under the proposed joint Gulf and Coral Reef Resources Fishery Management 

 Plan. All of these entities, together with heightened awareness of the 

 need for close cooperative management strategies, should provide an in- 

 creased level of protection. 



The 5 sq nm boundary alternative would create a sanctuary containing 

 representation components of each reef zone and establish a sanctuary that 

 protects a reef tract system rather than one component. This approach is 

 consistent with the goals and objectives for establishing a sanctuary at 

 Looe Key. 



A sanctuary with this boundary would include all of the reefal zones 

 and be "systematic" in scope providing for the maintenance and enhancement 

 of long-term productivity of an entire ecological unit. This boundary alter- 

 native would provide a geographic basis for achieving the sanctuary goals: 



° To maintain, protect and enhance the quality of the natural, 

 biological, aesthetic and cultural resources of Looe Key Reef 

 system; 



° To promote and stimulate marine research efforts directed towards 

 identification and analysis of marine ecological interrelationships. 



° To enhance public awareness of the functions of the Looe Key coral 

 reef system. 



C. Boundary Alternative #3 (10 sq nm 34 sq km) 



This alternative includes an area of 10 sq nm (34 sq km) the coordinates 

 of which are: 



a. 24°, 33.3' N b. 24°, 34.3' N c. 24°, 34.2' N 

 81°, 27.5' W 81°, 25.4' W 81°, 23.3' W 



d. 24°, 34.7' N e. 24°, 31.3' N f. 24°, 32.5' N 

 81°, 21.3' W 81°, 27.5' W 81°, 21.3' W 



This area contains the entire 5 sq nm boundary alternative as well as 

 considerable portions of territory to the east and west (Fig. 4). Informa- 

 tion from actual field studies on the areas east and west of the Looe Key 

 reef itself was not readily available. The northern part of these additional 

 areas can generally be regarded as extensions of the Patch Reef Zone, a morpho- 

 logical feature that can be found along the entire chain of the Florida Keys 

 in shallow water and at a certain distance offshore. The southern part of 

 these additional areas, however, does not contain any significant reef. 

 Instead it contains a slope that consists mainly of sand bottom. Whether the 

 deepest parts include any type of coral community, such as the Deep Reef, is 

 not known at present, but the probability seems low. 



Enlarging the sanctuary area to 10 square nautical miles could increase 

 the effectiveness of enforcement by making it more difficult for violators to 

 escape undetected before being caught. 



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