proposed pursuant to the plans. In lieu of enough information to warrant 

 preparation of a FMP for reef resources such as tropical fish and invertebrates, 

 the Councils are considering the preparation of a profile or description of 

 the resource and fishery. 



The final scope and content of all FMPs is uncertain at this time because 

 they are in draft form and subject to change. None of these FMPs is likely to 

 be implemented until late 1981. 



Although a variety of Federal laws, regulations and policies apply to 

 activities occurring in the general area of the proposed sanctuary (see Chap- 

 ter 3, Section V), they do not appear adequate to assure long-term protection 

 of Looe Key. 



Given these special resources, their particular vulnerability, and the 

 multiple, increasing human pressures on the area, assurance of long-term pre- 

 servation of Looe Key requires (a) a management framework that will monitor, 

 assess and act on information about the cumulative effects of human uses, (b) 

 a mechanism to coordinate and encourage research that will lead to necessary 

 management decisions, and (c) efforts to educate the public about the value 

 and the fragility of the reefal system. The no-action alternative appears to 

 meet none of these requirements. 



The status quo provides no focal point for comprehensive long-term 

 management, and no programmatic mechanism to promote and coordinate research 

 on coral reef ecology and ecosystem recovery or to provide information to the 

 direct and indirect user public. There are currently no programs to provide 

 education and information aimed at increasing long-term protection of these 

 areas by increasing public awareness of the distinctive resources and their 

 susceptibility to disturbance. 



The marine sanctuary program proposes to provide a comprehensive mechanism 

 through long-term management to protect this ecosystem and to respond in a timely 

 fashion to marine conservation issues and to the interests of affected user 

 groups as those issues arise. 



V. THE PROPOSAL 



The Office of Coastal Zone Management (OCZM), which is responsible for the 

 marine sanctuary program within NOAA, proposes the designation of Looe Key as 

 a marine sanctuary. The sanctuary area consists of 5 sq nm of high sea waters 

 under Federal jurisdiction surrounding Looe Key, a submerged section of the 

 Florida Reef Tract, located 6.7 nautical miles (12.4 km) southwest of Big Pine 

 Key in the lower Florida Keys at latitude 24°33' north and longitude 81°24' west 

 (see figs. 1 and 3). 



Looe Key is part of a curving reef tract off the Florida Keys containing the 

 only living coral reefs in the United States (Ginsburg 1974). The Looe Key area 

 includes: 



° Portions of Patch Reefs, a Reef Flat, Fore Reef, Deep Reef and Deep Ridge 

 in a small manageable unit which allows for a focus on public education 

 and research aimed at a better understanding of reef dynamics; 



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