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Chatham County backs protections for offshore ‘Blake Plateau’ and proclaims World Reef Awareness Day
Summary
The Board proclaimed June 1, 2026, World Reef Awareness Day and passed a resolution of support for protections on the Blake Plateau; nonprofit and county resilience staff thanked the commission and encouraged continued conservation efforts.
The Chatham County Board of Commissioners proclaimed June 1, 2026, as World Reef Awareness Day in recognition of offshore coral ecosystems and passed a resolution supporting evaluation of protections for the Blake Plateau, an offshore deep-sea coral area described by presenters as ecologically significant.
Jeffrey Beauvais of coastal nonprofit 100Miles, speaking on behalf of the Blake Plateau Coalition, thanked the commission for being the first local government in Georgia to pass a resolution of support and urged the county to continue local conservation work. "The Blake Plateau is a unique ecosystem of global significance," Beauvais said, adding the resolution aligns with the county's goal to be the "greenest county in Georgia."
Jackie Jackson, Chatham County's resilience program administrator, told commissioners the county is increasingly focused on conservation measures as climate impacts and development pressures grow and thanked the board for supporting the resolution and World Reef Awareness Month.
The board voted to adopt the resolution of support and directed staff to include the proclamation in the record. Speakers encouraged continued local conservation measures and public outreach.
