NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council to meet in Key Largo

October 6, 2014

NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary will hold a public meeting of the Sanctuary Advisory Council in Duck Key, Fla., on Tuesday, October 21, 2014.

The advisory council continues to discuss potential regulatory changes as part of the sanctuary’s marine zoning and regulatory review. Topics to be discussed include the sanctuary permit procedures and adaptive management, artificial habitat, water quality, and coordination on fishery management issues. At 11:45 a.m., Sanctuary Superintendent Sean Morton will give a briefing on the next steps in the development of regulatory alternatives.

Public comment for items not on the agenda will be taken at 1:15 a.m.

At 1:30 p.m., Heather Blough from NOAA Fisheries will also provide an update on recent Endangered Species Act actions enhancing protections for coral and Nassau grouper. State and federal agencies will then provide general updates on recent activities at 2:30 p.m.

WHAT:       Sanctuary Advisory Council meeting
WHEN:       October 21, 2014, 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
WHERE:     Hawks Cay Resort Conference Center, 61 Hawks Cay Blvd, Duck Key, FL 33050
WHO:         NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

To receive more information, or to request a meeting agenda, please contact Beth Dieveney at 305-809-4700 x228 or Beth.Dieveney@noaa.gov.

Authorized in 1990 and established in 1992, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council provides advice and recommendations on managing and protecting the sanctuary. The council has 20 representatives and alternates from community constituent groups, and 10 government agencies have non-voting representatives on the council. Serving in a voluntary capacity, the council members represent a variety of local user groups, as well as the general public.

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary protects 2,900 square nautical miles of critical marine habitat, including coral reef, hard bottom, sea grass meadows, mangrove communities and sand flats, as well as shipwrecks and maritime heritage resources. NOAA and the state of Florida manage the sanctuary. Visit us at http://floridakeys.noaa.gov, find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Join NOAA on Facebook, Twitter and other social media channels.