Snapper Ledge

LocationLocationCaribbeanCoordinates25°00′00″N 80°25′00″W / 25.00000°N 80.41667°W / 25.00000; -80.41667CountryUnited StatesGeologyTypereef

Snapper Ledge is a small coral reef located within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. It lies to the southeast of Key Largo, to the south the Key Largo Existing Management Area and John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Unlike many reefs within the Sanctuary, this reef is not within a Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA). It is near Pickles Reef. Since 2009, the Coral Restoration Foundation has used Snapper Ledge as a nursery site to grow Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata).

Gallery

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  Buoys at Pickles Reef and Snapper Ledge
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  Diadema antillarum with unusual grey spines at Snapper Ledge
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  Closeup of the very large brain coral, Diploria strigosa, at Snapper Ledge
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  Tube sponge, Agelas conifera at Snapper Ledge

References

• NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Maps, Florida Keys East
• NOAA Map of Buoys at Snapper Ledge and Pickles Reef
• The Coral Restoration Foundation's description of their Elkhorn coral program at Snapper Ledge
• photos of CFR's elkhorn coral nursery at Snapper Ledge