Florida commands 1350 miles of coastline and a $62 billion tourism industry. Pollution, filthy beaches, overfishing -- all these things could destroy the vibrant economy that the state currently enjoys. Consequently, Governor Bush and his cabinet recently signed into law a marine protection plan that could become a model for the nation. Commercial fishing is already banned in the area, but a new law restricts recreational fishing, as well, in a 46-square-mile stretch of ocean 70 miles west of Key West. Although it pales in comparison to the 140,000 square miles of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Monument, the new marine park -- to be incorporated within the Dry Tortugas National Park -- will comprise the largest marine reserve in the continental US (a healthy 197 square nautical miles). Happily, diving, snorkeling, wildlife viewing, and boating will be allowed.

With fish stocks at record lows worldwide, the time is right for this plan to go into effect. The new no-fishing zone will allow some of the area's most endangered species to spawn in safety away from human disturbance. According to David White, a regional director for the Ocean Conservancy, "It's a huge step forward for marine ecosystem management in Florida.... The fish that spawn there will be spreading throughout the Keys."

But is the new law enough? Locals argue that recreational fishermen are not the ones depleting fish stocks. They say that unless commercial fishing is restricted throughout the Gulf -- and their resultant by-catches are reduced drastically -- the effect of a ban on recreational fishing in the marine reserve will be negligible. Moreover, since Charlie Crist (Florida's governor-elect and current attorney general) opposed the ban, the oversight committee that developed the plan agreed that recreational fishing could resume in 5 years without the need for a vote. Considering it takes Goliath groupers, for example, between 4 and 7 years to reach sexual maturity, 5 years, frankly, may not be enough.

But it is a start.