Abstract
Johnson’s Seagrass, the first marine plant to have been listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), was listed as threatened in 1998. The process for any species to be listed under the ESA is lengthy and grueling however, many success stories have come from species being listed. Johnson’s seagrass although listed for multiple decades has recently been delisted not due to its increase in the species population but due to new scientific findings regarding the species. This report focused on background information regarding the ESA and Johnson’s seagrass along with the government agencies that serve to protect the species. This report served to describe two project examples located within the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve (BBAP) and within Johnson’s seagrass critical habitat. It was found that the federal review for exemptions is more stringent when a project is located within the BBAP than when not. Furthermore, with the delisting of Johnson’s seagrass, and its designated critical habitat no longer in place, stringent dock requirements for permitting will most likely no longer be required.