Florida Bay's ecology on the brink of collapse

Man’s push to develop South Florida is slowly killing the bay

ISLAMORADA, Florida – Boat captain Tad Burke looks out over Florida Bay and sees an ecosystem that’s dying as politicians, land owners and environmentalists bicker.

He has been plying these waters for nearly 25 years, and has seen the declines in shrimp and lobster that use the bay as a nursery, and less of the coveted species like bonefish that draw recreational sportsmen from around the world.

Experts fear a collapse of the entire ecosystem, threatening not only some of the nation’s most popular tourism destinations