Florida Construction News staff writer
A series of projects announced this week are aimed at protecting Florida’s marine ecosystems and enhancing the state’s marine activities. The FY 2024-2025 Focus on Florida’s Future Budget includes $57 million investment in coral reef restoration and coastal protection, bringing the total funding for these efforts during the governor’s second term to more than $114 million.
A key component of these initiatives is the $5 million allocated to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to create additional artificial reef habitats in the Florida Keys. This project will involve substantial construction efforts, including the installation, management, and preservation of artificial reefs, providing numerous opportunities for construction workers and companies specializing in marine infrastructure.
Earlier this year, $9.5 million was awarded to Florida’s Coral Reef Restoration and Recovery Initiative. Collectively, these investments in Florida’s coral reefs surpass the total funding requested by the Biden administration for coral reef restoration across the entire United States, underscoring the scale and significance of the construction efforts involved.
“Florida has the best fishing and boating in the world because we have the greatest natural resources,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “That’s why our state is making record investments in protecting our natural treasures, like our coral reefs. Additionally, I was pleased today to announce additional prizes for the annual Lionfish Challenge and an extra day for Floridians to harvest lobster.”
FWC Executive Director Roger Young added, “From lobstering to world-class fishing, the Keys exemplify Florida as the Boating and Fishing Capital of the World. Through Governor DeSantis’ support of conserving our natural resources, we will continue to promote the removal of invasive species—such as the lionfish—that negatively impact our waters.”
Governor DeSantis also announced enhancements to the 2024 recreational spiny lobster mini-season, including an extra day on Sunday, July 14, exclusively for Florida residents. The regular commercial and recreational lobster season will begin on August 6, 2024, and end on March 31, 2025.
To combat the threat posed by invasive lionfish, the Governor spotlighted the 2024 Lionfish Challenge, which runs through September 2, 2024. This statewide initiative encourages the public to hunt lionfish and win prizes, contributing to the protection of Florida’s natural resources.
Participants can register at FWCReefRangers.com, choosing between recreational or commercial categories. Since its inception in 2014, over one million lionfish have been removed from Florida’s waters through the Lionfish Challenge. The program features a tiered prize system, rewarding divers based on the number of lionfish harvested. Participants who reach Tier 1 by removing 25 lionfish in the recreational category or 50 pounds in the commercial category will receive a commemorative 2024 Lionfish Challenge Coin. This year, Tier 1 participants will be allowed to keep two additional spiny lobsters per day during the Lobster Mini-Season, doubling the traditional reward.
For the construction industry, these initiatives represent a significant opportunity. The creation and maintenance of artificial reefs require specialized construction skills and provide jobs and contracts for local construction firms. These projects not only protect Florida’s natural resources but also stimulate the local economy by creating employment opportunities and fostering the growth of construction and related industries.
