Study Area History of the Process

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On May 22, 1999, the Tortugas 2000 Working Group met at the Harvey Government Center in Key West, FL, to decide on a preferred alternative and reached 100% consensus on its recommendation for a Tortugas Ecological Reserve. The 25 member body, composed of a broad representation of local fishermen, environmental groups, recreational divers, regional fishery management councils, and state and federal government agencies has been meeting over the past year to discuss how the establishment of this Reserve should progress, what criteria should be used to determine possible boundary alternatives for the Reserve, and finally to determine the most appropriate location for the Ecological Reserve in order to achieve its goals while also limiting the socioeconomic impacts on current consumptive users of marine resources in the area.

The recommendation of the Tortugas 2000 Working Group covers 185 square nautical miles under the jurisdictions of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Dry Tortugas National Park, the State of Florida, the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council, and the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council. The proposed Ecological Reserve incorporates a wide range of habitats essential to its effectiveness. Included are some of the best coral reef habitats in the Tortugas areas as well as areas with high levels of biodiversity. A rectangular area in the northern portion of the study area protects a range of shallow, mid-level, and deep water habitats containing both seagrass beds and highly productive coral reef areas, including Sherwood Forest (the green polygon), a highly diverse area of almost 100% coral cover as well as the northern half of Tortugas Bank. A rectangular area in the southern portion of the study area covers mainly mid-level and deep water habitats and includes Riley's Hump which is a known spawning area for many fish and invertebrate species.

The Working Group recommended that regulations for the proposed Ecological Reserve regarding allowable activities be similar to those in the existing regulations for the Western Sambo Ecological Reserve. These regulations prohibit consumptive activities and place some restrictions on other activities such as diving, anchoring, and research to minimize impacts on the protected underwater resource.

In the next step of the Tortugas 2000 process, this boundary alternative will be presented to the Sanctuary Advisory Council on June 15, 1999, for approval and recommendation to the Sate of Florida and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Their acceptance and approval would pave the way for consideration of the proposed Tortugas Ecological Reserve by the State of Florida and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as well as by the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Councils.