A Proposal For Restoring
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
We are all part of the solution
Photo: Scott Atwell/NOAA
After years of devastating impacts to the marine environment in the Florida Keys, the long-awaited Restoration Blueprint for Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is now final. The documents outline NOAA’s regulatory changes, marking a critical milestone in the long-term efforts to restore the sanctuary’s delicate ecosystem.
The clear, blue and turquoise waters of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary contain part of the only coral barrier reef in the continental United States, the largest documented contiguous seagrass community in the Northern Hemisphere, mangrove-fringed shorelines, hard-bottom habitat, sand and mud flats, and an array of submerged historical and cultural resources. Each of the components of the sanctuary are ecologically connected, requiring a comprehensive plan for restoring and managing the resources within these waters both individually and cohesively.
Under the Restoration Blueprint, the sanctuary’s boundary has expanded from 3,800 square miles to 4,539 square miles. NOAA has added 37 marine zones to facilitate comprehensive and coordinated protection and management throughout the sanctuary, including 20 wildlife management areas that extend protections to seagrass, nesting birds, and sea turtles. Fifteen of the new marine zones facilitate coral reef restoration efforts.
To balance access with protections, the Restoration Blueprint removed restrictions to fishing in some areas by eliminating five existing marine zones (Looe Key Conservation Area; Rock Key and French Reef Sanctuary Preservation Areas; and Little Crane Key and Tidal Flat South of Marvin Key Wildlife Management Areas) due to resource condition changes and an opportunity to evaluate different management approaches.
The final version of Restoration Blueprint outlines a series of science-based recommendations that reflect a balanced approach, combining strong environmental protections with the need to maintain sustainable access for local communities who depend on the sanctuary’s marine resources. Key provisions include:
Expanding the sanctuary boundary by 20%
→ Aligns sanctuary boundary with the existing “Area to Be Avoided” and protects vital marine habitats west of the Dry Tortugas.
Maintain open fishing in 95% of the sanctuary while creating consistent regulations for sanctuary preservation areas
→ Protects popular coral reefs and provides refuge for marine life and scuba divers
Prohibit the discharge of any material from cruise ships other than cooling water
→ Reduces pollution and safeguards water quality
Add 20 wildlife management areas
→ Protects seagrass beds and gives adequate space to nesting birds and sea turtles, which are critical to the sanctuary’s biodiversity
Prohibit the anchoring of vessels at risk of becoming derelict
→ Prevents further damage to sensitive habitats
How We Got Here
The Restoration Blueprint process began in 2011 with the publication of a concerning condition report on the state of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The report highlighted the declining health of coral reefs, seagrass beds, and other vital ecosystems. In response, NOAA began developing comprehensive rules to bolster the resilience of marine ecosystems in the face of ongoing environmental threats such as hurricanes, diseases, vessel groundings, rising ocean temperatures, pollution, and human activity.
The final Restoration Blueprint’s recommendations are the culmination of hundreds of agreements and collaborative efforts, nurtured through an extensive process of public comment, state and federal partnerships and consultation, and scientific research. NOAA has spent 13 years listening to diverse stakeholders from the Keys community to develop a robust and thoughtful plan that balances conservation with resource use to ensure the sanctuary thrives for generations to come.
Phase I of this process included a formal notice of intent and public comment scoping period which transitioned into Phase II, a more in-depth Sanctuary Advisory Council and community working group input process.
Phase III, called the draft environmental impact statement, included a five-month public comment period that ended January 31, 2020.
Phase IV distilled public feedback into a single proposal called the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (referred to as the "proposed rule"), which was available for a 100-day public comment period. The proposed rule and draft management plan, jointly called the Restoration Blueprint, was developed from cutting-edge science, technical expertise, and public and agency comments. During each of these public comment periods for the Restoration Blueprint, the public was invited to provide input about the future of their Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Phase V includes the final environmental impact statement, in addition to the final rule and final management plan.