Recently much attention has been paid to the Florida Keys’ priceless natural resources and the need to preserve and protect them. But you probably aren’t aware that the conservation of these resources has been going on — with significant success — for more than 100 years.

Numerous species of fish, such as this French angelfish, are protected within the boundaries of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo by Stephen Frink)

This effort is especially important because the Keys are paralleled by the continental United States’ only living coral barrier reef. The reef ecosystem — much like a tropical rainforest — supports an amazing diversity of plants and animals.

To protect part of the reef, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park was established off the Upper Keys in 1963 as America’s first underwater preserve. Visitors to this remarkable spot can observe wildlife through experiences such as snorkeling, scuba, kayaking and glassbottom boat tours.

Pennekamp is incorporated into the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, widely regarded as a national treasure, which was established in 1990 by the U.S. government.

The sanctuary contains 2,800 square nautical miles of coastal and ocean waters and submerged lands. Surrounding the entire Keys, it also includes vast stretches of Florida Bay, the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.

Protected refuge areas throughout the Florida Keys provide a nesting, roosting and foraging habitat for egrets like this one.

Within its boundaries you’ll find mangrove islands, historic shipwrecks filled with rare artifacts, tropical fish and other marine life — and the sanctuary’s creation means these ecological, historical, and recreational wonders can be responsibly managed.

The Lower Keys are home to the National Key Deer Refuge, established in 1957 to protect and preserve habitats for wildlife — particularly the tiny, shy Key deer. A subspecies of the Virginia white-tailed deer, Key deer average 60 to 100 pounds fully grown and are about the size of a big dog.

The refuge’s 9,000-plus acres include mangrove forests, freshwater and salt marsh wetlands, pine rockland forests and tropical hardwood hammocks. Besides Key deer, these native habitats sustain 21 other threatened and endangered plant and animal species.

A subspecies of the Virginia white-tailed deer, the shy and engaging Key deer are approximately the size of a large dog.

And the best news? Since the refuge’s creation, its deer population has increased from a near-extinct 50 or fewer to a thriving herd of 600 to 700 — making it a wonderful environmental success story.

The Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1938, provides safe nesting and breeding areas for great white herons and other migratory birds and wildlife. White herons are North America’s largest wading bird and, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, they’re found only in the Keys and on the South Florida mainland.

Stretching between Key West and Marathon, the refuge features more than 375 square miles of open water and islands in the Gulf of Mexico — reached primarily by kayak, canoe or shallow-draft boat.

A few years ago, the Florida Keys’ first wildlife refuge celebrated its 100th birthday.

In 1908, then-President Theodore Roosevelt created the Key West National Wildlife Refuge to protect and preserve a breeding ground for migratory species. At that time, the hunting of huge numbers of birds for their colorful feathers (considered the must-have decoration for fashionable women’s hats) was decimating migratory bird populations.

For decades, great white herons and other migratory birds have found a haven in the Keys.

“The plume trading industry was so lucrative that in 1903 an ounce of bird feathers was worth $32 — twice the price of gold,” said Anne Morkill, manager of the Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges Complex.

Lying west of Key West and accessible only by boat, the century-old refuge stretches 10 miles wide and 25 miles long. It provides nesting, roosting and foraging habitat for more than 250 species such as the roseate tern, osprey, bald eagle and magnificent frigate bird.

Thanks to the foresight of the people who created the wildlife haven, and the Keys’ other preserves, the island chain’s priceless natural resources have been protected and nurtured. May that protection continue … for at least the next 100 years.

Topics: Big Pine Key & Lower Keys, Environment, Highlights, History, Islamorada, Key Largo, Key West, Marathon, Voices Main Archive

People are swimming in Florida Keys waters and sunning on the beaches. And fishing, both near-shore and deep-sea. And diving on the living coral reef seven miles offshore, and scarfing down sweet Key West pink shrimp and conch fritters in funky seafood restaurants.

The Florida Keys, a realm of unparalleled natural beauty, remain untouched to date by any oil from the Gulf spill.

In fact, despite mid-May reports of some tar balls found on area beaches, things are pretty much normal in the Florida Keys and Key West.

As a 30-year Key West resident, I can tell you that even finding tar balls isn’t wildly abnormal. The Keys are seafaring islands, and they’re located fairly close to some major commercial shipping lanes. Sometimes, unfortunately, commercial vessels dump bilge water that has oil in it. So sometimes tar balls wash up.

These days, though, the oil spill in the northern Gulf of Mexico has people on red alert — and tar balls that might go unnoticed and unreported at other times are now big news.

Very quickly after the Keys tar balls were found, Coast Guard lab analysis proved they weren’t from the Gulf oil spill. Yet even with that proof, people who don’t know how things happen in the Keys are worried.

Keys waters are prime territory for watersports enthusiasts -- and concerns about the Gulf oil spill have not changed that. (Photo by Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau)

That’s not a surprise. It’s kind of heartwarming, actually, to see so many people acknowledging the Keys environment as one of America’s national treasures and worrying about its protection and future.

On May 19, experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that a small amount of oil — what they called light to very light sheens — had apparently reached the Loop Current, which might carry it near or past the Keys in coming days. If it does, NOAA said, the oil will be significantly weathered by then, and would most likely show up in isolated locations in the form of tar balls.

On the other hand, they reported that it might get caught in a clockwise eddy in the middle of the Gulf, and remain far from the Keys.

No matter how the oil spill situation unfolds, those who love the Keys are certain the islands' magic will endure and flourish. (Photo by Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau)

No matter how the Gulf oil spill situation unfolds, however, those of us who’ve lived here a long time have a deep belief that the Florida Keys will endure.

If oil from the spill does travel near or past the island chain, we will use every resource we can muster to protect our reef, our mangroves, and our wildlife. We’ll buckle down, but we won’t buckle under — we will live our lives, work together to do whatever has to be done, and emerge with our beloved islands as unique and as wonderful as ever.

And that’s a “reality check” you can take to the bank.

Topics: Big Pine Key & Lower Keys, Environment, Highlights, Islamorada, Key Largo, Key West, Marathon, Voices Main Archive

Want to “visit” the Florida Keys & Key West to check out the weather, water and island events before physically traveling here? Or “revisit” the Keys afterward to spark subtropical memories? Both are easy to do — thanks to nearly 40 webcams positioned at various places from Key Largo to Key West.

Want to check out Keys water conditions before coming down for a fishing or diving excursion? Do it via webcam! (Photo by Bob Krist/Florida Keys News Bureau)

For example, you can watch the tall ships and fishing boats ply Key West Harbor from the Ocean Key Resort cam … experience a renowned Lower Keys state park and beach from the Bahia Honda cam … hang out with Key West’s beloved six-toed cats thanks to a “litter” of cams at the Hemingway Home … “feed” the resident tarpon at Robbie’s Marina in Islamorada … watch the orange sun seemingly sink into the ocean from Keys beaches and favorite sunset sites … and much, much more.

But the webcams aren’t the only way to get your “Keys fix” — there’s also Florida Keys TravelVision.

Discover the Key deer's remarkable return from near-extinction, documented in a fascinating video of the week segment.

Located on the home page of the island chain’s official website, Florida Keys TravelVision presents fun and informative “video of the week” features on offbeat attractions, environmental wonders, festivals and special events, and activities ranging from stand-up paddleboarding to making the perfect Key lime pie (which is not as tough as you might think!).

If you miss a “video of the week” segment, don’t despair — after their home-page debut, each one is moved into an easily-accessed video archive, where it can be viewed and re-viewed any time (especially helpful when you’re making that aforementioned Key lime pie).

And if you’d rather “visit” the Keys on YouTube, you’re in luck. Each “video of the week” feature also stars on the Keys’ own YouTube video channel — and they’re also uploaded to other popular video sites, so there’s no telling where you might find them.

The Key West "six-toed cat cam" video offers several reasons why the offbeat island is a "purr-fect" haven for felines and other species.

Segments showcase all regions of the Keys and a variety of attractions ranging from eco-tourism activities to cuisine, festivals, water sports and the Keys’ rich creative community.

Past topics have included a quirky “six-toed cat” fantasy (whether you’re a cat lover or not, you MUST watch this — no excuses), the sinking of the Vandenberg as an artificial reef, experiencing snuba and Dragon Boat racing in Marathon waters, the incredible environmental success story at the Lower Keys’ National Key Deer Refuge, dolphins playing football (not the ones you might expect!), Islamorada artist Stacie Krupa, and a scuba-diving Santa in Key Largo who “submerged” himself in the holiday season.

Of course, the best way to visit the Keys is up close and in person, so you can experience the magical islands’ appeal for yourself. But when that’s not an option, the webcams and Keys TravelVision are truly the next best thing to being here.

Topics: Big Pine Key & Lower Keys, Highlights, Islamorada, Key Largo, Key West, Marathon, Voices Main Archive

As a 30-year resident of the Florida Keys, who loves the area with a passion that defies description, I’m really disturbed to hear the crazy rumors going around about the Gulf oil spill’s possible impacts on this beloved island chain.

Yes, there’s a possibility that the oil might get caught up in the Loop Current and be carried down Florida’s west coast, through or past the Keys, and up the state’s east coast.

But it’s just that. A possibility. No one really knows for sure, yet there are some out there — including some scientists — who love to speculate and are saying they’re “absolutely certain” we’re going to get the oil.

At the moment, it’s staying well north of the Loop Current, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists who provide information to responders. But that’s not stopping the Chicken-Little-like rumors, both word-of-mouth and floating around the blogosphere, that say the Keys will see oil in a few days.

By the way, don’t know what the Loop Current is? I didn’t know either, until last week. Basically, it’s a clockwise current that carries water from the Yucatan Channel into the Gulf of Mexico, then back down Florida’s west coast and past the Dry Tortugas, finally exiting into the Gulf Stream.

Wherever the oil flows or makes landfall along the Gulf coast, it’s almost certain to have a negative effect on people, wildlife, the environment and the economy. From Louisiana’s sensitive marshlands to the Keys’ magnificent living coral reef, the Gulf of Mexico region is filled with environmental treasures that deserve all the protection they can get.

What they don’t deserve is a massive oil spill. And the people who live in the Gulf region deserve compassion and sensitivity at this critical time — not sensationalistic chatter that increases fear about the path or potential impacts of the spill.

The Florida Keys tourism council is leading an effort to make sure that, whether the oil gets caught up in the Loop Current or not, its path and effects are reported honestly and accurately. On the Keys’ official tourism website, you’ll find the latest news about the spill, trajectory maps and 72-hour forecasts, links to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration site and other resources, and a Q & A that offers down-to-earth insights into the situation. The information is updated at least once daily.

In addition, for live, real-time views of the Keys’ clear waters and unspoiled shorelines, check out the island chain’s long-established webcams. Throughout the Keys, more than 40 cams are broadcasting images from area beaches, waterfront bars and restaurants, underwater sites and even Mallory Square, home of Key West’s nightly Sunset Celebration overlooking the harbor.

Of course private and governmental groups are working 24/7 to contain the oil. So keep your fingers crossed that the spill’s effects — wherever they’re felt, whether in the Keys or elsewhere in the beautiful Gulf region — will be as minimal and short-lived as possible.

Topics: Big Pine Key & Lower Keys, Environment, Islamorada, Key Largo, Key West, Marathon