Underwater Truth: A dive in Miami Marine Stadium Basin

Today the Miami Herald published an op-ed from the Director of the Miami International Boat Show where Cathy Rick-Joule states that “a scientific study of the submerged basin floor conducted by Coastal Systems International determined that ‘the majority of the Project site was silty sand,’” and she goes on to say that the site is not environmentally sensitive. This is flat out wrong.  Local biologist Colin Foord took video footage of the ecosystem in the Virginia Key Basin recently and found over 30 different species including nine of which are protected by the state. 

The Boat show’s plans call for the installation and removal of 1,000 pilings that will dock up to 800 boats in Miami Marine Stadium basin each year – presenting risks to sea life, coral and manatees that live in that very Basin. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers believes the event may cause “substantial harm” to the island and Biscayne Bay. Attend tomorrow’s County Commission vote on the Boat Show’s DERM permit and tell the commissioners to protect the vibrant ecosystem that exists below the water at Historic Virginia Key Beach.