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Key West Marine Park Summary

This is a cooperative project between the City of Key West and Reef Relief to create a swim lane on the south side of the island from the shoreline out 600 feet, from a point near the White Street Pier, westward to a point near the foot of Duval Street.  This zone is marked by demarcation buoys.  Motorized vessels prohibited from entering the swim lane, however two entry lanes have been established for continued access to the shore by vessels.  The existing channel, marking the entry to the Casa Marina Docks is one of the entry lanes.  The location of the second entry lane is the Reach beach.   The exact position of the swim zone demarcation buoys and entry lanes was established in cooperation with the commercial boat companies and property owners in this area. All upland property owners support the park's creation.

Considerations were made for people who fish from the White Street Pier.  It is important to keep swimmers and snorkelers away from fishing gear. 

In addition to the swim zone,
Reef Relief also plans to install reef habitats comprised of fossilized coral rocks arranged in a spur and groove formation through out the swim zone in order to create fish habitats and to provide hard surfaces upon which coral can grow.  These habitats create wonderful snorkel sites and provide protection for a myriad of species.  Natural reef habitats composed of limestone boulders have been installed at many snorkel sites around the world and have enhanced both the natural environment and the snorkeling experience in those areas.

Sedimentation is one of the biggest threats to coral.
Visibility has been relatively poor in this area over the past few years primarily because of sedimentation caused by land-based runoff.  The purpose of establishing a near-shore Marine Park is to enhance our focus on water quality problems that we have the ability to eliminate.

The City of Key West has rebuilt the White Street Pier reducing sediment build-up, replaced all of the sewer lines in the City, eliminating the sewage outfall and we are scheduled to re-plumb storm water runoff drains through out the island.  There is no other developed island in the Caribbean and possibly the world that has rebuilt their infrastructure as we have.  Without a doubt our near-shore water quality will improve.

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