts, many of which are unhealthy for the fish. 00:04:10.719 --> 00:04:16.401 On the boat and in the water, secure your personal gear and trash. Seabirds and marine 00:04:16.401 --> 00:04:22.079 mammals can easily become entangled in marine debris, or eat it and become sick or die. 00:04:22.079 --> 00:04:27.229 A floating plastic bag looks a lot like a jellyfish lunch to a sea turtle. 00:04:27.229 --> 00:04:32.909 Take only pictures, and leave only bubbles. Marine life, shells, and corals serve a purpose 00:04:32.909 --> 00:04:37.530 exactly where they are. That fuzzy-looking shell in the sand might be covered in tiny 00:04:37.530 --> 00:04:43.210 baby corals ready to build the next coral reef, or it might make a nice new home for 00:04:43.210 --> 00:04:48.800 a hermit crab. Speaking of pictures, be aware of your body and gear while photographing 00:04:48.800 --> 00:04:54.710 marine life. That perfect shot is never worth damaging the reef. 00:04:54.710 --> 00:04:59.120 In addition to its coral reef, the Florida Keys are home to hundreds of shipwrecks that 00:04:59.120 --> 00:05:04.750 are windows into the area’s rich maritime history. Cultural resources are protected 00:05:04.750 --> 00:05:10.960 and should not be disturbed or removed. After you leave Florida Keys National Marine 00:05:10.960 --> 00:05:15.860 Sanctuary, you can still help protect coral reefs and our environment. Whether home is 00:05:15.860 --> 00:05:22.650 near or far from the ocean, your choices and actions have lasting impacts. 00:05:22.650 --> 00:05:26.699 Thank you for visiting Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. 00:05:26.699 --> 00:05:31.259 We hope you make lasting memories while you’re here and share with others what you’ve learned 00:05:31.259 --> 00:05:38.479 about this special place. The coral reef, and all its marine life, will thank you for it. 00:05:38.479 --> 00:05:45.590 It is our collective responsibility to conserve the marine environment and to maintain the 00:05:45.590 --> 00:05:48.229 biodiversity of this planet. I'm Guy Harvey.