The Reef Flat bottom consists primarily of sand, coral fragments, seagrass, 

 algae, and occasional colonies of living coral. As a result, this area can 

 withstand much greater anchoring pressure than the Fore Zone with its well 

 developed coral structure. Because of the substrate and protected location of 

 the Reef Flat, small sand anchors, e.g., Danforth are capable of holding all but 

 the largest boats with a shallow enough draft to enter this zone. Divers and 

 snorklers entering the water can swim through this shallow (less than two meters) 

 area and pass through one of the surge channels of the reef crest and dive on 

 the Fore Reef. Only in rough weather is passage through the reef crest somewhat 

 hazardous. The area seaward of the Fore Reef is less protected but convenient 

 to the Fore Reef and would also be suitable as an anchoring area. 



E. Activities Listed In The Designation Document For Which Regula- 

 tions Are Not Currently Being Proposed 



° Alteration or construction of the seabed. 



The Army Corps of Engineers (COE) exercises authority over construc- 

 tion and dumping of dredged materials but not the actual dredging. The 

 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has jurisdiction over dredging activities 

 related to mineral leasing such as sand and gravel mining. However, no 

 other existing Federal regulatory authority has jurisdiction over other 

 activities that might alter the seabed such as dredging. While dredging 

 or alteration of the seabed could lead to damage and destruction of the 

 coral reefs and other habitat within the sanctuary, the likelihood of such 

 activities does not pose a realistic threat to the resources at this time. 

 For this reason NOAA is not promulgating regulations, but listing altera- 

 tion of the seabed as an activity in the Designation Document, and may 

 issue regulations at a future date if the need arises. 



° Bottom trawling and specimen dredging. 



Trawling for reef fish at live bottoms in the South Atlantic (off the 

 Carolinas) has proven economically and technically feasible, and it is pos- 

 sible that certain types of commercial bottom trawling may occur off Florida, 

 in areas such as Looe Key, in the future. Gear modifications include rollers, 

 runners or skids which elevate trawls and sleds above the irregular ocean 

 bottom. Even when elevated above the surface, however, various parts of the 

 gear (e.g., rollers, runners, skids, bottom guard-chains, nets and specimen 

 bags) still come into contact with the bottom and benthic organisms. 



Various impacts on the environment are associated with bottom trawling 

 and specimen dredging. These include suspension of sediments dislodging or 

 breaking coral and generally degrading the physical benthic environment. 



As with alteration or construction on the seabed, the likelihood of 

 bottom trawling and specimen dredging does not pose a realistic threat at 

 this time. Accordingly, NOAA is not promulgating regulations, but listing 

 the activity in the Designation and may issue regulations at a future date 

 if the need arises. 



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