Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Marine Zoning and Regulatory Review Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges Backcountry Management Plan Update Summary of Scoping Comments August 21, 2012 Table of Contents Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................. 1 Acronyms ......................................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 5 Contact Information .......................................................................................................................... 6 Descriptions ...................................................................................................................................... 7 Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Maps ............................................................................... 8 Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges Maps ................................................................................ 9 Goals and Objectives for Marine Zoning and Regulatory Review ................................................ 10 Principles for Marine Zoning and Regulatory Review ................................................................... 11 Sanctuary Advisory Council ........................................................................................................... 12 Timeline .......................................................................................................................................... 19 Federal Register Notice .................................................................................................................. 21 Backcountry Management Plan Summary ..................................................................................... 26 Comment Categories ...................................................................................................................... 28 Categorized Comments .................................................................................................................. 29 Administration ............................................................................................................................ 29 Adaptive Management ............................................................................................................ 39 Aids to Navigation .................................................................................................................. 41 Displacement Effects .............................................................................................................. 42 Education ................................................................................................................................. 42 Brochures ............................................................................................................................. 46 Maps, Charts, Signs ............................................................................................................. 47 Public Service Announcements (PSA’s) ............................................................................. 48 Technology / Social Media / Web ....................................................................................... 48 Enforcement ............................................................................................................................ 49 Fines ........................................................................................................................................ 51 Greening Operations ............................................................................................................... 51 Oppose - General ..................................................................................................................... 52 Permitting ................................................................................................................................ 52 Regulations .............................................................................................................................. 53 Research and Monitoring ........................................................................................................ 56 Scientific Basis ........................................................................................................................ 57 State and County Management ............................................................................................... 61 Support - General .................................................................................................................... 61 User Fees ................................................................................................................................. 61 Artificial Habitat ......................................................................................................................... 64 Lobster Casitas ........................................................................................................................ 66 Wrecks and Ships To Reefs .................................................................................................... 69 Boundary ..................................................................................................................................... 70 Coastal Development .................................................................................................................. 72 Coral and Reef Restoration ......................................................................................................... 73 Fishery......................................................................................................................................... 78 Bait .......................................................................................................................................... 82 Catch and Release ................................................................................................................... 83 Lobster / Crab .......................................................................................................................... 84 Goliath Grouper ...................................................................................................................... 86 Mutton Snapper ....................................................................................................................... 86 Education ................................................................................................................................. 87 1 http://floridakeys.noaa.gov Sponging ................................................................................................................................. 87 Invasive / Non-Native ................................................................................................................. 89 Nursery and Spawning Aggregation Protection ......................................................................... 91 New or Modified Sanctuary Preservation Areas and Ecological Reserves ................................ 95 Seagrass Protection ..................................................................................................................... 99 No-Access / No Motor / Buffer Zones .................................................................................. 101 Pole Troll ............................................................................................................................... 103 Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) .................................................................................. 104 Submerged Cultural Resources ................................................................................................. 106 User Conflicts ........................................................................................................................... 107 Diving and Snorkeling .......................................................................................................... 108 Kayaks ................................................................................................................................... 110 Personal Watercraft (PWC) Issues ........................................................................................ 110 Personal Watercraft (PWC) Suggested Strategies and Tools: .............................................. 112 Water Quality ............................................................................................................................ 118 Liveaboards ........................................................................................................................... 121 Marine Debris ........................................................................................................................ 123 Pump Out .............................................................................................................................. 125 Wildlife Protection .................................................................................................................... 126 Kayaks ................................................................................................................................... 131 Personal Watercraft ..............................................................................................................