Ecosystem Protection: Ecological Reserves, Preservation Areas and Wildlife Protection Working Group holds additional meetings
In response to requests by members of the public, shifting environmental conditions and threats in the Keys, better scientific information, and legal requirements, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is conducting a review of sanctuary regulations, including the rules and boundaries for marine zones in the sanctuary and surrounding national wildlife refuges.
The Sanctuary Advisory Council, working with public and community experts, is developing recommendations for changes to sanctuary marine zones and regulations. Using direction from the sanctuary management plan, the advisory council’s marine zoning and regulatory review goals and objectives, and public comments, the council has identified priority issues to be addressed through working groups and workshops. Working groups allow the advisory council to gather information from community experts, user groups, and scientists. Information or advice resulting from working group discussions is presented to the council at its bi-monthly meetings, and may be incorporated or modified when the council makes recommendations to the sanctuary superintendent.
Ecosystem Protection: Ecological Reserves, Preservation Areas and Wildlife Protection Working Group meetings will be held regionally when those regions are being discussed and the first and last meeting will be held in the middle Keys as a central location. All meetings are open to the public and there is a public comment period scheduled during each meeting.
All meetings begin promptly at 9:30 a.m. and adjourn at 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 6 and Friday, March 7
Marathon Garden Club
5270 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050
Topics: Reconvene, review the working group charge, review the scientific and use data available and begin to work with the data (discuss Dry Tortugas region).
Tuesday, March 25 and Wednesday, March 26
Hilton Key Largo Resort
97000 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037
Topics: Discuss and make ecosystem protection recommendations for the Upper Keys Region
Thursday, April 17 and Friday, April 18
Marathon Garden Club
5270 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050
Topics: Discuss and make ecosystem protection recommendations for the Middle Keys Region
Tuesday, May 13 and Wednesday, May 14
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
Tuesday, June 10 and Wednesday, June 11
Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center
35 East Quay Road, Key West, FL 33040
Topics: Discuss and make ecosystem protection recommendations for the Marquesas Region
Tuesday, July 1 and Wednesday, July 2
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 consideration by the Sanctuary Advisory Council.
This flyer may be used to distribute meeting information.
