Reefs, sea life stressed as water temps set records

The Key Biscayne Independent reported on record-breaking water temperatures stressing Biscayne Bay — the highest sea-surface readings ever recorded there, with nearby ocean temps topping 100°F two days running — already triggering coral bleaching and stoking fears of another mass fish kill. Miami Waterkeeper Executive Director Rachel Silverstein pointed to the underlying fragility: “If we had healthy seagrass beds, if we didn’t have all these water quality issues, we wouldn’t be so vulnerable to algae blooms and fish kills.”