The first management plan update since 2007—crafted with extensive collaboration among NOAA, State of Florida agencies, and local communities—outlines revised goals for the sanctuary in a rapidly changing environment and the programmatic activities to meet those goals. It emphasizes high-priority actions in adaptive management, water quality, restoration, visitor access, enforcement, and engagement.
“Since the last management plan in 2007, the sanctuary has faced escalating impacts from local, regional, and global environmental changes,” said Nicole LeBoeuf, Director of NOAA’s National Ocean Service. “It is our responsibility as stewards of this special place to address these impacts, including changing how we interact with our coral reefs and other nearshore habitats that wildlife—and the economies of South Florida—depend on. Together, we can make the Restoration Blueprint a path to success for the Florida Keys.”
The sanctuary was established in 1990 by an act of Congress, and NOAA issued implementing regulations in 1997. NOAA manages the sanctuary in partnership with the State of Florida. Over the last 30 years, coral disease, coral bleaching, warmer ocean temperatures, increased human use, and more frequent and intense storms and hurricanes have impacted the region. Sanctuary ecological and marine resources—the lifeblood of the region’s economy—also face threats from poor water quality, marine debris, and increased use of the ecosystem.
“Over the last 13 years, NOAA has worked closely with the Keys community, stakeholders, and partners to inform a robust and thoughtful Restoration Blueprint that addresses impacts to the ecosystem, while continuing to support the local economy,” said John Armor, Director of NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. “After the last few years of coral disease and marine heatwaves, this effort is critical to ensuring that the coral restoration and other active measures are in place to ensure the local economy and ecosystem continue to thrive.”
This management plan is accompanied by an environmental impact statement that analyzes the environmental, social, and economic effects of the plan, as well as pending updates to the sanctuary’s boundary, regulations, and marine zones that will complement the new management plan. As required by the National Environmental Policy Act, NOAA must wait 30 days after publication of the final environmental impact statement before issuing a final rule to implement these regulatory changes.
NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries serves as the trustee for a network of underwater parks encompassing more than 620,000 square miles of marine and Great Lakes waters. The network includes a system of 17 national marine sanctuaries and Papahānaumokuākea and Rose Atoll marine national monuments. The system works with diverse partners and stakeholders to promote responsible, sustainable ocean uses that ensure the health of our most valued ocean places.
