The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) summarizes and responds 

 to all of the comments received through July 21, 1980. It proposes the desig- 

 nation of a marine sanctuary in high seas waters at Looe Key and describes 

 the proposed regulations for this sanctuary. The boundary and regulations 

 are summarized in this chapter and discussed more fully in Chapters Two and 

 Four and are presented in full in Appendix A. The major changes to the 

 proposal from the preferred alternative in the DEIS are as follows: 



1. The Designation Document (Appendix A) has been changed to 

 acknowledge the importance of Looe Key to commercial fishing 

 in Article 3. Characteristics of the Area That Give It 

 Particular Value. 



2. The description of the sanctuary boundary has been inserted in 

 Article 2. of the Designation Document (Appendix A). 



3. The regulation on anchoring has been changed to prohibit 

 anchoring on coral within the Fore Reef area as defined by 

 the Loran "c" points 1 , 2, 3, 4 of Appendix A (see Chapter 

 Four, 7. Alternatives Regulating Anchoring). Sand anchoring is 

 encouraged, but not required, elsewhere within the sanctuary. 



4. The regulation on tropical specimen collecting has been changed 

 to prohibit collecting within the sanctuary except with a 

 permit for scientific and educational purposes (see Chapter 

 Four, 3. Regulations Affecting Tropical Specimen Collecting 

 and Generic Response #4, Appendix E). 



If NOAA decides to proceed with the designation, the Secretary 

 of Commerce must receive Presidential approval and final regulations 

 for the sanctuary will be issued. 



II. NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY PROGRAM (NMSP) PURPOSES 



The National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP) focuses on comprehensive 

 management of marine ecosystems for the long-term protection of natural 

 resources and the enjoyment and benefit of society. 



The following program purposes present a framework for the national 

 sanctuary system: 



° To provide long-term protection to special marine areas with unique 

 conservation, recreational, ecological or aesthetic values; 



° To provide a focus for comprehensive management of these areas; 



° To enhance public awareness of special marine areas and emphasize 

 wise use of these natural resources; 



° To encourage research and exchange of information about marine 

 ecosystems. 



