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EcoGuide Florida Keys | Marine Sanctuary
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Discover the Keys to Your Sanctuary
by Katie Leigh and Christi Allen


It has been said you have to travel thousands of miles to find out what’s in your heart. The road from the mainland to Key West is only 128 miles, but many people have found their way here and, in the process, their hearts. The line of islands called the Florida Keys is known for many things – from margaritas to shipwrecks, sunshine to sailing. Well-known characters such as Ernest Hemingway, Harry S. Truman and Jimmy Buffett helped make these islands famous for their exotic, relaxing and tropical atmosphere.

But one of the main draws to the Florida Keys has always been the water surrounding them.How about the third largest living coral barrier reef in the world (after Australia and Belize)? It’s not just the largest, it’s the only one in the United States, stretching for 220 miles roughly 6 miles offshore from Key Largo to the islands 70 miles west of Key West known as the Dry Tortugas. Since 1990, water around the Keys has been officially protected as the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS — aka,the Sanctuary) in an effort to
preserve this natural treasure.

World-class fishing, remarkable snorkeling, fantastic boating and unbelievable diving are a few of the activities that draw millions of visitors from around the world to the Keys every year. Did you know, the world’s coral reefs have the greatest diversity of life on the planet? What’s near, and just below the surface of the water means more to this unique destination than what meets the eye.

Eco-Discovery Tours

Introducing the first eco-friendly tour packages to help you explore the Florida Keys — in a way you never imagined possible! Eco-Discovery Tours are designed to show guests the natural wonder of the Keys and Key West through educational and entertaining tours and activities. You will meet locals and experts, discover backcountry secrets, delight in sunrise reflections and experience the Keys as never before. Our
speakers will help you discover the art of island renewal and the many mysteries of the Marine Sanctuary. You will go home with new insight and long to come back and discover more. We will feed your mind, body and soul.

Your getaway has been thoughtfully planned to include activities, learning and just a bit of “giving back.” You decide which itinerary meets your desire, with activities to choose from such as: hiking, bicycling through paradise, fishing in the backcountry, diving among tropical fish, exploring mangroves, tasting eco-friendly delights or kayaking under the stars.

Become part of the past as you snorkel where pirates found treasure or dive the newest artificial reef — the USS Vandenberg, a decommissioned military vessel — along the Wreck Trek Trail. The choice is yours. Eco-Discovery Tours differ from traditional vacation packages because they were created by a nonprofit
organization, Sanctuary Friends Foundation of the Florida Keys, and all proceeds from the tours go back into the organization to support the FKNMS. All tours include a volunteer component where guests may give a day of service to the Sanctury.

Protecting Our Sanctuary

Sanctuary means different things to different people. In the Florida Keys it refers to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS), a 2,900 nautical square miles of coastal and oceanic waters in the Florida Bay, Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean that encompass the islands. In 1990 the U.S. Congress recognized the Florida Keys environment was in need of protection, preservation and restoration, so it established the area as a National Marine Sanctuary.

Few marine environments in the U.S. compare to the Florida Keys in terms of natural beauty and natural resources. These coral reefs are intimately linked to a marine ecosystem supporting one of the most unique and diverse assemblages of plants and animals in North America. More than 500 species of tropical fish feed, rest, breed or grow up on Florida’s reefs. These reefs are interwoven into a complex and fragile
interdependent ecosystem that includes mangroves and seagrass and contains more varieties of life than any other marine environment. It is connected to and impacted by the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the Everglades and the adjacent Caribbean Sea, so it’s understandable why preserving and
protecting this marine habitat should be a top priority.

This amazing reef and its surrounding waters inspire snorkelers, divers, sailors, anglers and nature enthusiasts, along with fun and sun-lovers. Clear tropical waters teeming with marine life, coral formations, abundant of fish is an appealing natural environment enticing visitors to explore the sea. Today, more than ever its fragile nature is in need of protection.

Befriending the Sanctuary

With the formation of the Sanctuary came the need for support. The Sanctuary Friends Foundation of the Florida Keys is a non-profit group with a simple mission: the preservation, restoration and sustainable use of the Florida Keys coral reef and marine ecosystems. They focus on the development of community support and advancement of public awareness, education, outreach and scientific research.

Sanctuary Friends provide funds and participate in many community events and programs. Through public and private partnerships, the Foundation creates conservation-based research and educational and outreach programs. It supports the efforts of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA, the federal agency that manages the Sanctuary) by administering grants to fund programs such as Coral Reef
Classroom (designed to introduce middle school students to the marine sciences and to teach them the importance of the Sanctuary); Blue Star (a voluntary program to reduce the impact of divers and snorkelers on the local coral reef ecosystem); Dolphin Smart (a unique, multifaceted program encouraging
responsible viewing of wild dolphins and recognizing participating businesses); several coral restoration and nursery projects; and a Sanctuary-wide system of mooring buoys designed to protect coral from anchor damage. Sanctuary Friends also supports the Dr. Nancy Foster Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center, the new 6,400-square-foot facility featuring an exciting array of interactive and dynamic exhibits highlighting this rich, natural environment.

In 2008, Sanctuary Friends began the development of “Blue & Green Occasions,” which offers the incredible environment of the Eco-Discovery Center as a venue for private events such as special celebrations, business meetings and weddings. The program also comes with full service event planning incorporating an ecologically-friendly theme in this unique waterfront setting. Its other program, the Florida Keys Ecotourism Initiative (FKEI), designs, promotes and supports the Eco-Discovery Tours.

Please Join Us

Key West still calls to those who are searching to discover its secrets and enjoy all its natural wonders. So give yourself a gift — and open the “Keys” to your heart and to our islands. As a participant in Eco-Discovery Tours, you can actively be part of the preservation efforts of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. These efforts will develop and support the Florida Keys as an Eco-Destination. For more information, please visit www.EcoDiscoveryToursFloridaKeys.com, Email: info@EcoDiscoveryToursFloridaKeys.com, Ph: 305-393-7538.

Choose Your Own Eco-Adventure

Eco-Discovery Tours offers a variety of options to meet your interests. The only difficulty may be deciding which one of these amazing tours to do first! All tours include local insights into mind, body and the spirit that you will only find in the Florida Keys: wonderful food, environmental education, fun, relaxation, and a day of service. We recommend hotels that participate in Florida's state-certified Green Lodging Program.

Explore the Sanctuary — Three days, two nights. Highlights: sail, snorkel and kayak in the calm, protected and pristine backcountry waters off Key West; tour a civil war-era fort and enjoy a day at Key West’s BEST beach; private viewing of pirate treasures at Mel Fisher's ONLY museum, romantic sunset and starlight kayak tour; bicycle tour through paradise.

Cultural Heritage Delights — Four days, three nights. Highlights: experience Keys native plants & animals through interactive exhibits at the new Eco-Discovery Center; find inspiration at Hemingway’s House & Gardens; discover Key West history at the Custom House; nighttime walking tour to discover “haunted” Key West; tropical garden tour featuring flora unique to this region.

Adventure at Sea — Three days, two nights. Highlights: SCUBA dive the Vandenberg, Key West's newest artificial reef; backcountry fishing expedition (catch & release only); view the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary from high above the earth on a parasail adventure or skydive; tour a civil war fort and enjoy a day at Key West’s BEST beach; specially-prepared eco-friendly gourmet dinner & wines; seaside morning or sunset yoga.

Loving Footprints” Eco-Living Tour — Five days, 4 nights (optional: six days, 5 nights). Living healthy, “one eco-life at a time.” Our physical trainers and health experts will work with you to set personal and physical goals. Learn how your choices can change your life and the world around you. Eco-living: mind, body, soul; yoga at the ocean's edge; eco-friendly cooking lessons; renew yourself in the Keys.

Photographing the Keys — Four days, three nights. Highlights: discover nature photography; explore the Sanctuary and its wonders; visit tropical gardens, famous landmarks and
natural wonders; meet local photographers at work and learn about the Sanctuary and the islands of the Keys through a lens.

More information call 305-393-7538 or visit www.EcoDiscoveryToursFloridaKeys.com.



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