Coral Reef Ecosystem Restoration
Summary
Coral health in the sanctuary has declined over the past several decades due to coastal development, pollution, overfishing, vessel groundings, storms, and coral disease and bleaching. In recent years, great strides have been made to grow corals in underwater nurseries for the purpose of restoring reefs. The sanctuary has permitted coral restoration efforts inside and outside protected zones, and while no area currently exists for intensive coral reef ecosystem restoration efforts, the sanctuary’s original management plan considered utilizing marine zoning to achieve this purpose. Public comment received during the initial public scoping period along with the goals and objectives adopted by the Sanctuary Advisory Council made the topic of coral reef ecosystem restoration a priority, leading to the formation of a Coral Reef Ecosystem Restoration Working Group to develop recommendations for the advisory council. The group held workshops throughout 2013 before passing draft recommendations on to the Sanctuary Advisory Council for consideration. On June 17, 2014, the advisory council passed a motion requesting that NOAA analyze the working group's ideas as part of its Draft Environmental Impact Analysis.
Relevant Advisory Council Meetings
February 19, 2013:
Agenda (pdf, 21 kb)
Minutes (pdf, 89 kb)
April 16, 2013:
Agenda (pdf, 20 kb)
Minutes (pdf, 115 kb)
July 9, 2013:
Agenda (pdf, 16 kb)
Minutes (pdf, 133 kb)
June 17, 2014:
Agenda (pdf, 16 kb)
Minutes (pdf, 192 kb)
For more advisory council meeting archives visit: Current Year or Previous Year Archives.
Presentations on Coral Restoration in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
February 19, 2013: Coral Reef Ecosystem Restoration Working Group Progress, Next Steps (pdf, 193 kb)
April 16, 2013: Coral Reef Ecosystem Protection Working Group Progress and Next Steps (pdf, 2,500 kb MB)
July 9, 2013: Coral Reef Ecosystem Restoration Working Group Recommendations to SAC (pdf, 4,200 kb)
June 17, 2014 Presentation: Coral Reef Ecosystem Restoration Working Group Recommendations to SAC (505 kb)
June 17, 2014 Pre-Meeting Packet: Coral Reef Ecosystem Restoration Working Group and Shallow Water Wildlife and Habitat Protection Working Group Draft Recommendations (20,000 kb)
Motion
The following Motion was passed at the June 17, 2014 meeting: Resolution of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council Advancing the Shallow Water Wildlife and Habitat Protection Working Group Recommendations to NOAA for Analysis through a Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Note: See also the Coral Restoration Working Group page for more background information on the development of these recommendations.
