Restoration Blueprint Media Resources
NOAA has released the "Restoration Blueprint" for Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. It is the first comprehensive update of the sanctuary’s boundary, regulations, marine zones and associated management in nearly a quarter century.
The Restoration Blueprint describes proposed changes to boundaries and regulations, both sanctuary-wide and within specific marine zones. It also includes a draft revised management plan, last revised in 2007, that contain that contains a suite of non-regulatory goals and objectives that will help the sanctuary respond to challenges from changing conditions, use patterns and emerging threats to sanctuary resources.
Revised Draft Management Plan
FKNMS Restoration Blueprint: Updated Socioeconomic Supporting Documentation for the 2019 DEIS & 2022 Proposed Rule
Proposed Marine Zone Changes
NOAA proposes to add 23 new wildlife management areas to Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. These areas are designed to minimize disturbances to sanctuary habitats and species dependent on those habitats, like nesting birds and turtle nests.
Image courtesy of Kristie Killam
Before aerial image of Tavernier Key show how idle speed zones can be an effective tool to protect critical seagrass beds from damage due to boat propeller scars. NOAA is proposing almost 25 square miles of new seagrass protections for Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Images courtesy of Curtis Kruer
After aerial image of Tavernier Key show how idle speed zones can be an effective tool to protect critical seagrass beds from damage due to boat propeller scars. NOAA is proposing almost 25 square miles of new seagrass protections for Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Images courtesy of Curtis Kruer
Anchors dropped onto corals can cause long-term damage. NOAA is proposing a new "no anchoring" regulation in all "sanctuary preservation areas," discrete, biologically important areas that help sustain critical marine species and habitats.
Image: NOAA
Grounded and deserted vessels can become a hazard to navigation and impose negative impacts on the marine environment. NOAA is proposing new sanctuary-wide regulations to more readily address derelict vessels.
Image: NOAA/Scott Atwell/NOAA
NOAA is proposing to include Pulley Ridge into Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to prohibit activities such as anchoring, discharges and dumping over the deepest light-dependent coral reef off the continental U.S. Home to giant barrel sponges and largely undisturbed plate corals, Pulley Ridge, in the southern Gulf of Mexico, is an important source of connectivity among populations of invertebrate and fish species across the Florida Keys ecosystem.
Photo: NOAA
To better protect sensitive areas that have been damaged by overcrowding and intensive use, NOAA proposes to require large vessels to use designated large vessel mooring buoys, and small vessels to use regular mooring buoys.
Image: NOAA/Matt McIntosh
Representing only a small part of the sanctuary, restoration areas have a big impact by protecting coral nurseries and active restoration sites from damage, such as these elkhorn corals at Pickles Reef.
Image: Coral Restoration FoundationTM
Every year more than 700,000 divers and snorkelers take to the water to discover the wonder and beauty of coral reefs in the Florida Keys.
Image: Justin Wade Thornton/2021 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest
B-Roll video
Credit: NOAA