Back to Advisory Council Workplan and Workgroups

Ecosystem Protection: Ecological Reserves, Preservation Areas and Wildlife Protection Working Group

The sanctuary uses a strategy of marine zoning to protect and preserve sensitive parts of the marine ecosystem, while allowing activities compatible with resource protection. The Sanctuary’s Condition Report and scoping comments identified a significant need to review current marine zones and decide what changes must be undertaken to meet the goals and objectives identified by the Advisory Council. While certain zones were established to allow areas of high ecological importance to evolve with minimal human influence, and others were set aside to reduce user conflict, additional areas may need to be considered to ensure long term protection of the natural resources.

Advisory Council Lead - Chris Bergh

Objectives
Members
Schedule
Notes
Draft Recommendations
Resources

Objectives

Review and evaluate existing reserves designated for protection of coral reef ecosystems.
Review current exceptions to regulations in Sanctuary Preservation Areas and Ecological Reserves.
Review and evaluate Sanctuary Preservation Areas reduction of conflicting uses.
Recommend new or modified ecological reserves to ensure protection of a diversity of resources:

Spawning aggregations
Full suite of marine flora and fauna (i.e., seabird, marine mammal, turtles, seagrass, soft corals, hard corals)

Consider temporal zoning to address seasonal impacts associated with intense uses or seasonal ecological activities (i.e., nesting, breeding, spawning).
Ensure the FKNMS zoning scheme promotes sustainable use of the sanctuary resources and protects areas that represent diverse habitats as well as areas important for maintaining natural resources and ecosystem functions.

Members

Working Group Co-Chairs (non-voting):
Sean Morton, Sanctuary Superintendent
John Hunt, FWC Program Administrator
(appointed by advisory council on August 20, 2013)

Advisory Council Lead - Chris Bergh

Advisory Council Representatives:
Chris Bergh, SAC; Working Group Chair; Conservation and Environment
Ben Daughtry, SAC; Commercial Fishing – Marine/Tropical
Tim Grollimund, SAC; Diving - Upper Keys
Rob Harris, SAC; Fishing - Charter Sports Fishing
Ted Lund, SAC; Charter Fishing Flats Guide
Suzy Roebling, SAC; Citizen at Large – Upper Keys
Joe Weatherby, SAC; Tourism

Community Experts:
Maria Brandvold, Recreational Fisherman
Tad Burke, Florida Keys Fishing Guides Association
Mark Chiappone, NOVA Southeastern University
Don DeMaria, Sea Sampler
Manny Herrera, Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association Member
Ernie Piton, Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association Member
Dave Vandenbosch, Captain Hooks Dive Center and Marina – Middle Keys
Scott Saunders, Fury Water Adventures
Mimi Stafford, Reef Relief

Staff Lead: Steve Werndli

Meeting Schedule

2013
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March 14
Marathon Garden Club
5270 Overseas Highway
Marathon, FL 33050
Draft Agenda (pdf, 24 kb)

April 4
Marathon Garden Club
5270 Overseas Highway
Marathon, FL 33050
Draft Agenda (pdf, 24 kb)

May 2
Marathon Garden Club
5270 Overseas Highway
Marathon, FL 33050
Draft Agenda (pdf, 28 kb)

May 23
Marathon Garden Club
5270 Overseas Highway
Marathon, FL 33050
Draft Agenda (pdf, 30 kb)

June 13
Marathon Garden Club
5270 Overseas Highway
Marathon, FL 33050
Draft Agenda (pdf, 26 kb)

July 11
Marathon Garden Club
5270 Overseas Highway
Marathon, FL 33050
Draft Agenda (pdf, 28 kb)

July 29
Marathon Garden Club
5270 Overseas Highway
Marathon, FL 33050
Draft Agenda (pdf, 41 kb)

September 23
Key Colony Beach City Hall
600 West Ocean Drive
Key Colony Beach, FL 33051
Draft Agenda (pdf, 36 kb)

September 24
Hilton Key Largo Resort
97000 Overseas Hwy.
Key Largo, FL 33037
Draft Agenda (pdf, 36 kb)

September 25
Doubletree Grand Key Resort
3990 South Roosevelt Boulevard
Key West, FL 33040
Draft Agenda (pdf, 36 kb)

September 26
Doubletree Grand Key Resort
3990 South Roosevelt Boulevard
Key West, FL 33040
Draft Agenda (pdf, 36 kb)

September 30
Marathon Garden Club
5270 Overseas Highway
Marathon, FL 33050
Draft Agenda (pdf, 23 kb)
2014
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Thursday March 6 and Friday March 7
9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Marathon Garden Club
5270 Overseas Highway
Marathon, FL 33050
Topics: Reconvene, meet the facilitator, review the agency "screen and remove" outcomes, review the scientific and socio-economic data available, and begin to work with the data (Dry Tortugas region)

Draft Agenda (pdf, 45 kb)

Tuesday March 25 and Wednesday March 26
9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Hilton Key Largo Resort
97000 Overseas Highway
Key Largo, FL 33037
Topics: Discuss and make ecosystem protection recommendations for the Upper Keys Region

Draft Agenda (pdf, 23 kb)

Thursday April 17 and Friday April 18
9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Marathon Garden Club
5270 Overseas Highway
Marathon, FL 33050
Topics: Discuss and make ecosystem protection recommendations for the Middle Keys Region

Draft Agenda (pdf, 24 kb)

Tuesday May 13 and Wednesday May 14
9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center
35 East Quay Road
Key West, FL 33040
Topics: Discuss and make ecosystem protection recommendations for the Lower Keys Region

Draft Agenda (pdf, 24 kb)

Tuesday June 10 and Wednesday June 11
9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center
35 East Quay Road
Key West, FL 33040
Topics: Discuss and make ecosystem protection recommendations for the Marquesas Region

Draft Agenda (pdf, 43 kb)

Tuesday July 8 and Wednesday July 9
9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Marathon Garden Club
5270 Overseas Highway
Marathon, FL 33050
Topics: Review all preliminary recommendations for all regions, final discussion, and develop final suite of ecosystem protection recommendations for Sanctuary Advisory Council.

Draft Agenda (pdf, 23 kb)