NOAA Aims to Expand Coral Reef Sanctuary
Sea Turtle and Coral in Gulf of Mexico
A sea turtle swims around coral in the Gulf of Mexico.
Shutterstock
The northwestern Gulf of Mexico contains some of the healthiest coral-reef communities in the Caribbean — and you can help keep it that way. NOAA is asking for public and stakeholder commentary on a proposed expansion of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, which encompasses some of this rich marine habitat and is the northernmost divable coral reef in the U.S.
The proposal, which has been in the works for more than six years, recommends expanding the sanctuary from 56.2 square miles to 280.3 square miles — roughly four-times the area it currently covers. This expansion would include up to nine additional banks that NOAA considers “sensitive habitats.” Currently, the sanctuary protects three distinct areas: Stetson Bank, and East Flower Garden Bank and West Flower Garden Bank.
Two of the three public-information meetings were held this month, and information on the third is below:
Galveston: Wednesday, March 11, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Office
NOAA Galveston Laboratory, 4700 Avenue U, Building 216
Galveston, TX 77551; 409-621-5151
According to NOAA’s website, “Although many of these areas have some level of protection through other designations, inclusion in the sanctuary would provide a comprehensive management framework to fill in the existing regulatory gaps and provide necessary protection to these critical habitats.” Essentially, adding the proposed banks to the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary would increase research and observation of these highly vulnerable areas to increase conservation efforts.
Current sanctuary regulations allow deep diving in Flower Gardens Banks National Marine Sanctuary; the proposed expansion is not aimed at changing this regulation, but will consider alterations if any public concerns should arise.
Oil and gas companies surround many of the proposed expansion areas, and NOAA said that expanding the sanctuary will not interrupt these companies’ business.
NOAA outreach specialist and Web coordinator Kelly Drinnen said that because some of the proposed areas were not monitored before the BP oil spill, the effects of the spill were not observed. She explained that if the expansion is approved, the newly regulated areas would gain additional monitoring and protection — what Drinnen calls “comprehensive coverage."
The proposal has a 60-day comment period that ends April 6, during which the public can contact NOAA with any concerns or suggestions about the expansion. After this period, NOAA will discuss different alternatives to the original proposal, make any necessary amendments, and open the newly drafted proposal to the public before any final action is taken.
Comments may also be submitted by any of the following methods:
- Federal eRulemaking Portal: regulations.gov. Submit electronic comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal with Docket # NOAA-NOS-2014-0154
- Mail: George Schmahl, Sanctuary Superintendent Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, 4700 Avenue U, Bldg 216, Galveston, TX 77551.
For more information on the proposed boundary changes, visit Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary website or contact Kelly Drinnen at 409-621-5151 ext. 105.
ShutterstockA sea turtle swims around coral in the Gulf of Mexico.
The northwestern Gulf of Mexico contains some of the healthiest coral-reef communities in the Caribbean — and you can help keep it that way. NOAA is asking for public and stakeholder commentary on a proposed expansion of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, which encompasses some of this rich marine habitat and is the northernmost divable coral reef in the U.S.
The proposal, which has been in the works for more than six years, recommends expanding the sanctuary from 56.2 square miles to 280.3 square miles — roughly four-times the area it currently covers. This expansion would include up to nine additional banks that NOAA considers “sensitive habitats.” Currently, the sanctuary protects three distinct areas: Stetson Bank, and East Flower Garden Bank and West Flower Garden Bank.
Two of the three public-information meetings were held this month, and information on the third is below:
Galveston: Wednesday, March 11, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Office
NOAA Galveston Laboratory, 4700 Avenue U, Building 216
Galveston, TX 77551; 409-621-5151
According to NOAA’s website, “Although many of these areas have some level of protection through other designations, inclusion in the sanctuary would provide a comprehensive management framework to fill in the existing regulatory gaps and provide necessary protection to these critical habitats.” Essentially, adding the proposed banks to the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary would increase research and observation of these highly vulnerable areas to increase conservation efforts.
Current sanctuary regulations allow deep diving in Flower Gardens Banks National Marine Sanctuary; the proposed expansion is not aimed at changing this regulation, but will consider alterations if any public concerns should arise.
Oil and gas companies surround many of the proposed expansion areas, and NOAA said that expanding the sanctuary will not interrupt these companies’ business.
NOAA outreach specialist and Web coordinator Kelly Drinnen said that because some of the proposed areas were not monitored before the BP oil spill, the effects of the spill were not observed. She explained that if the expansion is approved, the newly regulated areas would gain additional monitoring and protection — what Drinnen calls “comprehensive coverage."
The proposal has a 60-day comment period that ends April 6, during which the public can contact NOAA with any concerns or suggestions about the expansion. After this period, NOAA will discuss different alternatives to the original proposal, make any necessary amendments, and open the newly drafted proposal to the public before any final action is taken.
Comments may also be submitted by any of the following methods:
- Federal eRulemaking Portal: regulations.gov. Submit electronic comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal with Docket # NOAA-NOS-2014-0154
- Mail: George Schmahl, Sanctuary Superintendent Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, 4700 Avenue U, Bldg 216, Galveston, TX 77551.
For more information on the proposed boundary changes, visit Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary website or contact Kelly Drinnen at 409-621-5151 ext. 105.
