Comment from Kristine deHaseth

Submission from The Florida Coalition for Preservation (FCFP) pursuant to the Petition to Revise Designated Critical Habitat for Elkhorn & Staghorn Corals submitted to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) by Palm Beach County Reef Rescue. The quality of our lives and the value of our oceanfront real estate is dependant upon protecting, managing and maintaining the health of our coastal coral reef resources. The reef system in Palm Beach County (PBC) and the population of threatened species of coral does not vary from one end of the county to the other. Removing half of PBC from the designated area originally proposed by NMFS south to the Boynton Beach Inlet is without scientific basis and seems counter intuitive to the overall goal of protecting the reefs. It is difficult, if not impossible to assign a monetary value to a healthy reef system. However, there is little doubt that a significant loss of revenue to the local economy would result if our reefs could no longer support the local interests now dependant on these resources for income and storm protection. Critical habitat protection for ALL of Palm Beach County is fundamental to ensuring our reefs will not be degraded by questionable coastal construction practices and careless boaters. The reduction of the proposed critical habitat from the northern boundary south to the Boynton Beach Inlet in the final rule defies logic and is unwarranted. Please consider reversing your decision to reduce the area of critical habitat designated in PBC for Acropora coral and reestablish the northern habitat boundary back to the originally proposed location. Please help protect and preserve ALL Palm Beach County reefs for our enjoyment and future generations. Sincerely, Kristine de Haseth Executive Director Florida Coalition for Preservation