Molasses Reef

Molasses Reef is a coral reef located within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. It lies to the southeast of Key Largo, within the Key Largo Existing Management Area, which is immediately to the east of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. This reef is within a Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA).

An unmanned reef light is located near the reef.

On August 4, 1984, the motor vessel Wellwood, a 122-meter freighter carrying pelletized chicken feed, ran aground on Molasses Reef. The total destruction from the grounding included 5,805 square meters of living corals and injury to 75,000 square meters of reef habitat.^[1] The vessel was removed by the US Coast Guard. NOAA coordinated an effort to restore damage to the reef, by placing reef modules in the injured areas to provide a substrate for new coral colonization. Biological restoration took place using transplants from Pickles Reef and the facilitation of coral larval settlement. NOAA settled a claim worth $6.275 million with the responsible parties, the Wellwood Shipping Company (owner of the vessel) and the Hanseatic Shipping Company (shipping management company), in 1986, and all payments to NOAA were completed by 2001.^[2]

Molasses Reef is popular scuba diving and snorkeling location with numerous dive sites marked by mooring buoys.

One notable site is at buoy #7 and is variously referred to as the Winch Hole, Windlass Wreck, or The Winch. Here lies the large mechanical winch from the Slobadana, a 170 foot wooden hulled schooner that sank in 1887 after only three years in service. In addition to the winch itself, various mechanical artifacts are scattered over the nearby area. Also, large coral formations with (relatively) deep channels between them make this a popular dive location.

Approximate coordinates: 25°00′50″N 80°22′15″W / 25.01389°N 80.37083°W / 25.01389; -80.37083Coordinates: 25°00′50″N 80°22′15″W / 25.01389°N 80.37083°W / 25.01389; -80.37083

Gallery

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  A Midnight Parrotfish and a yellowtail snapper swimming on Molasses Reef

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  Various soft corals at Molasses Reef

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  Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) with white spot disease at Molasses Reef in March 2008

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  Various fish species (Chubs, Blue Chromis, Sergeant majors, Bar Jacks) at Molasses Reef

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  The winch from the Slobadana sank on Molasses Reef in 1887

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  Montastraea annularis at Molasses Reef, March 2008

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  Trumpetfish (Aulostomus maculatus) at Molasses Reef, March 2008

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  Unknown Artifact at Molasses Reef

External links

• Air Photo of Molasses Reef in 1984, showing the wreck of the Wellwood as well as the reef light (near center)
• Benthic Habitat Map

References

• NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Maps, Florida Keys East
• NOAA Website on Molasses Reef
• NOAA Navigational Chart 11464

Corals and coral reefs Stony corals Scleractinia Blue coral Brain coral Elkhorn coral Hermatypic coral Chalice coral Pillar coral Staghorn coral Table coral Soft corals Alcyonacea Black coral Bamboo coral Organ pipe coral Sea fans Sea pens Coral reefs Atoll reef Cay Fringing reef Microatoll Coral reef fish Census of Coral Reefs The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs Catlin Seaview Survey Coral regions List of reefs Deep-water coral African coral reefs Andros, Bahamas Belize Barrier Reef Coral Sea Islands Coral Triangle Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Great Barrier Reef Maldives Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System New Caledonia Barrier Reef Pulley Ridge Raja Ampat Islands Red Sea Southeast Asian coral reefs Coral diseases Coral bleaching Black band disease Skeletal eroding band White band disease White pox disease Protection Coral Reef Alliance Coral reef protection Green Fins International Society for Reef Studies Project AWARE Reef Check Reef Ball Other Artificial reef Aquaculture of coral Coral dermatitis Precious coral Coral rag Coral reef organizations Coral sand Coralline alga Environmental issues with coral reefs Fire coral Reef resilience Rugosa (extinct) Symbiodinium Tabulata