It contains shallow, as well as intermediate, water-depth coral communities 

 but with the obvious lack of a number of species one might expect to occur 

 here. While the shallow "reef-crest-part" of the Fore Reef shows extensive 

 Millepora-Zoanthara fields, the deeper "reef-fingerpart" is a system of 

 alternating sand valleys and several meter-high coral ridges of massive 

 coral growth forms and is populated by the greatest numbers and species 

 diversity of fish in the five zones. 



The Reef Flat borders the Fore Reef to the north, a sand-seagrass area 

 about one quarter of a square kilometer in size and an average of 1 .5 m deep. 

 It is also an important area offering a large recreational area of sandy reef 

 top, for inexperienced swimmers or families with children. Although the Reef 

 Flat provides little cover and has the lowest species diversity of all the 

 zones, it is an important feeding area for fish of the Fore Reef zone, an 

 integral part of the Looe Key Coral Reef system and very important to a seg- 

 ment of the recreational population. 



The channels between the fingers of coral on the Fore Reef are very 

 important to fish migrations from one zone to the other (Zieman & Roblee 

 1979), and provide essential access to the reef for pelagic species, such 

 as mackerel. Although parts of the deeper sandy channels would be covered 

 by the 1 sq nm alternative, the more distant parts of the channels would 

 not be protected at all to the east and west of the Fore Reef, and Deep Reef 

 Ridge would remain virtually unprotected. 



Enforcement of 1 nm sq area would be unlikely as the area is too small 

 for accurate boundary detection, considering the size boat that would be 

 used (Russell, Coast Guard personal communication, 1979). Citing of violators 

 in this alternative could also be difficult. Due to its limited boundaries, 

 violators would have sufficient time to escape as law enforcement officers 

 approach the sanctuary. 



In addition there is a question of the wisdom of protecting part but not 

 all of a unit or ecological system such as Looe Key. User activities beyond 

 the 1 m sq alternative, uncontrolled by the sanctuary manager, could under- 

 mine the careful management within the sanctuary. Finally, though the physical 

 aspects of the spur and groove system could possibly be protected with this 

 boundary, that is only one of the sanctuary program objectives. 



B. Boundary Alternative #2 - Preferred Alternative 



This alternative covers a 5 sq nm (17 sq km) area, the coordinates of 

 which are: 



a. 24°, 34' N b. 24°. 34.2' N 



81°, 25.9' W 81°, 23.3' W 



c. 24°, 31.6' N d. 24°, 32.3' N 



81°, 25.9' W 81°, 23.3' W 



96 



