MARATHON, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday lauded money in the next state budget for artificial coral reefs at a news conference in Marathon.
Speaking at Dockside Boot Key Harbor, DeSantis highlighted $5 million in Florida’s FY 2024-25 budget for artificial reefs through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
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“This is all in an effort to support the establishment of a new framework for installing, overseeing and preserving artificial reef habitats in the Florida Keys,” DeSantis said. “We now have more than 4,300 planned public artificial reefs that have been placed in state and federal waters on Florida’s coast and we’ve done $26.5 million through the balance of our administration on artificial reefs.”
The governor also announced a one-day “prequel” spiny lobster season on July 14, exclusive to Florida residents. The annual mini spiny lobster season typically runs just two days, the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday of July, happening next on July 24 and 25, according to FWC. The mini season is separate from the regular spiny lobster season, set to run from Aug. 6 to March 31.
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DeSantis was joined by FWC Executive Director Roger Young, who expounded on the “prequel” season.
“It’s an excellent opportunity for residents, for Florida residents and for locals here in the Florida Keys, to enjoy their time with our resources and have memories with their families and their kids together, making those memories that’ll last lifetimes and generations before the mini season that’s going to come,” Young said. “You’re probably working those two days because it’s very busy with a lot of visitors, so this is a great opportunity for the residents of the Keys and Florida to get out there and enjoy that experience with their families and build on those memories.”
Learn more about the mini and regular spiny lobster seasons at FWC’s website.
Watch the news conference again in the video player below:
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