The cabin base-camp Florida Keys Challenge trip, scheduled for January 12-18, 2026, is sold out but a great trip to keep in mind for January 2027. This trip explores the Keys' natural beauty, while offering learning opportunities about conservation, such as coral reef and seagrass restoration. The trip partners with the Newfound Harbor Marine Institute and their speakers, who will share their knowledge. Open to all skill levels, the trip offers an opportunity to contribute to the Florida Keys' future. Please contact us to be placed on the waitlist.

This issue focuses on environmental success stories from the Florida Keys, highlighting efforts to protect and restore the unique ecosystem.

The Florida Keys, a chain of islands known for their stunning beauty and rich biodiversity, have been the site of numerous dedicated conservation efforts, yielding encouraging environmental success stories:

1. Coral reef restoration

Significant progress: The Florida Keys have seen significant progress in coral restoration, particularly through initiatives like "Mission: Iconic Reefs" and the efforts of organizations like the Coral Restoration Foundation.

Growing corals resistant to heat: Scientists and volunteers are actively growing and outplanting corals, including heat-resistant varieties, to help restore degraded reef areas, with some projects observing substantial increases in coral cover and fish populations.

Outplanting efforts: Tens of thousands of nursery-raised coral fragments are being outplanted onto the reefs, aiming to recover the coral reefs of the Florida Keys.

2. Seagrass restoration

Vessel damage repair success: Seagrass restoration projects in the Keys, particularly those addressing propeller scars and vessel damage, have demonstrated high long-term success rates, with some sites achieving conditions similar to natural seagrass beds.

Natural colonization and recovery: Efforts like filling propeller scars and blowholes with sediment or using sediment tubes have proven effective in encouraging natural colonization and regrowth of seagrass meadows.

Importance of seagrass meadows: These meadows are crucial for supporting marine life, protecting water quality, and providing a healthier ecosystem for the Keys.

3. Key deer conservation

Recovery from near extinction: The Key deer, once on the brink of extinction due to hunting and habitat loss, represents a major conservation triumph, rebounding significantly after the establishment of the National Key Deer Refuge and federal protections, according to GreaterGood.

Challenges remain: Despite the success, the Key deer still face threats, including habitat fragmentation and interactions with humans.

4. Invasive species management

Task force efforts: The Florida Keys Invasive Exotic Task Force has made strides in combating invasive plants, utilizing GIS mapping, public education, and volunteer-led removal efforts.

Citizen science engagement: Citizen science initiatives are proving valuable in detecting and reporting invasive species, contributing to quicker detection and control of harmful invaders like the Asian swamp eel and snake lungworm, according to keysnews.com.

5. Sustainable fishing practices

Conservation-focused approaches: Years of collaboration between veteran fishing guides, journalists, and government agencies have led to the implementation of size and bag limits, catch-and-release practices, and a stronger conservation ethic among anglers.

Sustainable fishery: This shift has helped establish the Florida Keys as a leading region for sustainable and responsible fishing.

6. Water quality improvements

Wastewater projects: The Florida Keys Water Quality Improvement Program has seen substantial investments in wastewater and stormwater projects, leading to improved infrastructure and water quality.

Management techniques: The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary employs techniques such as no-discharge zones and mooring buoys to protect sensitive habitats and manage water quality, says the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (.gov).

These success stories highlight the dedication of various organizations, individuals, and government agencies in protecting and restoring the delicate ecosystems of the Florida Keys. While challenges like climate change and ongoing threats remain, the progress made in these areas offers a hopeful glimpse into a more sustainable future for this unique environment.

In this issue, read more about these success stories: Restoring Seven Iconic Reefs: A Mission to Recover the Coral Reefs of the Florida Keys | NOAA Fisheries, Climate Change Is Drowning the Home of Florida’s Endangered Key Deer, and Case Studies - Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

We look forward to our 2025-2026 Season, our 94th to 99th trips, paddling with you!

Over the last 40 years, coral reefs in the Florida Keys have suffered dramatic declines. Nearly 90 percent of the live corals that once dominated the reefs have been lost. Emergency action is required to change the trajectory of the health of coral reefs in Florida, and to protect the economy that depends on them. NOAA and partners have developed a first-of-its-kind approach to restore corals at seven ecologically and culturally significant reef sites in the Florida Keys. […Read More…]

Nestled in the pine and marshy wetlands of the Florida Keys, the Key deer, North America’s smallest deer species, faces a daunting future. This diminutive subspecies of the white-tailed deer, standing at just 30 inches tall, has weathered decades of threats. Now, climate change and rising sea levels present an existential challenge that may prove insurmountable without bold conservation strategies. […Read More …]

Few marine environments in the United States compare to the Florida Keys in natural beauty and resource diversity. An island chain on the southern tip of the Florida peninsula, the Keys are surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the south, and Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico to the north. They stretch 202 miles (356 km) to the south and west, ending 90 miles north of Cuba. On the ocean side, adjacent to the island chain, lies North America’s only living coral barrier reef. This reef system is the most extensive living coral reef in the U.S. and is the third largest barrier reef in the world […Read More…]

How To: Record Your Keys Wildlife Findings

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