Table 21. Excerpts of the anecdotal and historical chronology of events that affected the marine 
environment of the Florida Keys from 1714 to the present prepared by The Nature Conservancy 
(text as found in draft document except for minor editing) [DeMaria (in press)] (cont.). 
Year(s) 
Event 
1985-1986 
Large areas of seagrass die-off near Johnson Key and East Bahia Honda. 
Outbreak of black band disease at the Sambos. 
1 986 
Change in water clarity observed off 
Marathon, bayside and oceanside. 
Start catching less fish in the Sprigger Bank area. ‘The gorgonians died then the 
water went to hell and turned muddy, no clarity.’ 
January, all commercial fishing prohibited in the Everglades National Park. 
March, water temperature off Key West is 46°F. 
In May, outbreak of black band disease at Looe Key. 
Change in water clarity becomes noticeable off the lower Keys. 
1986-1987 From July to June, there was a 40% decrease from the average in 
the shrimp catch on the Tortugas grounds. 
Good year for crawfish catch in west Florida Bay. 
1 987 
January, had very low tides. 
In June, period of slick calm, hot water. Coral turned off color. Significant 
coral bleaching in the Florida Keys. 
In June and July, low oxygen content in the waters of Florida Bay. 
August, coral bleaching observed and documented throughout the Caribbean. 
Scallops moved into the area called the ‘smokehouse’ near Smith Shoals and the 
shrimp moved out. In 1992, shrimp return to that area and the scallops 
disappear. 
Practically every fishhouse in Key West area up for sale due to high land prices 
and the demand for marinas for yachts. 
Fall, seagrass (turtle grass) dieoff in Florida Bay is documented in the Rankin 
Lake, Cross Bank and Rabbit Key area. 
Fall, algae bloom observed at Sprigger Key up to Oxfoot Bank. 
In October, coral bleaching observed throughout the IndoPacific. 
One of the hottest winters on record. 
1987 or 1988 
1987-1988 
Water clarity and quality decline in Florida bay begins to become more severe. 
Worms and barnacles on wooden traps begin to cause serious problems. 
Phenomenal year for crawfish catch in west Florida Bay. 
1987-1990 
Scientific evidence shows a significant increase in the adult queen conch on the 
reef. Concurrently, there is a significant decrease in juveniles in the seagrass 
areas. 
1988 
Big outbreak of sea lice in south Florida. 
August, the C-111 canal (Aerojet Canal) plug is pulled. Two weeks of 
uncontrolled fresh water flows into Barnes Sound. 
1988-1989 
October, major fish kills in the upper Keys due to release of massive amounts 
of fresh water into Barnes, Blackwater, and Florida Bays. 
Great bait shrimp year at Manatee and Barnes Sounds. Manatee Bay by 1992 is 
no longer a good shrimping area. 
Wooden traps in Tortugas start getting barnacles. 
Good lobster catch year in west Florida Bay. 
From November to January, seagrass die off observed in north Key Largo next 
to the Park boat dock at Sunset Cove. 
1988-1990 
Drought in south Florida, much seagrass decays and dies in Florida Bay. 
92 
