Select the area you wish to view... ------------------------------------ View Map ------------------------------------ Alligator Reef (SPA) Carysfort/South Carysfort (SPA) Cheeca Rocks (SPA) Coffin's patch (SPA) Conch Reef (SPA, RO) Davis Reef (SPA) Eastern Dry Rocks (SPA) Elbow Reef (SPA) French Reef (SPA) Grecian Rocks (SPA) Hens & Chickens (SPA) Key Largo Dry Rocks (SPA) Looe Key (SPA) Molasses Reef (SPA) Newfound Harbor (SPA) Rock Key (SPA) Sand Key (SPA) Sombrero Light (SPA) Western Sambos (ER) ------------------------------------ 9' Stake/Toppino's Buoy Carysfort North Carysfort Trench Cottrell Key Crocker Reef Horseshoe Reef/North (North) Dry Rocks Marker 32 Northeast Patch Pelican Shoal Pickles Reef Sand Island 3 Sisters (Molasses Reef Channel) Turtle Rocks Turtle Shoal Western Dry Rocks White Bank Dry Rocks ------------------------------------ Dixie Shoal (Benwood Wreck) USCG Cutter Bibb/Duane

Markers
	18" Mooring Buoy
	30" Yellow Sanctuary Buoy
	3-5 ft. Spar Buoy
Bottom Type
	Rubble		Shallow
	Seagrass		Coral
	Very Shallow		Island
Sanctuary Areas
	Research Only		Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPAs)
	Wildlife Management Area		Ecological Reserve
	Existing Management Area

Name: Conch Reef
Designation: Sanctuary Preservation Area, Research Only Area

Benthic Habitat Map and Area Location

Conch Reef
Marker Buoy	Latitude(N)	Longitude(W)
N	24 57.48	80 27.47
E	24 57.34	80 27.26
S	24 56.78	80 27.52
W	24 56.96	80 27.73

Conch Reef Research Only Area
Marker Buoy	Latitude(N)	Longitude(W)
S	24 56.83	80 27.26
E	24 57.10	80 26.93
W	24 56.99	80 27.42
N	24 57.34	80 27.26

Description:

Conch Reef has one of the best developed reef wall systems in the Keys. Conch Reef contains stands of rare pillar coral and provides excellent habitat for conch. The seaward side has one of the best developed reef wall systems in the keys. Octocorals and basket sponges are also present at this site. The Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA) is located approximately 5nm (9km) south of Tavernier Key. The Research Only Area is located approximately 5nm (9km) southeast of Tavernier and is adjacent to the Conch Reef Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA).

The SPA is rectangular and covers and area of approximately 0.07nm2, or about 23ha. It runs from the landward boundary to an approximate depth of 45 feet, and includes some of the reef wall. Catch and release fishing by trolling will be allowed in this SPA.

Conch Reef is easily accessible from Key Largo and is heavily used by divers, with some tropical fish collecting in the rubble zone. There is little user conflict because lobster fishermen operate away from the area of heavy diving activity. Recreational fishermen troll the reef wall in 160 to 180 feet of water.

The SPA is adjacent to a Special-use Area designated as “Research Only which will provide an area for the Aquarius underwater laboratory to conduct research. The boundary of the Research Only area approximates the current designated “no anchor” zone for the Aquarius underwater laboratory. There is heavy diving activity landward in the adjacent SPA, and recreational fishermen troll the reef wall in 160 to 180 feet of water.

Summary of Protection:

SPA:

In additional to Sanctuary-wide Regulations described in 15CFR922.163 (pdf), the following activities are prohibited within Ecological Reserves as described in Appendix IV of 15CFR922 (pdf), and within Sanctuary Preservation Areas as described in Appendix V of 15CFR922 (pdf):

(i) Discharging or depositing any material or other matter except cooling water or engine exhaust.

(ii) Possessing, moving, harvesting, removing, taking, damaging, disturbing, breaking, cutting, spearing, or otherwise injuring any coral, marine invertebrate, fish, bottom formation, algae, seagrass or other living or dead organism, including shells, or attempting any of these activities. However, fish, invertebrates, and marine plants may be possessed aboard a vessel in an Ecological Reserve or Sanctuary Preservation Area, provided such resources can be shown not to have been harvested within, removed from, or taken within, the Ecological Reserve or Sanctuary Preservation Area, as applicable, by being stowed in a cabin, locker, or similar storage area prior to entering and during transit through such reserves or areas, provided further that in an Ecological Reserve or Sanctuary Preservation Area located in Florida State waters, such vessel is in continuous transit through the Ecological Reserve or Sanctuary Preservation Area.

(iii) Except for catch and release fishing by trolling in the Conch Reef, Alligator Reef, Sombrero Reef, and Sand Key SPAs, fishing by any means. However, gear capable of harvesting fish may be aboard a vessel in an Ecological Reserve or Sanctuary Preservation Area, provided such gear is not available for immediate use when entering and during transit through such Ecological Reserve or Sanctuary Preservation Area, and no presumption of fishing activity shall be drawn therefrom.

(iv) Touching living or dead coral, including but not limited to, standing on a living or dead coral formation.

(v) Placing any anchor in a way that allows the anchor or any portion of the anchor apparatus (including the anchor, chain or rope) to touch living or dead coral, or any attached organism. When anchoring dive boats, the first diver down must inspect the anchor to ensure that it is not touching living or dead coral, and will not shift in such a way as to touch such coral or other attached organisms. No further diving shall take place until the anchor is placed in accordance with these requirements.

(vi) Anchoring instead of mooring when a mooring buoy is available or anchoring in other than a designated anchoring area when such areas have been designated and are available.

(vii) Except for passage without interruption through the area, for law enforcement purposes, or for purposes of monitoring pursuant to paragraph (d)(2) of this section, violating a temporary access restriction imposed by the Director pursuant to paragraph (d)(2) of this section.

(2) The Director may temporarily restrict access to any portion of any Sanctuary Preservation Area or Ecological Reserve if the Director, on the basis of the best available data, information and studies, determines that a concentration of use appears to be causing or contributing to significant degradation of the living resources of the area and that such action is reasonably necessary to allow for recovery of the living resources of such area. The Director will provide for continuous monitoring of the area during the pendency of the restriction. The Director will provide public notice of the restriction by publishing a notice in the Federal Register, and by such other means as the Director may deem appropriate. The Director may only restrict access to an area for a period of 60 days, with one additional 60 day renewal. The Director may restrict access to an area for a longer period pursuant to a notice and opportunity for public comment rulemaking under the Administrative Procedure Act. Such restriction will be kept to the minimum amount of area necessary to achieve the purposes thereof.