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Let's take a tour of the magnificent ecosystems living under our boats, learn how they're doing, and find out the safest ways to get a closer look.
Photos: Claire Fackler, NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries
Coral Reefs
Coral reefs may have you thinking of warm tropical waters off Florida, the Gulf Coast, or Hawaii, but coral can be found in cold waters as well. According to NOAA, shallow-water coral reefs occupy 110,000 square miles of sea floor, approximately the size of Nevada, accounting for less than 1% of the ocean floor, but they’re home to more than 25% of the ocean’s biodiversity. Coral reefs provide tremendous economic benefit through their value for fisheries, tourism, medical research, storm protection, and other environmental services. Coral reefs are currently under threat from climate change, unsustainable fishing practices, and land-based pollution.
Kelp Forests
California is famous for its kelp forests. You're likely to encounter them on a cruise out to Catalina Island, but did you know there are kelp forests on the East Coast as well? Kelp is one of the fastest growing plants on each coast, growing a couple of feet a day in ideal conditions. Kelp grows in areas with rocky substrate in depths up to about 90 feet. Kelp needs clear waters to allow sunlight to penetrate the water column. Like a typical forest, kelp provides habitat for a variety of species. While kelp beds provide excellent fish habitat, never run your boat through kelp beds. They often look like flat patches on the water because the vegetation calms the wind and wave action at the water's surface. Not only is running through it often illegal, carrying stiff penalties, the dense fibers can wrap around your running gear, broken strands can clog water intakes, and long kelp strands can entangle novice divers.
Photo: Pat Ford
Seagrass Beds
Seagrass beds are areas of submerged plants found growing in bays, lagoons, and shallow coastal waters. These plants anchor to the bottom with a rugged root structure allowing them to withstand strong currents and waves, and act as an excellent buffer during extreme storm events. Seagrass can be found as far north as Alaska and well into the tropics to the equator. They're considered the foundation of many coastal ecosystems, providing essential habitat and nursery areas for several species of fish. Around 68% of the U.S. commercial fish catch and 80% of recreational catch spend part of their life in a seagrass habitat.
Photo: Matthew Lawrence, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary
Deep Boulder Reefs
Deep boulder reefs off the Massachusetts and Maine coasts disprove the theory that the sea floor in colder northern waters is barren and brown. The Gulf of Maine is known for its colorful anemone and sea stars in addition to lobster. While these underwater rocky habitats are not well mapped, they exist throughout much of the Northeast. Deep rocky habitats are more likely to be inhabited by invertebrates such as horse mussels, sponges, sea cucumbers, and anemones as opposed to kelp. These ecosystems are also home to popular fish species such as cod. Don't anchor amid rocks or boulders. Better to bring your dinghy, snorkel, mask, and flippers over for a closer look at this beautiful ecosystem.
Photo: Tom Zolper, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Shellfish Beds
From oyster beds in Washington state, Gulf of Mexico, and Chesapeake Bay, to scallop, clam, and mussel beds in New England, New York, and other areas, shellfish beds are common in many parts of the country. Native shellfish play a vital economic role in many fisheries, and act as important filter feeders providing improved water clarity, helping to keep the entire ecosystem in balance. Many shellfish such as oysters and mussels need a hard surface for spat or juveniles to attach and grow, while species such as clams are found in mud flats.
Expensive Consequences
Coral reefs and seagrasses are precious environmental and economic resources, supporting jobs, tourism, and fisheries, and pumping billions of dollars into the U.S. economy each year. They’re also easily damaged by boat propellers, anchoring, and grounding.
The federal government and states such as Florida and Hawaii are working to protect these special marine environments, including fining boaters and seeking to recover damages. For instance, in Florida, fines for damaging seagrasses start at $50 and increase to $1,000 for multiple offenses. Damaging a coral reef in Florida brings higher civil penalties, ranging from $225 to $375,000 per occurrence. Hawaii has levied hefty fines in recent years. In 2021, owners of a luxury yacht were fined $100,000 for damaging coral reefs while at anchor.
Fortunately, according to the BoatUS Foundation for Safety & Clean Water, environmental damage and resulting fines can be avoided by taking a few simple precautions:
Do
- Study your charts to avoid running aground or anchoring anywhere near shallow areas and damaging seagrass or coral.
- Stick to marked channels if you’re boating in shallow areas with known seagrass beds. Submerged seagrass beds can be difficult to spot.
- Stay alert. If you see a muddy or cloudy wake, tilt your motor up immediately and slowly head for deeper water.
- Wear polarized sunglasses to reduce glare and make it easier to see shallow areas, coral, and seagrass beds.
- Use mooring buoys when available. Otherwise, anchor in sand, well away from coral reefs and seagrass beds.
Don't
- Anchor in coral reefs and seagrass beds. For diving or snorkeling, approach a reef with a dinghy and use a mask to find a clear sandy area to anchor, and adequate clear scope. Carefully lower and set your anchor, ensuring your chain and line won’t touch the coral as you swing.
- Use your engine to get unstuck if you run aground. Turn off your engine and use a boat hook or similar object to carefully pole your way back to the channel.
- Use chemical-based sunscreens which can harm marine life. Instead, use mineral-based sunblock.
- Touch or take coral. Also, avoid stirring up sediment as you explore.
— Fiona McGlynn