Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory
Human Factors; Procedure; Airspace Structure
While working radar received approval for Aircraft X direct to APF from the east/southeast for a Visual Approach to the advertised runway on right traffic. APF Tower approved it so I cleared and switched the aircraft. Shortly thereafter; APF Tower launched IFR Aircraft Y off Runway 14 via automatic release with no regard to Aircraft X whom they had approved on the departure end of Runway 14 and were talking to. Loss of IFR separation and a possible NMAC was about to occur without action. APF Tower coordinated on the shout line that they were stopping Aircraft Y at 1;000 feet since Aircraft X was still at 2;000 feet; and that they would switch communications of Aircraft Y to me with no mention of visual separation being provided. I asked them to put Aircraft Y on a 060 heading to avoid and climb them to 2;000 feet since their assignment of 1;000 feet was below the MVA of 1;500 feet. I received communications with Aircraft Y and it appeared Aircraft X was no factor; but was immediately faced with a traffic alert with VFR traffic inbound to APF; 1 mile from the Class Delta airspace. No resolution was provided by APF Tower before switching Aircraft Y who had to take evasive action to avoid the VFR traffic which was described to me as 'head on; same altitude; less than 1 mile.' I do not believe a loss of IFR separation occurred; maybe because APF momentarily assigned Aircraft Y 1;000 feet; an altitude below the MVA before I had to advise otherwise. A NMAC was possible with the conflicting VFR traffic resulting from the turn; which was not resolved by APF prior to transfer of communications. APF Tower needs to be educated on not approving IFR inbounds direct if they will have departing traffic which will conflict. They also need to be educated on not assigning departing IFR aircraft an altitude below the MVA (this is not the first time this has happened). Additional education on selecting headings to avoid VFR traffic in their airspace; and not switching prior to conflict resolution.
RSW TRACON Controller reported Tower released a departure below the MVA and on a conflicting heading with other traffic.