° preserve a reef, which, if seriously degraded, might not 

 recover since today's environmental conditions may be 

 different from those existing at its inception; 



° provide the structural foundations for future coral growth; 



° pose limited enforcement difficulties; 



° maintain the reef habitat thereby maximizing associated 

 recreational benefits such as quality of diving, and 

 fishing. 



Since insignificant commercial collecting occurs within the boundaries 

 of the sanctuary proposal, this regulation will not have an economic impact. 

 OCZM will work closely with the Fishery Management Councils to insure as 

 nearly as possible compatible non-duplicative permitting procedures. If 

 Looe Key becomes a sanctuary and if NOAA consultation with the Council takes 

 all its concerns into account, the sanctuary permit could be the only one 

 required. 



3. Prohibit the collection or possession within the sanctuary of 

 all coral, living or dead, under all boundary alternatives^ 



This alternative would fully protect the coral reef system at Looe Key 

 from coral collecting and would not place an additional administrative burden 

 on the Sanctuary Programs Office (SPO) staff. However, one of the proposed 

 sanctuary objectives is to promote research and study of the natural resources 

 of Looe Key and a prohibition of this type might discourage valuable studies 

 requiring the taking or study in the field of small numbers of specimens. 



101 



