Islands in the Sand - Ecology and Management of Nearshore Hardbottom Reefs of East Florida

These shallow reefs are part of a mosaic of coastal shelf habitats including estuarine seagrasses and mangroves, and offshore coral reefs. These hardbottom habitats are federally designated as Essential Fish Habitats - Habitats of Particular Concern and are important feeding areas forfederally-protected sea turtles.