Ecosystem Protection: Ecological Reserves, Preservation Areas and Wildlife Protection
Summary
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. 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. The Sanctuary Condition Report and scoping comments identified a significant need to review current marine zones and consider changes needed to protect sanctuary resources while also allowing compatible uses. The Sanctuary Advisory Council identified a suite of objectives and established a working group to consider whether additional areas are needed to be set aside to ensure long term protection of the natural resources.
Throughout 2013 and 2014, a working group on Ecosystem Protection: Ecological Reserves, Preservation Areas and Wildlife Protection developed draft recommendations for zoning changes and potential new zones which were passed on to the full advisory council for their consideration. At the August 19, 2014 meeting, the advisory council passed a motion requesting that the sanctuary include these areas, as well as one additional area, in their analysis of the environmental and socio-economic impacts of a range of management alternatives.
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)
August 20, 2014:
Agenda (pdf, 22 kb)
Minutes (pdf, 173 kb)
December 10, 2013:
Agenda (pdf, 22 kb)
Minutes (pdf, 123 kb)
August 19, 2014:
Agenda (pdf, 16 kb)
Minutes (pdf, 88 kb)
For more advisory council meeting archives visit: Current Year or Previous Year Archives.
Presentations on Ecosystem Protection: Ecological Reserves, Preservation Areas and Wildlife Protection
April 16, 2013 Presentation: Ecosystem Protection Working Group Progress and Next Steps (715 kb)
July 9, 2013 Presentation: Ecosystem Protection Working Group Recommendations to SAC (1,000 kb)
August 20, 2013 Presentation: Ecosystem Protection Working Group: Summary and Work Products (1,200 kb)
August 20, 2013 Presentation: Ecosystem Protection Working Group Proposal for Regional Meetings (349 kb)
August 20, 2013: Written Public Comments (6,700 kb)
December 10, 2013 Presentation: Ecosystem Protection Working Group Update (715 kb)
August 19, 2014 Presentation: Ecosystem Protection Working Group Recommendations (1,516 kb)
Motion
The following Motion was passed at the August 19, 2014 meeting: Resolution of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council Advancing the Ecosystem Protection: Ecological Reserves / Preservation Areas and Wildlife Protection Working Group (pdf, 20 kb).
Note: See also the Ecosystem Protection: Ecological Reserves, Preservation Areas and Wildlife Protection Working Group page for background information on the development of the recommendations referenced in the motion.
