Section 3. Other Programs . All applicable regulatory programs shall 

 remain in effect and all permits, licenses and other authorizations issued 

 pursuant thereto shall be valid within the Sanctuary unless authorizing any 

 activity prohibited by any regulation implementing Article 4. The Sanctuary 

 regulations shall set forth any necessary certification procedures. 



Article 6. Alterations to this Designation 



This Designation can be altered only in accordance with the same proce- 

 dures by which it has been made, including public hearings, consultation with 

 interested Federal and State agencies and the appropriate Regional Fishery 

 Management Councils and approval by the President of the United States. 



DRAFT REGULATIONS 



PART 937 - THE LOOE KEY MARINE SANCTUARY REGULATIONS 



937.1 Authority 



937.2 Purpose 



937.3 Boundaries 



937.4 Definitions 



937.5 Allowed Activities 



937.6 Prohibited Activities 



937.7 Penalties for Commission of Prohibited Acts 



937.8 Certification of Other Permits 



937.9 Appeals of Administrative Action 



937.1 Authority 



The sanctuary has been designated by the Secretary of Commerce pursuant 

 to the authority of section 302(a) of Title III of the Marine Protection, 

 Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, 16 U.S.C. 1431-1434 (the Act). The 

 following regulations are issued pursuant to the authorities of sections 

 302(f), 302(g) and 303 of the Act. 



937.2 Purpose 



The purpose of designating the Sanctuary is to protect and preserve the 

 coral reef ecosystem and other natural resources of the waters at Looe Key 

 and to ensure the continued availability of the area for public educational 

 purposes and as a commercial, ecological, research and recreational resource. 

 This area supports a particularly rich and diverse marine biota. The area 

 is easily accessible to the lower Florida Keys and is widely used by boaters, 

 charter boat operators, dive boats, recreational divers and fishermen. 

 Consequently, both present and potential levels of use may result in harm to 

 Looe Key in the absence of long term planning, research, monitoring and 

 adequate protection. 



937.3 Boundaries 



The Sanctuary consists of an area of 5.32 square nautical miles of high 

 sea waters off the coast of lower Florida Keys, 6.7 nautical miles (12.5 km) 

 southwest of Big Pine Key. The area includes the waters overlaying a section 

 of the submerged Florida Reef tract at Looe Key. The precise boundaries are: 



A-3 



