Plan for proposed Tortugas Ecological Reserve released

Joanne Delaney Joanne.Delaney at noaa.gov
Fri May 19 21:57:38 EDT 2000


The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary announces the release of the
Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Draft Supplemental
Management Plan for the proposed Tortugas Ecological Reserve.  The
Federal Register Notice containing the proposed rule for the Reserve has
also been released (dated Thursday, May 18, 2000).

The marine resources of the Tortugas are the crown jewel of the Florida
Keys and represent one of America's last wild ocean places.  The
Tortugas Ecological Reserve proposal is a unique opportunity to protect
some of the healthiest and most diverse coral reefs in the region.  In
addition to its goal of preserving biodiversity and safeguarding
critical habitats for the various life-stages of many marine species,
the Tortugas Ecological Reserve would serve as a reference site from
which scientists may gauge the effects of human impacts on the
ecosystem.

All of the documents related to the proposed Tortugas Ecological Reserve
and background on the Tortugas 2000 process are available on the
Sanctuary's website at www.fknms.nos.noaa.gov.  Release of the Draft
SEIS/DSMP triggers a 60-day public review and comment period, in which
members of the scientific community and the public at large are
encouraged to offer their input on the reserve proposal.  Comments will
be accepted until July 31, 2000.  Please see the FKNMS website for
additional instructions.


--
Joanne M. Delaney
Research Interpreter
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
(305) 743-2437 x32
joanne.delaney at noaa.gov
http://www.fknms.nos.noaa.gov




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