Florida's beaches, bays, reefs and waterways are among the most biologically rich shorelines on Earth, and the state’s most valuable asset. From South Florida to the Panhandle, Sun Coast and Treasure Coast, all the way down to the Florida Keys, you’re never more than 60 miles from the ocean. Florida’s coasts serve as treasured sanctuaries, habitats and economic engines, but harmful algal blooms, coral disease, surging sea levels, and decades of overdevelopment have pushed ecosystems to a breaking point. Ocean Conservancy is calling for action at every level: from citizens organizing beach cleanups and protecting sea turtle nests to policymakers in Tallahassee and Washington taking bold, lasting steps. The question isn't whether Florida's future is worth fighting for — it's whether we'll show up while there's still time; OceanConservancy.org.

Words Jasmine Cruz   |   Photo Zeynep Yilmaz