NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council to meet in Key Largo

August 6, 2014

NOAA’s NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary will hold a public meeting of the Sanctuary Advisory Council in Key Largo, Fla., on Tuesday, August 19, 2014.

The upcoming meeting will focus on the sanctuary’s marine zoning and regulatory review of ecological reserves, preservation areas, and wildlife protection. At 9:20 a.m., the Ecological Reserves, Preservation Areas and Wildlife Protection Working Group will report its recommendations. The Sanctuary Advisory Council will discuss the recommendations and potential actions at 10:45.

Following this discussion, Sanctuary Superintendent Sean Morton and Refuge Manager Nancy Finley will give a 1:30 p.m. briefing on the next steps in the development of a draft environment impact statement. At 2:45 p.m., state and federal agencies will give a quick round robin of updates to the council on their latest activities.

Public comment for agenda items will be taken prior to council action. Public comment for items not on the agenda will be available at 1:15 p.m.

WHAT:        Sanctuary Advisory Council meeting
WHEN:        August 19, 2014, 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
WHERE:      Key Largo Hilton Resort, 97000 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037
WHO:         NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

To receive more information, or to request a meeting agenda, please contact Beth Dieveney at 305-809-4700 x228 or Beth.Dieveney@noaa.gov.

Designated by Congress in 1990 and established in 1992, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council provides advice and recommendations on managing and protecting the sanctuary. The council has 20 representatives and alternates from community constituent groups, and 10 government agencies have non-voting representatives on the council. Serving in a voluntary capacity, the council members represent a variety of local user groups, as well as the general public.

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary protects 2,900 square nautical miles of critical marine habitat, including coral reef, hard bottom, sea grass meadows, mangrove communities and sand flats, as well as shipwrecks and maritime heritage resources. NOAA and the state of Florida manage the sanctuary. Visit us at http://floridakeys.noaa.gov, find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Join NOAA on Facebook, Twitter and other social media channels.