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Vast coral reefs, sea grass meadows and mangrove forests in ocean waters off the Florida Keys are being designated as especially sensitive by the U.S. government.
America’s first Particularly Sensitive Sea Area–just the fifth such domain worldwide–is being created in the Florida Straits, where U.S. officials say more than 40 percent of the world’s commerce passes each year.
Bush administration officials announced Wednesday the creation of the new protective zone in the Florida Keys, which is part of the world’s third largest barrier reef ecosystem and attracts
$1.2 billion in tourism dollars annually.
