KEY WEST -- A world-roaming cargo ship smashed more than 1,000 rare corals at one of Florida's most pristine dive spots when, officials say, it dropped its massive anchor in a prohibited area.
A survey of the 6,500-square-foot damage site, completed last week, stunned researchers with the
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The 15-ton anchor flipped over corals that weigh more than 1,000 pounds and began forming their star-shaped clusters before explorer Ponce de Leon sailed over them.
"This is some of the greatest destruction of living coral I've ever seen in my life," said Harold Hudson, a biologist who conducted the survey. "It was heartbreaking."
For two decades, Hudson has surveyed some of the worst ship groundings along the Keys -- the world's third largest barrier reef, which was placed under federal protection in 1997.
Just last week, the 3,000-square-mile sanctuary received international recognition as a no-anchor zone for large ships. So from now on, all new charts printed anywhere in the world are supposed to list five no-anchor zones around the globe -- including the waters around the Keys.
The designation was too late for the 853-foot-long MSC Diego.
more:
