Alternatives for Coral Reef Ecosystem Protection Within Biscayne National Park

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ALTERNATIVES FOR CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION WITHIN BISCAYNE NATIONAL PARK

Marine Reserve Zone- Alternative 4

Description: The main objective for the marine reserve zone is to provide park visitors with “the opportunity to experience a healthy, natural coral reef, with larger and more numerous tropical reef fish and an ecologically intact reef system” and to protect a portion of Biscayne National Park’s threatened coral reef ecosystem. Within the MRZ, commercial and recreational fishing and anchoring would be prohibited but other activities, such as swimming, diving, and boating would continue to be allowed.

Size and Location: The proposed MRZ would cover approximately 7% of the park’s waters and less than 13% of the offshore reefs of the park. It would be located between Hawk Channel and the park’s eastern border, extending from Pacific Reef north to Long Reef and would cover 10,522 acres. The zone would protect 2,663 acres of the park’s coral reefs. It is located to the north of Caesar’s Creek.

Effectiveness: Scientific data indicates that no-take marine reserves are more effective at reducing mortality, particularly for reef species, than other management tools, including catch and release, slot limits, quotas, and seasonal closures. A marine reserve would accomplish three necessary goals: provide a protected area where declining reef fish can recover, provide an area to protect internationally endangered coral reef communities, and provide visitors with the opportunity to experience the wonders of a vibrant coral reef ecosystem.

Enforcement: Marine reserves are easy to enforce because the same rules apply to everyone using the area. Enforcement officials could easily observe those in violation of the zone’s regulations. When considering the limited and continually declining resources of the National Park Service, effective and inexpensive enforcement would greatly contribute to the success of resource conservation.

Feasibility: The rules of a marine reserve are simple: within its boundaries there would be no fishing, no taking of resources, and no anchoring. Because the rules are straightforward, it would be easier for park users to comply. Furthermore, the costs of implementing the reserve would be extremely low in comparison to other alternatives, perhaps only requiring the cost of installing mooring buoys.

k R '4' R '2' 826 Key Biscayne VU South 2 more Visitor '2' 874 Miami Information Kiosks VU k R '2 ' BILL BAGGS CAPE FLORIDA STATE PARK Y 'B' '1' W Ludlum Ludlum Rd k Y 'A' Old Cutler Rd MATHESON HAMMOCK '3' Kendall COUNTY PARK

SW 57th SW Avenue R '20' BISCAYNE CHANNEL G '21' '18' R '6' 8 8 '12' '10' '16' '14' '8' G '1' '19' '4' 88 '11' '9' '7' 8 '17' G '15' R '2' 1 G '3' 'N' ¤£ 8 G '1' Boundary Marker G '1' STILTSVILLE Cutler 8 SW 144th St Power Plant (SW 152nd St) Coral Reef Dr OldCutler Rd k S A G '1A' F E CHICKEN T SW 168th St KEY Y R '2' k V A

L P V East Perrine AR E K BOU NDARY Arratoon SW 184th St Extends 500' Y 'C' '2' from shoreline '3' Apcar R '2' Wreck SOLDIER KEY W Extends 500' ÷ from Non-Combustion FOWEY ROCKS E Cutler Ridge Engine Use Zone D G LIGHTHOUSE L E K C A L Brewster 821 B VU G '1B' '4' Reef

Old Cutler Rd BISCAYNE SW 87thSW Ave BLACK POINT BAY INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY COUNTY PARK AND MARINA '1' Goulds Canal R '2' *RAGGED KEYS Coconut Palm Dr k WEST (SW 248th St) Harbor Star Reef South Miami- R '2' MIDDLE '2' FEATHERBED BANK G '3' 888 Dade County Original Monument Boundary G '3' 88 Boca Chita Key '4' '4' LEWIS C Landfill R '6' FEATHERBED BANK UT '7' Princeton Canal EAST FEATHERBED BANK R '8'

Fender Point W 'S' 25o30.00 E SW107th Ave G RA ATLANTIC C '9' O SANDS KEY NDS UT H A 07 08 S o

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A 080 Military Canal 080 E OCEAN G '11BS' R Restricted A Area BACHE þý G ÷ E Triumph Reef o SHOAL L 25 30.00 Park Administration University Dock þý '13'

O Power Plant B Billys Point þý Erl King Wreck Y '18' þý R Little þý þý River þý þý þý A þý þý þý U þý þý T Extends out 500' þý þý C Petrel Point N A þý S WEST SANDWICH COVE ARSENICKER Alicia Wreck

HAWK CHANNEL þý R '8' Ajax Reef MANGROVE þý KEY ARSENICKER KEY 88 þý RUBICON 88 Adams Key 19th Century KEYS '19' Sailing Vessel Wreck Christmas Point s as REID KEY þý t P R '20' þý Anniversary Reef Cooling Canals h Hurricane Caesar Creek Legend ig LONG G '9' Creek Area in Acres: n (closed system) d ARSENICKER i R '10' Mangrove Point M '11' Park Boundary 173,904

PORGY KEY AREA CO-MANAGED WITH FLORIDA KEY'S NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY (PROTECTED AREA) EAST '12' W ' ' ARSENICKER TOTTEN KEY '13' þý þý Pacific Reef Multi-Use Zone / Water 148,374 PA R '14' Elkhorn RK BO '15' ÷ UN '15A' DARY CUTTER BANK Coral Reef Jones Lagoon þý Nature Observation Zone 4,747 þý þý '21' þý þý OLD RHODES KEY þý þýþý Slow Speed Zone 2,370 þýþýþý þýþýþý R '22' þýþý SWAN KEY þý Original Monument Boundary Multi-Use Zone / Land 2,756 PALO ALTO KEY GOLD KEY þý BROAD CREEK Dredged Navigation Channels Zone 1,739 R '14' '23' R '6' ANGELFISH CREEK INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY '24' Non-Combustion Engine Use Zone 2,536 R '2' '3' Y

R KEY A Sensitive Underwater Archeological Zone 756 '2' D CARD SOUND ANGELFISH þý N þý U O k B Sensitive Resource Zone 244 '16' G '17' JOHN PENNEKAMP þý K R LITTLE G CORAL REEF A '18' P CARD '19' R '2' STATE PARK Visitor Services / Park Administration 83 SOUND '21' G R '20' KEY LARGO Marine Reserve Zone 10,502

905 FLORIDA KEYS k Potential Visitor Information Kiosk VU þý NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY R '22' KEY LARGO ÿ Shipwreck EXISTING MANAGEMENT AREA R '24' 8 Stiltsville House

Note 1: Existing conditions and some features such as the 0 1 2 locations of shoals, reefs, and shallow coral areas, may be Kilometers considered unchanged. 0 1 2 Statute Miles 0 1 2 Note 2: To show visually, the size of zone colors have been Nautical Miles enlarged in certain areas. Map not for navigation Note 3: Some areas in the Park Boundary are not NPS owned but do not appear at this map scale. Zoning shown would not apply to non NPS lands unless they were acquired from a willing seller. Alternative 4 Biscayne National Park United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service DSC / October 2013 / 169 - 20056 Special Recreation Zone- Alternative 6

Description: The goal of the special recreation zone is to provide “a healthier coral reef ecosystem for a more enjoyable and diverse visitor experience,” while continuing to allow some recreational fishing. The SRZ would primarily limit fishing within the zone by the creation of a permit system, which would provide annual permits to 430 recreational anglers and 70 commercial guides via a lottery system. A number of additional limitations would be placed on fishing activities within the zone. The SRZ would be implemented using an adaptive management strategy that would monitor resource conditions and adjust regulations and permit numbers accordingly. If certain goals were not met in 10 years, the entire area would convert to a marine reserve zone.

Size and Location: The proposed SRZ would contain about 8% of the park, or 14,585 acres, and would extend from Hawk Channel to the park’s eastern boundary, extending two miles south of Pacific Reef north to Long Reef.

Effectiveness: Because the SRZ is a new and novel concept, it is scientifically untested and there is no scientific evidence or precedent to support claims that it will be effective.

Enforcement: The SRZ would be extremely difficult to enforce, as enforcement officials would need to approach each individual fishing within the area in order to determine whether or not they possessed the required permit and if they are following the specific list of regulations. Given current budget constraints and continuing cuts to park funding, enforcing this alternative is simply not feasible, which would likely lead to a high number of violations and the continued decline of park resources.

Feasibility: Effective implementation, enforcement, and frequent evaluation of the SRZ and the attendant permit system would be extremely costly and time-consuming and are not feasible given the limited resources and capacity of the National Park Service.

East Perrine PA E RK BOU NDARY Arratoon SW 184th St Y 'C' '2' '3' Apcar Extends 1,000' R '2' SOLDIER KEY Wreck from Shoreline W FOWEY ROCKS ÷ E Cutler Ridge D G LIGHTHOUSE L E K C A L Brewster 821 B VU G '1B' '4' Reef

Old Cutler Rd BISCAYNE SW 87thSW Ave BLACK POINT BAY INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY COUNTY PARK AND MARINA '1' Goulds Canal R '2' *RAGGED KEYS Coconut Palm Dr k WEST (SW 248th St) Harbor Star Reef South Miami- R '2' MIDDLE '2' FEATHERBED BANK G '3' 888 Dade County Original Monument Boundary G '3' 88 Boca Chita Key '4' Landfill '4' LEWIS C R '6' FEATHERBED BANK UT '7' Princeton Canal EAST FEATHERBED BANK R '8'

Fender Point W 'S' 25o30.00 E SW107th Ave G RA ATLANTIC SANDS KEY C '9' O NDS UT H A 07 08 S o

o C N

A 080 Military Canal 080 E OCEAN G '11BS' R Restricted A Area BACHE þý G ÷ E Triumph Reef o SHOAL L 25 30.00 Park Administration University Dock þý '13'

& Visitor Center þý þý Mowry Canal R '2' Sea Grape Point Convoy GPoint '1' '14' þý þý SW 328th St 888 R '2' þý Elliott Key '15' þý HOMESTEAD þý BAYFRONT k R '2' Point Adelle þý þý PARK Elliott Key Harbor 88 '16' PELICAN W '1' Lugano Wreck Palm Dr þý BANK Hardened Path (SW 344th St) Y '2' Mandalay Wreck R A '17' Long Reef D N Turkey Point Hiking Trail Long Reef U O Power Plant B Billys Point þý Erl King Wreck Y '18' þý R Little þý þý River þý þý þý A þý þý þý U þý þý T Extends out 300' þý þý C Petrel Point N A þý S WEST SANDWICH COVE ARSENICKER Alicia Wreck

HAWK CHANNEL þý Ajax Reef R '8' MANGROVE þý KEY ARSENICKER KEY 88 þý RUBICON 88 Adams Key 19th Century KEYS '19' Sailing Vessel Wreck Legend Christmas Point Area in Acres: s as REID KEY þý P R '20' þý Anniversary Reef ht Hurricane Caesar Creek Park Boundary 173,904 Cooling Canals ig LONG G '9' Creek n (closed system) d ARSENICKER i R '10' Mangrove Point M '11' PORGY KEY Multi-Use Zone / Water 144,537

EAST '12' W ' ' ARSENICKER TOTTEN KEY Special Recreation Zone/ '13' þý þý Pacific Reef PARK R '14' Elkhorn 14,585 BOU '15' ÷ Seasonal Fishing Closure NDA '15A' RY CUTTER BANK Coral Reef AREA CO-MANAGED WITH FLORIDA KEY'S NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY (PROTECTED AREA) Jones Lagoon Extends out 300' þý þý þý Nature Observation Zone 4,747 '21' þý þý OLD RHODES KEY þý þýþý þýþýþý þýþýþý Slow Speed Zone 3,593 R '22' þýþý SWAN KEY þý Original Monument Boundary PALO ALTO KEY GOLD KEY Multi-Use Zone / Land 2,756 þý BROAD CREEK R '14' '23' R '6' Dredged Navigation Channels Zone 1,735 INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY ANGELFISH CREEK '24'

R '2' R '3' A D Non-Combustion Engine Use Zone 903 KEY '2' N CARD SOUND ANGELFISH þý U

O þý B Sensitive Underwater Archeological Zone 756 k K G '17' JOHN PENNEKAMP R '16' þý A P LITTLE G CORAL REEF '18' Sensitive Resource Zone 234 CARD '19' R '2' STATE PARK SOUND '21' G R '20' KEY LARGO Visitor Services / Park Administration 83

905 FLORIDA KEYS k Potential Visitor Information Kiosk VU þý NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY R '22' KEY LARGO ÿ Shipwreck R '24' EXISTING MANAGEMENT AREA 8 Stiltsville House

Note 1: Existing conditions and some features such as the 0 1 2 locations of shoals, reefs, and shallow coral areas, may be Kilometers considered unchanged. 0 1 2 Statute Miles 0 1 2 Note 2: To show visually, the size of zone colors have been Nautical Miles enlarged in certain areas. Map not for navigation Note 3: Some areas in the Park Boundary are not NPS owned but do not appear at this map scale. Zoning shown would not apply to non NPS lands unless they were acquired from a willing seller. Alternative 6 Biscayne National Park United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service DSC / October 2013 / 169 - 20059 Special Recreation Zone- Alternative 7

Description: The goal of the SRZ is to provide “a healthier coral reef ecosystem for a more enjoyable and diverse visitor experience,” while continuing to allow some recreational fishing. Recreational fishing within the SRZ would be prohibited June-September. A number of additional limitations would be placed on fishing activities within the zone throughout the rest of the year. The SRZ would be implemented using an adaptive management strategy that would monitor resource conditions and adjust regulations and permit numbers accordingly. If certain goals were not met in 10 years, the entire area would convert to a marine reserve zone.

Effectiveness: Recreational fishing would be banned during the summer months when reef fish are already stressed by environmental extremes. When water temperatures are higher, the amount of oxygen in the water declines and fish have a hard time recovering if they are caught and released. While this alternative would provide some protection to coral reef ecosystem, fishing activities will continue largely uninterrupted for eight months a year. Protecting only 8% of the park a third of the time is not enough to stop the declining health of Biscayne’s coral reef ecosystems

Enforcement: The SRZ would be relatively easy to enforce during the summer months when it is a no-take area. During the rest of the year, enforcement would be moderately more difficult because of the additional fishing regulations that apply only to this area.

Feasibility: This option is feasible in terms of cost and implementation but compliance may be difficult due to a lack of understanding regarding regulations. The SRZ will also disproportionately affect local residents that use the park more frequently during the summer months. It is unlikely that this alternative will prevent the continued decline of Biscayne’s coral reef ecosystems given the limited amount of time the resources are protected.

For more information, please contact: Caroline McLaughlin Biscayne Restoration Program Analyst National Parks Conservation Association 954-961-1280 [email protected]

L PA V RK E BOUN DARY Arratoon SW 184th St Y 'C' '2' '3' Apcar Extends 1,000' R '2' SOLDIER KEY Wreck from Shoreline W FOWEY ROCKS ÷ E Cutler Ridge D G LIGHTHOUSE L E K C A L Brewster 821 B VU G '1B' '4' Reef

Old Cutler Rd BISCAYNE SW 87thSW Ave BLACK POINT BAY INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY COUNTY PARK AND MARINA '1' Goulds Canal R '2' *RAGGED KEYS Coconut Palm Dr k (SW 248th St) WEST Harbor Star Reef South Miami- R '2' MIDDLE '2' 8 Dade County FEATHERBED BANK G '3' 88 Original Monument Boundary G '3' 88 Boca Chita Key '4' Landfill '4' LEWIS C R '6' FEATHERBED BANK UT '7' Princeton Canal EAST FEATHERBED BANK R '8'

Fender Point W 'S' 25o30.00 E SW107th Ave G A ATLANTIC SANDS KEY '9' R C O NDS UT H A 07 08 S o

o C N

A 080 Military Canal 080 E OCEAN G '11BS' R Restricted A Area BACHE þý G ÷ E Triumph Reef o SHOAL L 25 30.00 Park Administration University Dock þý '13'

þý þý & Visitor Center Y Mowry Canal R '2' R Sea Grape Point A D Convoy GPoint '1' '14' þý þý N SW 328th St 888 U R '2' þý O Elliott Key B HOMESTEAD '15' þý þý Y BAYFRONT k R '2' R Point Adelle þý þý A PARK 88 U Elliott Key Harbor 8 T '16' C PELICAN W '1' þý Lugano Wreck N Palm Dr A BANK Hardened Path S (SW 344th St) '2' Mandalay Wreck

'17' Turkey Point Hiking Trail Long Reef Power Plant Billys Point þý Erl King Wreck '18' þý Little þý þý River þý þý þý þý þý þý þý þý Extends out 300' þý þý Petrel Point þý WEST SANDWICH COVE ARSENICKER Alicia Wreck

HAWK CHANNEL þý Ajax Reef R '8' AREA CO-MANAGED WITH FLORIDA KEY'S NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY (PROTECTED AREA) MANGROVE þý KEY ARSENICKER KEY 88 þý RUBICON 88 Adams Key 19th Century KEYS '19' Sailing Vessel Wreck Legend Christmas Point Area in Acres: s as REID KEY þý P R '20' þý Anniversary Reef ht Hurricane Caesar Creek Park Boundary 173,904 Cooling Canals ig LONG G '9' Creek n (closed system) d ARSENICKER i R '10' M '11' Multi-Use Zone / Water 144,537 Mangrove Point PORGY KEY EAST '12' W ' ' ARSENICKER TOTTEN KEY Special Recreation Zone/ '13' þý þý Pacific Reef PA R '14' Elkhorn 14,585 RK B '15' ÷ OUN CUTTER BANK Seasonal Fishing Closure DARY '15A' Coral Reef Jones Lagoon þý Extends out 300' þý þý Nature Observation Zone 4,747 '21' þý þý OLD RHODES KEY þý þýþý þýþýþý þýþýþý Slow Speed Zone 3,593 R '22' þýþý SWAN KEY þý Original Monument Boundary PALO ALTO KEY GOLD KEY Multi-Use Zone / Land 2,756 þý BROAD CREEK R '14' '23' Y R R '6' ANGELFISH CREEK A Dredged Navigation Channels Zone 1,735 INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY '24' D

N R '2' '3' U O B Non-Combustion Engine Use Zone 903 KEY CARD SOUND '2' þý K ANGELFISH R

A k þý P Sensitive Underwater Archeological Zone 756 '16' G '17' JOHN PENNEKAMP þý LITTLE G CORAL REEF '18' Sensitive Resource Zone 234 CARD '19' R '2' STATE PARK SOUND '21' G R '20' KEY LARGO Visitor Services / Park Administration 83

905 FLORIDA KEYS k Potential Visitor Information Kiosk VU þý NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY R '22' KEY LARGO ÿ Shipwreck R '24' EXISTING MANAGEMENT AREA 8 Stiltsville House

Note 1: Existing conditions and some features such as the 0 1 2 locations of shoals, reefs, and shallow coral areas, may be Kilometers considered unchanged. 0 1 2 Statute Miles 0 1 2 Note 2: To show visually, the size of zone colors have been Nautical Miles enlarged in certain areas. Map not for navigation Note 3: Some areas in the Park Boundary are not NPS owned but do not appear at this map scale. Zoning shown would not apply to non NPS lands unless they were acquired from a willing seller. Alternative 7 Biscayne National Park United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service DSC / October 2013 / 169 - 20060