a. Unrestricted collecting (status quo); 



b. Restricting tropical specimen collecting to collectors 

 with permits and prohibiting the use of chemicals; and 



c. Prohibiting tropical specimen collecting except by permit 

 for scientific and educational purposes. 



NOAA has chosen alternative c as the preferred alternative based on 

 information and written comments subsequent to the DEIS. Prohibiting 

 tropical specimen collecting would protect and enhance the tropical fish 

 population at Looe Key, prevent the depletion of ecologically important 

 species, add to the aesthetics of the sanctuary, and maintain and enhance 

 the long term productivity of the Looe Key coral reef for future genera- 

 tions. The Key Largo Marine Sanctuary and the Biscayne National Park 

 prohibit such taking. 



The many suitable areas for tropical specimen collectors to catch 

 tropical fish and invertebrates in the south Florida area include shallow 

 inshore areas, inshore coral heads, mid-channel reefs (in the middle of 

 Hawk's Channel), and the entire outer reef. This alternative would thus 

 cause limited economic loss to present commercial collectors. The total 

 economic loss of revenue per year estimated in the socioeconomic analysis 

 for Boundary Alternative #2, would be $25,000 to $43,000 or $80,075 to 

 $137,729 using regional multipliers. At least some of this could be made 

 up by collecting elsewhere. This restriction would not prohibit commercial 

 collecting for scientific and educational purposes with a NOAA permit. 



Prohibiting tropical specimen collecting rather than allowing collec- 

 ting by permit as proposed in the DEIS, would not require the establishment 

 of an administratively burdensome permit system of questionable value and 

 utility. 



5. Spearf ishing . 



The following alternatives were analyzed for regulating spearfishing 

 within the proposed sanctuary: 



a. Unrestricted spearfishing (status quo); 



b. Restricting spearfishing to devices such as pole spears and 

 Hawaiian slings; and 



c. Prohibiting spearfishing and possession of spearfishing equipment. 



NOAA has chosen alternative c as the preferred alternative. A primary 

 basis for this alternative is to enhance the quality of recreation experi- 

 ences by divers, snorklers and observers. Since spearfishing is believed 

 to contribute to wariness in reef fish and to the absence of large predators, 

 this alternative should enhance the return of larger grouper, snapper and 

 other predators to the reef and may, in time, lead to fish becoming less 

 cautious. In addition, it would lessen the human injury potential, the 



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