MONROE COUNTY IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO ESTABLISHING A PUBLIC MOORING FIELD IN BOCA CHICA HARBOR

BOCA CHICA, FL – An administrative law judge issued an order upholding Monroe County’s Future Land Use Map (FLUM) amendment that paves the way for the long-awaited Boca Chica Harbor public mooring field, addressing decades of environmental, public safety, and navigational challenges caused by the area’s unregulated and unmanaged anchorage. It has been over 23 years since a public mooring field has been established in the Florida Keys.

The amendment change will allow the construction of shoreside facilities essential for permitting the mooring field, including restrooms, a dockmaster’s office, a sewage pump-out station, and recycling areas.

Monroe County has worked to create a managed mooring field in Boca Chica Harbor for almost two decades. The harbor has long served as an unmanaged anchorage, resulting in significant environmental damage to coral, seagrass, and water quality. It is also home to numerous derelict vessels and has been plagued by improper waste disposal.

“This project is a game-changer for the lower Florida Keys,” said Monroe County Commissioner Craig Cates, who has been championing the mooring field. “By managing this harbor, we’re taking a huge step forward in protecting our marine environment, improving public safety, and supporting our liveaboard community.”

The mooring field will implement environmentally friendly anchoring systems that prevent damage to the harbor’s seafloor, enabling seagrasses and other marine ecosystems to recover and thrive. Additionally, the shoreside facilities will provide regulated access for boaters, enhancing safety and cleanliness in the area.

For more information, visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/marineresources.

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