Protect 50+ Years of Fishing Access Off South Beach — Stop an Unnecessary Fishing Closure
The Issue
Fishermen and boaters have used the public waters outside Government Cut and along South Beach for generations. We support protecting the reef, we support underwater art installations, we support no anchoring over reefs, we support conservation — but we oppose unnecessarily closing of generations-old fishing grounds. Help us PROTECT THE REEF and protect Florida's fishing heritage.
PROTECT 50+ YEARS OF FISHING ACCESS OFF SOUTH BEACH
Stop an unnecessary fishing closure outside Government Cut and along the South Beach reef
Petition to the City of Miami Beach, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), State of Florida, and all agencies involved
We support protecting the reef. We support conservation. We support divers and snorkelers.
But we also support Florida's fishermen.
(IMPORTANT) We are asking for 30 seconds of your time to support fisherman and boaters by SIGNING THE PETITION: AND,, Please attend the September 17th 2026 meeting at City Hall in Miami from 9am - 1pm to voice your opposition and concern for this potential fishing area closure. World Famous Capt. Bouncer Smith is driving 700 miles one way to attend this meeting. Let's match his efforts and time.
(VERY IMPORTANT) We CAN NOT remove the donate to the cause prompt after you SIGN THE PETITION. Please DO NOT DONATE FUNDS unless you specifically want to elevate the listing or directly support Change.org and their initiatives.
Fishermen have used the waters outside Government Cut and along South Beach for generations—many for 50 years or more. Families have fished these waters for decades for recreation, food, tradition, and, for some, their livelihoods.
Now there is a proposal to create a marine park extending from the South Pointe Jetty north toward 12th Street that could restrict boating and prohibit fishing in portions of these public waters.
We believe there is a better way.
WE ARE NOT AGAINST THE REEF
We want the reef protected just as much as anyone.
We support:
• Protecting coral and marine life
• Preventing boats from anchoring on coral
• Safe diving and snorkeling
• Responsible underwater art
• Reasonable boating and safety regulations
• Science-based conservation
But if the problem is anchor damage, stop anchoring on the reef.
If the problem is unsafe boating, enforce safe-boating and speed regulations.
Don't solve one problem by taking away generations of fishing access.
THESE ARE PUBLIC WATERS
The people who have fished these waters for decades should not be pushed aside simply because a new recreational use has been proposed.
Florida Statute §379.104 recognizes fishing as a valued part of Florida's cultural heritage and states that citizens have a right to hunt and fish, subject to laws and regulations.
Florida Statute §379.2412 expressly reserves to the State of Florida the power to regulate the taking or possession of saltwater fish, subject to the statute's stated exception.
Florida Statute §379.244 states that fish within Florida's jurisdictional waters are property of the state and may be taken subject to statutory restrictions. It also provides that state-owned water bottoms shall not be conveyed without reserving in the people the “absolute right to fish thereon,” subject to statutory exceptions.
Florida's Constitution, Article IV, Section 9, gives the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) constitutional authority concerning the regulation and management of marine life.
OUR REQUEST
We are asking our elected officials and regulatory agencies to:
1. STOP any unnecessary or overly broad fishing closure off South Beach.
2. Protect the longstanding fishing access that generations of fishermen have relied upon.
3. Require FWC to fully evaluate any proposed saltwater fishing restrictions.
4. Consider the 50+ years of historical and customary fishing use of these waters.
5. Preserve any grandfathered, vested, acquired, or otherwise legally protected rights that may exist.
6. Require scientific evidence showing why any proposed fishing closure is actually necessary.
7. Consider less-restrictive alternatives such as no-anchor zones, speed restrictions, seasonal protections, or other targeted measures.
8. Make sure fishermen, boaters, charter captains, commercial fishermen, recreational anglers, and fishing businesses have a meaningful voice in the process.
9. Ensure that any applicable state rulemaking follows Florida's Administrative Procedure Act, Chapter 120.
10. Keep public waters available for multiple lawful uses whenever reasonably possible.
50 YEARS OF HISTORY SHOULD COUNT
A reef does not become valuable only when someone discovers it.
Fishermen have been there.
They were there before the proposed marine park.
They were there before the underwater art project.
They have learned these waters, fished these waters, and passed that knowledge down to their children and grandchildren.
Their history matters.
We are not asking for unlimited fishing.
We are asking for fairness, science, public participation, and reasonable conservation.
CONSERVATION AND FISHING CAN COEXIST
We believe Miami Beach can have:
A healthy reef.
Safe divers.
Responsible boaters.
Beautiful underwater art.
AND fishermen.
There is no reason these interests should automatically have to compete for the same public waters.
PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE
If you are a fisherman, boater, charter captain, Florida resident, Miami Beach resident, diver, conservationist, or simply someone who believes public waters should remain available for responsible public use, please sign this petition.
Then share it with your fishing buddies, boating friends, family, fishing clubs, marinas, tackle shops, charter captains, and anyone who cares about Florida's fishing heritage.
We are asking our elected officials and regulatory agencies to protect the reef without sacrificing generations of fishing access.
OUR MESSAGE IS SIMPLE:
PROTECT THE REEF.
PROTECT PUBLIC ACCESS.
PROTECT FLORIDA'S FISHING HERITAGE.
DON'T CLOSE GENERATIONS-OLD FISHING GROUNDS WHEN REASONABLE ALTERNATIVES EXIST.
LET FISHING, BOATING, DIVING, CONSERVATION, AND UNDERWATER ART COEXIST.
INITIAL PETITION GOAL: 1,000 SIGNATURES
Once we reach 1,000 signatures, we will present the petition and supporting comments to appropriate local, state, and federal officials and continue building support for the protection of public fishing access.
Our goal is not simply to collect signatures.
Our goal is to make sure fishermen have a seat at the table before decisions are made that could affect our waters for generations to come.
1,260
The Issue
Fishermen and boaters have used the public waters outside Government Cut and along South Beach for generations. We support protecting the reef, we support underwater art installations, we support no anchoring over reefs, we support conservation — but we oppose unnecessarily closing of generations-old fishing grounds. Help us PROTECT THE REEF and protect Florida's fishing heritage.
PROTECT 50+ YEARS OF FISHING ACCESS OFF SOUTH BEACH
Stop an unnecessary fishing closure outside Government Cut and along the South Beach reef
Petition to the City of Miami Beach, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), State of Florida, and all agencies involved
We support protecting the reef. We support conservation. We support divers and snorkelers.
But we also support Florida's fishermen.
(IMPORTANT) We are asking for 30 seconds of your time to support fisherman and boaters by SIGNING THE PETITION: AND,, Please attend the September 17th 2026 meeting at City Hall in Miami from 9am - 1pm to voice your opposition and concern for this potential fishing area closure. World Famous Capt. Bouncer Smith is driving 700 miles one way to attend this meeting. Let's match his efforts and time.
(VERY IMPORTANT) We CAN NOT remove the donate to the cause prompt after you SIGN THE PETITION. Please DO NOT DONATE FUNDS unless you specifically want to elevate the listing or directly support Change.org and their initiatives.
Fishermen have used the waters outside Government Cut and along South Beach for generations—many for 50 years or more. Families have fished these waters for decades for recreation, food, tradition, and, for some, their livelihoods.
Now there is a proposal to create a marine park extending from the South Pointe Jetty north toward 12th Street that could restrict boating and prohibit fishing in portions of these public waters.
We believe there is a better way.
WE ARE NOT AGAINST THE REEF
We want the reef protected just as much as anyone.
We support:
• Protecting coral and marine life
• Preventing boats from anchoring on coral
• Safe diving and snorkeling
• Responsible underwater art
• Reasonable boating and safety regulations
• Science-based conservation
But if the problem is anchor damage, stop anchoring on the reef.
If the problem is unsafe boating, enforce safe-boating and speed regulations.
Don't solve one problem by taking away generations of fishing access.
THESE ARE PUBLIC WATERS
The people who have fished these waters for decades should not be pushed aside simply because a new recreational use has been proposed.
Florida Statute §379.104 recognizes fishing as a valued part of Florida's cultural heritage and states that citizens have a right to hunt and fish, subject to laws and regulations.
Florida Statute §379.2412 expressly reserves to the State of Florida the power to regulate the taking or possession of saltwater fish, subject to the statute's stated exception.
Florida Statute §379.244 states that fish within Florida's jurisdictional waters are property of the state and may be taken subject to statutory restrictions. It also provides that state-owned water bottoms shall not be conveyed without reserving in the people the “absolute right to fish thereon,” subject to statutory exceptions.
Florida's Constitution, Article IV, Section 9, gives the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) constitutional authority concerning the regulation and management of marine life.
OUR REQUEST
We are asking our elected officials and regulatory agencies to:
1. STOP any unnecessary or overly broad fishing closure off South Beach.
2. Protect the longstanding fishing access that generations of fishermen have relied upon.
3. Require FWC to fully evaluate any proposed saltwater fishing restrictions.
4. Consider the 50+ years of historical and customary fishing use of these waters.
5. Preserve any grandfathered, vested, acquired, or otherwise legally protected rights that may exist.
6. Require scientific evidence showing why any proposed fishing closure is actually necessary.
7. Consider less-restrictive alternatives such as no-anchor zones, speed restrictions, seasonal protections, or other targeted measures.
8. Make sure fishermen, boaters, charter captains, commercial fishermen, recreational anglers, and fishing businesses have a meaningful voice in the process.
9. Ensure that any applicable state rulemaking follows Florida's Administrative Procedure Act, Chapter 120.
10. Keep public waters available for multiple lawful uses whenever reasonably possible.
50 YEARS OF HISTORY SHOULD COUNT
A reef does not become valuable only when someone discovers it.
Fishermen have been there.
They were there before the proposed marine park.
They were there before the underwater art project.
They have learned these waters, fished these waters, and passed that knowledge down to their children and grandchildren.
Their history matters.
We are not asking for unlimited fishing.
We are asking for fairness, science, public participation, and reasonable conservation.
CONSERVATION AND FISHING CAN COEXIST
We believe Miami Beach can have:
A healthy reef.
Safe divers.
Responsible boaters.
Beautiful underwater art.
AND fishermen.
There is no reason these interests should automatically have to compete for the same public waters.
PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE
If you are a fisherman, boater, charter captain, Florida resident, Miami Beach resident, diver, conservationist, or simply someone who believes public waters should remain available for responsible public use, please sign this petition.
Then share it with your fishing buddies, boating friends, family, fishing clubs, marinas, tackle shops, charter captains, and anyone who cares about Florida's fishing heritage.
We are asking our elected officials and regulatory agencies to protect the reef without sacrificing generations of fishing access.
OUR MESSAGE IS SIMPLE:
PROTECT THE REEF.
PROTECT PUBLIC ACCESS.
PROTECT FLORIDA'S FISHING HERITAGE.
DON'T CLOSE GENERATIONS-OLD FISHING GROUNDS WHEN REASONABLE ALTERNATIVES EXIST.
LET FISHING, BOATING, DIVING, CONSERVATION, AND UNDERWATER ART COEXIST.
INITIAL PETITION GOAL: 1,000 SIGNATURES
Once we reach 1,000 signatures, we will present the petition and supporting comments to appropriate local, state, and federal officials and continue building support for the protection of public fishing access.
Our goal is not simply to collect signatures.
Our goal is to make sure fishermen have a seat at the table before decisions are made that could affect our waters for generations to come.
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Petition created on September 5, 2026