More Keys Treasures

Dead Sperm Whale Returns

Thu, 03 Aug 2006 02:37:20 GMT

A sperm whale that beached itself off Big Pine Key on Monday July 24th and died Tuesday afternoon. Marine mammal experts underestimated the enormity of a sperm whale that washed ashore in on Big Pine Key's Spanish Harbor Channel on Monday. The initial estimate was 15 tons.

A partial necropsy conducted in the water after the whale died Tuesday afternoon showed the whale was 51 feet long and weighed between 20 and 22 tons, according to Celeste Weimer, stranding coordinator for the Florida Keys Marine Mammal Rescue Team.

Wildlife officials towed the carcass out to sea Wednesday. As with most mammal strandings, wildlife officials do not know what caused it to swim into shallow water about a quarter-mile east of Big Pine Key.

AND THEN

NOAA (That's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) was supposed to dispose of the dead Sperm whale by towing it out into the Gulfstream so it would be fed upon by sharks, decompose and sink before becoming a hazard. Aren't these NOAA folks suppose to know how our oceans work. They allowed it to be towed only 12 miles off the reef line of Big Pine Key. On August 2 the gulfstream was 22 miles off Big Pine Key. This about 18 miles past the reef line.

Nobody who knows anything about the stream would expect something on the western edge of the stream to get caught up in it good enough to be sure it would be hauled away. It would need to be about 10 miles out into the stream to be sure it would not be pushed out by an eddy or simply have the stream move further out and miss it completely. And they didn't even get it out to the stream.

Blair Mase-Guthrie, NOAA's southeast regional stranding coordinator said "the barge could not drag it any farther because of the whale's enormity" adding the tow line snapped several times and eventually could not be reattached. WHAT AN IDIOT!

"There were efforts to try and sink it," Mase-Guthrie said. "But from what everyone has told me it is very difficult to sink a whale of this size." WHAT A HUGE MORON!

Mini Lobster Season July 26-27 Regular Season Aug. 6

Wed, 12 Jul 2006 23:44:42 GMT

Although there is no guarantee about future events it is likely that the loss of so many lobster traps the last two seasons will result in more lobsters surviving and being available at a larger sizes.

Every fisherman knows that no two years are alike and that no one has been able to predict lobster or stone crab harvest from one year to the next. So, I am not so bold as to say how good the season will be, but early reports are encouraging.

Iin a fully fished fishery, such as the lobster fisher, whenever fishing effort is reduce in one year it typically results in higher catch rates in the following year.

Hope you have made your reservations.

Click here for more information on Florida Keys Lobster.

Florida Keys County Commissioner nominated for 2006 Nobel Prize

Sat, 01 Apr 2006 05:43:38 GMT

The 2006 Nobel Prize for Architecture Design for Developers of Natural Treasures, last given to Lipra Solof, may go to Commissioner Nelson.

Brain Drain in the Florida Keys

Tue, 28 Feb 2006 04:11:37 GMT

Paradise Lost

The median home price in South Florida ranges from $300,000 to $400,000. In the Florida Keys this is the Lowest home values available and that is for older single wide mobile homes. This is chasing not only the average wage earners but also professionals such as teachers, police officers and health care workers.

Read about some solutions here Keys Losing Professionals as well as Service Employees.

Click here if you're looking for a Florida Keys Job.

New Luxury Homes in the Florida Keys Rated for 200 MPH Winds

Tue, 07 Feb 2006 00:39:00 GMT

Bougainvillea Luxury Home development in the Florida Keys is generating industry praise. The new luxury homes will withstand 200 MPH wind capacity: Unprecedented on the Island and well above the 150 MPH state code.

“Bougainvillea” is being developed in the Florida Keys by FRP Technologies, Inc. of Jacksonville, Florida, will feature luxury living that is impressive with its elegance: private elevators; high ceilings; roof top decks and many state-of–the-art amenities. Clearly, luxury living in the paradise of Florida Keys. What is most impressive, however, is its ability to withstand 200 mph winds.

“The Bougain Villea development is pretty impressive.” said Dr. Robert Stroh, Director of Shimberg Center for Affordable Housing of the University of Florida. “The entire state would be in a lot better shape, of course, if all new and old construction met that standard.” Currently the state code is 150 MPH. The Shimberg Center was established to ‘facilitate the provision of safe, decent, and affordable housing in the state of Florida “While this is a high end property”, Dr. Stroh said, “it is impressive and a great indicator that a builder would take it upon itself to go above and beyond the required standards for a property.” He added, “Although it increases the cost in the initial building to meet 200 mph wind capacity resistance, it is by far the most economical and safest way to go in the long run… especially for the home owner.”

The Bougainvillea development is located in Marathon, Florida. Utilizing land located on the Gulf with views of the Atlantic Ocean, it will include 12 lluxury homes, “When we decided to develop this property, we knew we would only do it if we could go above and beyond industry standards,’ said FRP Technology Principal Partner, Raymond Lane. “After the last season of hurricanes, we only wanted to build the best product possible structures. Until now, there was nothing on the Island that could withstand 200 mph winds. Additionally, they are going to be 10 to 12 feet off the ground.” Lane added, “We want to put the absolute best product out there…we think we have it.”

FRP Technologies Inc., an established builder, brings industry experience from their years of work in the crane industry where they have participated in building projects throughout the Unitied States made of massive cement structures. “The process of building with thick concrete structures just made sense to us,” Lane said. “Even the glass windows have wind resistance of up to 200 MPH – without shutters.”

Florida Keys Waterfront Properties Selling like Hotcakes!

Sat, 14 Jan 2006 16:57:41 GMT

Waterfront properties throughout the Florida Keys, are the hottest commodities. The huge increase in value, since 2000, and the damage by storms the last 2 years has combined to create this Waterfront Boom. Here are some stories on the commercial property changes in Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon and Key West.

Keys mom-and-pop motels are quickly becoming condos Even Layton's beloved Little Italy now flirts with extinction at the whim of growth. The owners of the adjacent Lime Tree Bay Resort, Layton's only motel, plan to flatten the homestyle stay in favor of a condo-hotel development with considerably more architectural flourish.

Seascape Resort in Marathon goes Condo Robbie Browning and Jim Rudnick of Winter Park purchased the old Seascape Resort at the end of 75th and 76th streets in Marathon. Now they're moving forward on their plans for the property. In a phone interview this week, Browning reported that he has presented plans to city Planning Director Gail Kenson and is waiting for a decision from her department and, then, from the Planning Commission.

Banana Bay Resort Sold - Marathon Florida Keys - Boykin Lodging Company, a hotel real estate investment trust (REIT), today announced that it has acquired the Banana Bay Resort & Marina - Marathon for $12.0 million, through a joint venture.

Seven More Rehabilitated Dolphins Released

Thu, 05 May 2005 19:48:30 GMT

KEY LARGO, Fla. - Seven rehabilitated rough-toothed dolphins were released Tuesday off the Florida Keys, two months after stranding themselves on a mud flat near Marathon in the middle Keys. Marine Mammal Conservancy volunteers took the dolphins to a point in the Atlantic Ocean about 14 nautical miles off Key Largo in two catamaran dive boats. They were released almost simultaneously and stayed together, and were seen foraging for food.

The day was a triumph for the MMC volunteers, who invested thousands of hours in the rehabilitation effort, working round-the-clock.

"This is the day we live for," said Robert Lingenfelser, MMC president. "This is all the payoff for all the hard work, the dedication of our volunteers and the Florida Keys community."

The mammals were among 68 that grounded March 2. Thirty-six of the dolphins died on the beach or in the water, but 32 were treated at three South Florida marine mammal centers. Five are still being treated. It is not known when they will be released.

Florida Keys Best Gas Prices

Sun, 24 Apr 2005 19:29:59 GMT

There are several Websites with information on gas prices throughout the US. Unfortunately none, that I can find, have any information on the price of gas in the Florida Keys. I hope this Weblog can fill that gap.

Florida Keys Best Gas Prices

If you would like to contribute, by advising of the lowest gas price in your area of the Florida Keys, you can leave a comment there and we can discuss how to contribute.

Net Ban Admendment Dead - For Now

Sun, 17 Apr 2005 16:11:08 GMT

Bid to amend net ban fails

Move to kill Kendrick's bill comes after committee meets privately to talk policy

By Bill Cotterell

With a quick private meeting to line up votes at the end of a public hearing, a House committee Thursday killed a bill that would have legalized mullet fishing with large mesh nets.

Members of the Water and Natural Resources Committee heaped praise on Rep. Will Kendrick in front of a few dozen Big Bend and Panhandle fishermen he brought before the panel. They told how their livelihoods are hurt and how millions of baby fish are killed by the 1-inch mesh the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission permits in nets.

But Kendrick knew he was beaten, so - during a highly questionable five-minute recess in which committee members privately discussed public policy - he accepted a two-year scientific and economic study of impacts of FWCC rules implementing the 1992 constitutional net ban.

Florida Keys Pictures

Sun, 03 Apr 2005 21:16:03 GMT

Do you like the picture on this blogs home page?
How about this Picture of Anne's Beach in Islamorada?

Are you looking for more Florida Keys pictures?

You can find information here about an excellent Website with Florida Keys Pictures .