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
- 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
+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
+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)
Meeting Notes
2013
+March
March 14
Draft Agenda (pdf, 24 kb)
Meeting Summary (pdf, 87 kb)Other Materials:
Marine Zoning & Regulatory Review Process Overview (pdf, 2.2 MB)
Working Group Resources and Expectations (pdf, 1.1 MB)
Working Group Objectives (pdf, 1.3 MB)April
April 4
Draft Agenda (pdf, 24 kb)
Meeting Summary (pdf, 147 kb)Other Materials:
Existing Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Zones and Zone Regulations (pdf, 2.5 MB)
Current Condition of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Resources (pdf, 8.1 MB)
Managing for Resilience (pdf, 4.1 MB)
May
May 2
Draft Agenda (pdf, 30 kb)
Meeting Summary (pdf, 147 kb)Other Materials:
Process Flow Chart (pdf, 210 kb)
Assessing Reef Fish Change and Marine Reserve Dynamics (pdf, 4.2 MB)
Benthic Communities and Zone Performance (pdf, 3 MB)May 23
Draft Agenda (pdf, 30 kb)
Meeting Summary (pdf, 142 kb)Other Materials:
Reef Fish Spawning Aggregations (pdf, 17.3 MB)June
June 13
Draft Agenda (pdf, 26 kb)
Meeting Summary (pdf, 71 kb)Other Materials:
Performance Evaluations of the Western Sambo Ecological Reserve (pdf, 8 MB)
Draft Criteria for Ecosystem Protection Zone Selection (pdf, 128 kb)July
July 11
Draft Agenda (pdf, 28 kb)
Meeting Summary (pdf, 85 kb)July 29
Draft Agenda (pdf, 41 kb
Meeting Summary (pdf, 105 kb)Other Materials:
Draft Working Group Member Proposals for Ecosystem Protection Zones (pdf, 7 MB)
Ballot for Draft Working Group Member Proposals (pdf, 201 kb)September
September 23
Draft Agenda (pdf, 36 kb)
Other Materials:
Marine Zoning and Regulatory Review Process Overview (pdf, 950 kb)
Middle Keys region map of existing marine zones (pdf, 552 kb)
Oral Public Comment (pdf, 72 kb)
Written Public Comment (pdf, 714 kb)
Emailed Public Comment (pdf, 376 kb)
September 24
Draft Agenda (pdf, 36 kb)
Other Materials:
Marine Zoning and Regulatory Review Process Overview (pdf, 950 kb)
Upper Keys region map of existing marine zones (pdf, 393 kb)
Oral Public Comment (pdf, 60 kb)
Written Public Comment (pdf, 1.4 MB)
September 25
Draft Agenda (pdf, 36 kb)
Other Materials:
Marine Zoning and Regulatory Review Process Overview (pdf, 950 kb)
Lower Keys region map of existing marine zones (pdf, 660 kb)
Oral Public Comment (pdf, 72 kb)
Written Public Comment (pdf, 2.3 MB)
September 26
Draft Agenda (pdf, 36 kb)
Other Materials:
Marine Zoning and Regulatory Review Process Overview (pdf, 950 kb)
Marquesas region map of existing marine zones (pdf, 517 kb)
Dry Tortugas region map of existing marine zones (pdf, 458 kb)
Oral Public Comment (pdf, 62 kb)
Written Public Comment (pdf, 664 kb)
September 30
Draft Agenda (pdf, 23 kb)
Other Materials:
Meeting Summary (pdf, 75 kb)
2014
+March
Thursday March 6 and Friday March 7
Draft Agenda (pdf, 45 kb)
Meeting Summary (pdf, 129 kb)Other Materials:
Biogeographic Assessment of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary: Data and Information available for working group consideration (pdf, 8 MB)
Biogeography of the reef fish spawning aggregations in the Western Atlantic (pdf, 3 MB)
Written Public comments (pdf, 214 kb)Tuesday March 25 and Wednesday March 26
Draft Agenda (pdf, 23 kb)
Meeting Summary (pdf, 700 kb)Other Materials:
Upper Keys Managed Areas Map (pdf, 8.3 MB)
Definitions and Guide to Data Displays in Natural Resource and Human Use Presentations (pdf, 72 kb)
Human Use Information for the Upper Keys Region (pdf, 2 MB)
Natural Resource Data and Information for the Upper Keys Region (pdf, 7 MB)
Written Public Comments (pdf, 2.3 MB)April
Thursday April 17 and Friday April 18
Draft Agenda (pdf, 24 kb)
Meeting Summary (pdf, 768 kb)Other Materials:
Middle Keys Managed Areas Map (pdf, 3 MB)
Definitions and Guide to Data Displays in Natural Resource and Human Use Presentations (pdf, 72 kb)
Human Use Information for the Middle Keys (pdf, #2.4 MB)
Natural Resource Information for the Middle Keys (pdf, 4 MB)May
Tuesday May 13 and Wednesday May 14
Draft Agenda (pdf, 24 kb)
Meeting Summary (pdf, 822 kb)Other Materials:
Lower Keys Managed Areas Map (pdf, 7 MB)
Definitions and Guide to Data Displays in Natural Resource and Human Use Presentations (pdf, 72 kb)
Human Use Information for the Lower Keys (pdf, 2.4 MB)
Natural Resource Information for the Lower Keys (pdf, 5 MB)
Written Public Comments (pdf, 3 MB)June
Tuesday June 10 and Wednesday June 11
Draft Agenda (pdf, 43 kb)
Meeting Summary (pdf, 914 kb)Other Materials:
Marquesas Region Managed Areas Map (pdf, 211 kb)
Definitions and Guide to Data Displays in Natural Resource and Human Use Presentations (pdf, 72 kb)
Human Use Information for the Marquesas Region (pdf, 2.2 MB)
Natural Resource Information for the Marquesas Region (pdf, 4.4 MB)
Written Public Comments (pdf, 1 MB)July
Tuesday July 8 and Wednesday July 9
Draft Agenda (pdf, 23 kb)
Meeting Summary (pdf, 800 kb)Other Materials:
Written Public Comment (pdf, 1.8 MB)
Draft Recommendations
- Draft Working Group Recommendations for Sanctuary Advisory Council Consideration (pdf, 42 kb)
- Upper Keys Region Recommendations (pdf, 76 kb)
- Middle Keys Region Recommendations(pdf, 77 kb)
- Lower Keys Region Recommendations(pdf, 77 kb)
- Marquesas Region Recommendations(pdf, 65 kb)
- Tortugas Region Recommendations(pdf, 62 kb)
- General / Sanctuary-Wide Recommendations (pdf, 84 kb)
Materials to be presented at the August 19, 2014 Sanctuary Advisory Council Meeting
Resources
- Data and Mapping Applications
- Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Revised Management Plan, 2007
- Condition Report 2011 for Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
- Draft Advisory Council Regulatory and Zoning Alternatives Development Workplan (pdf, 257 kb)
Links to additional working group resources will be added as available.