Overview

The Florida Keys are one of the most iconic places in the Unites States. Not only are the islands themselves rich with culture and natural beauty, but the Florida Keys region, including surrounding areas such as Florida Bay and Biscayne Bay, serves as a biodiversity hotspot, supporting life stages for numerous marine organisms, including nurseries to spawning grounds. The area also supports economically valuable recreational and commercial fisheries, which contribute hundreds of millions of dollars annually to the local and statewide economy.

This marine ecosystem is grappling with a combination of stressors, including marine heat waves, habitat degradation, pollution, and intense resource use, leading to significant ecosystem-wide shifts. These changes include widespread sponge die-offs, coral losses driven by bleaching and disease, eutrophication caused by non-point source pollution, and fish kills linked to harmful algal blooms and extreme heat events. These impacts jeopardize not only the ecological health of the region but also the sustainability of its culturally and economically vital fisheries.

The Florida Keys Marine Science Conference and Workshop unites scientists, natural resource managers, resource users and other interested parties to assess the current state of the ecosystem and engage in meaningful discussions about future research, management, and restoration priorities. As the largest gathering in a decade focused exclusively on the Florida Keys Marine Ecosystem, it offers a unique opportunity to expand collaboration and work collectively toward achieving the best outcomes for the Florida Keys marine environment.