Objectives: 



° Encourage and cooperate with interested parties 

 in research and study of reef interrelationships. 



° Establish competitive funding mechanisms encour- 

 aging a wide range of scientific expertise to 

 focus attention on reef dynamics. 



° Establish a clearing house for dissemination and 

 exchange of sanctuary research data. 



Goal 3: To enhance public awareness of the functioning of the 

 Looe Key coral reef system. 



Objectives: ° Provide a means for education and information exchange. 



° Develop educational programs that will increase aware- 

 ness and appreciation of Looe Key through a public 

 information effort (including slides, brochures, 

 lectures, etc.) 



° Establish a sanctuary information center. 



° Develop interpretive services. 



B. Management Plan 



If the sanctuary designation occurs, development of a formal Management 

 Plan (MP) will be undertaken and completed within the first 9-12 months. 

 NOAA proposes to work with the Florida Department of Natural Resources in 

 the formulation of this plan. The MP development process will emphasize 

 public involvement and review. Alternative means of insuring user partici- 

 pation in sanctuary management will be explored in the public forum. If 

 advisory committees are desired they will become a part of the formal 

 managment structure. 



The MP will be periodically reviewed and management measures including 

 regulations, evaluated for effectiveness in achieving sanctuary goals and 

 objectives. This periodic review will also involve a high degree of public 

 participation. 



In order to provide an efficient system for the management of the 

 proposed Looe Key sanctuary, the following basic strategies are proposed: 



Sanctuary Manager 



NOAA proposes to contract with the State Department of Natural Resour- 

 ces for day to day management of the sanctuary. The management staff will 

 consist of objective personnel with experience in special area planning 

 and management. The manager will be charged among other things with respon- 

 sibility for coordinating enforcement and surveillance activities within 

 the proposed sanctuary. The manager will be responsible for administering 

 the sanctuary and providing reports to include (but not limited to) the 

 following items: 



° environmental analysis studies; 



° visitor use and visitor use capacity studies, user-related 

 impacts, and such other information as necessary; 



26 



