Sanctuary Advisory Council Meeting to Feature Update on Lionfish Invasion, Response

August 03, 2010

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Karrie Carnes
305-809-4700 x236

 

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Sanctuary Advisory Council

The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC) will meet August 17 at the Marathon Garden Club, 5270 Overseas Highway, Marathon beginning at 9:00 a.m.

The day-long meeting will feature updates and presentations from state and federal agencies, Sanctuary Advisory Council working groups, and invited speakers. Members of the public are encouraged to attend. There will be opportunities for public comment at 10:05 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

David Tomasko, of PBS&J, will present at 11:15 a.m. on the monitoring results of the causeway removal at Lake Surprise. Post removal results show an improvement in water quality, circulation and tidal exchange in the lake.

At 1:00 p.m., Lad Akins, REEF’s Director of Operations, will provide an update on the status of the lionfish invasion in the Florida Keys and wider Caribbean, as well as current control strategies and indications of their success. Recent and upcoming lionfish outreach events will be discussed, and collecting and handling techniques described.

Sanctuary managers will provide an update on response efforts related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill at 2:30 p.m. The meeting is scheduled to conclude at 3:00 p.m.

The SAC was established to provide the sanctuary, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the State of Florida advice on implementation of the sanctuary’s final management plan. SAC members also serve as liaisons to the community regarding sanctuary issues. SAC members relay the community’s interests, concerns, and management needs to the sanctuary. A current list of SAC members may be found at http://floridakeys.noaa.gov/sac/members.html.

The sanctuary was established in 1990 in recognition of the special resources found in and around the waters of the Florida Keys. NOAA and the State of Florida jointly developed a comprehensive plan to protect and manage sanctuary resources. For more information, visit the Sanctuary’s web site at http://floridakeys.noaa.gov.