The Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced on Mar. 25 that it has finished all airborne LiDAR data collection and received most vessel-based sonar data for its Florida Seafloor Mapping Initiative (FSMI), a large-scale effort to map the state’s coastal waters.
The initiative is significant because it aims to provide the most comprehensive map of Florida’s seafloor ever created, with public release expected in fall 2026. This information will help guide decisions about coastal protection, resilience planning, and resource management across the state.
“Florida’s coastline is one of our state’s greatest natural and economic assets, supporting millions of residents, tourism, commercial fisheries and critical infrastructure,” said DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. “Understanding the seafloor and the features that shape our coast helps us make smart decisions about protecting communities, strengthening resilience and investing taxpayer dollars where they will have the greatest impact.”
According to Kimberly Jackson, Florida Geographic Information Officer, FSMI has used advanced technologies such as airborne LiDAR systems for shallow water mapping and vessel-based multibeam sonar for deeper areas. “Through FSMI, we have mapped more than 75,500 square kilometers using LiDAR and more than 64,000 square kilometers using sonar technologies,” said Jackson. “Before this initiative began, only about 25,600 square kilometers of Florida’s seafloor had been mapped. Today, we have mapped more than 14 times that amount, giving Florida an unprecedented understanding of its underwater landscape.”
Early findings from FSMI include discovery of previously unknown mesophotic coral reefs offshore from Pensacola—habitats located over 50 kilometers from land—which exist outside known Atlantic Coast coral areas. The department is working with federal scientists to study these reefs further using remotely operated vehicles.
High-resolution mapping also revealed ancient shorelines near Miami along with buried river channels and karst formations beneath the sea floor—information valuable for understanding sediment movement and guiding beach restoration or infrastructure projects in vulnerable coastal regions.
FSMI data is being integrated with inland elevation datasets through collaboration with U.S. Geological Survey’s Coastal National Elevation Database Applications Project to create a seamless digital elevation model from uplands to offshore bathymetry.
According to the official website, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection supported efforts to build resilient coasts through restoration initiatives according to the official website. The agency also maintained state parks offering recreational opportunities across Florida according to the official website and oversaw more than 175 parks statewide according to the official website. It aimed at safeguarding air, water and land resources according to the official website, served all regions through environmental programs according to the official website, and offered services like permitting environmental projects as well as regulating waste management according to the official website.
Lambert said that this expanded knowledge will support smarter investments in protection measures for both communities and ecosystems.
