° CorcQ CoTlepting and Damage 



The proposed regulation would prohibit the collection or possession of 

 all corals, living or dead, within the proposed sanctuary (except as permitted 

 for scientific and education purposes)- The regulation will protect the coral 

 assemblages from stress and physical damage. This will maintain the reef 

 habitat for fish and preserve aesthetic qualities. 



° Wire Fish Traps 



The proposed regulation would prohibit the use of wire fish traps within 

 the entire preferred sanctuary boundary. This regulation would prevent both the 

 physical and ecological damage to the coral reef system from wire fish traps. 

 The recreational and aesthetic values of the sanctuary will also thereby be 

 maintained and enhanced. The regulation would not prohibit the setting of traps 

 beyond the sanctuary boundaries. The regulation will, however, adversely affect 

 those fishermen who presently use wire fish traps within the 5 sq nm area and 

 therefore will be forced to move elsewhere to trap. 



° Lobster Trapping 



The banning of lobster traps from the Fore Reef will prevent the physical 

 damage that frequently occurs when lobster traps contact the coral due to improper 

 placement or storm surge. However, because the prohibition is limited to a 

 small geographic area, the regulation will result in minimal, if any, economic 

 loss to the fishing community. The proposed regulation is the same as the special 

 management measure for Looe Key under consideration in the draft Coral and 

 Coral Reef Resources FMP. 



° Tropical Marine Specimen Collecting 



A prohibition on tropical specimen collecting (except by permit for scien- 

 tific and educational purposes) 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 generations. 



Many suitable areas for tropical specimen collectors to catch tropical 

 fish and invertebrates exist in the south Florida area including shallow inshore 

 areas, inshore coral heads, mid-channel reefs (in the middle of Hawk's Channel), 

 and the entire outer reef. This alternative would cause limited economic loss 

 to present commercial collectors. 



The total economic loss of revenue per year estimated in the socio- 

 economic 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 loss 

 could be made up by collecting elsewhere and by commercial collecting under 

 permit for sale to public aquaria and education research institutions. 



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