Sanctuary Staff as Natural Resource Advisers in Keys Vessel Removal
NOAA LT Rosemary Abbitt oversees the removal of a sunken sailboat west of Fleming Key. The six-hour process was part of post-Hurricane Irma operations with staff from Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary serving as natural resource advisers to reduce further impact to sensitive habitat. A Unified Command led by U.S. Coast Guard is assessing and removing more than 1,700 damaged and displaced vessels in the Florida Keys that pose environmental and navigational hazards.